2023 US Open, from 2:45pm
The 2023 US Open starts at Los Angeles country club on Thursday, with England’s Matt Fitzpatrick the defending champion. Check out our preview and suggested bets. The tournament will take place on the North course, a par 70 and 7,420 yards in length.
There are no water hazards on site but bunkers are severe and surrounded by fescue grass so inaccuracy is punished severely.
The greens are Bentgrass and expected to be running fast. There has been no rain in the area in the past four weeks and the weather forecast is for dry conditions.
Our unsurprising favourite to win is Scottie Scheffler, who is top of all metrics categories at present apart from one – putting. If he has fixed that in some way in the week he has had off, he should win this week.
Next in the betting is current Masters champion Jon Rahm, who has been a bit off his game of late but does raise his game for majors.
Last month’s US PGA Championship winner, Brooks Koepka, is much fancied and a previous holder (twice) of this major.
Rory McIlroy is still seeking another major, with his last back in 2014.
Patrick Cantlay is still seeking his first major and needs to sort his final-round performances before he can do so. The in-form Viktor Hovland is a contender worth consideration. He has massively improved his short game in recent times and won two weeks ago.
Fitzpatrick played well last week on a course that did not suit and will prefer this tougher test. He is 28/1 as is Cameron Smith. The course suits Smith well. It is hard to tell what his real form is as he has been playing LIV Golf. But things seem set up well for him.
Tyrrell Hatton has been in top form of late and missed a play-off last week by one stroke. He has six top-20 finishes in his last six starts, including three top fives, so looks good each-way value.
US livewire Patrick Reed tends to thrive in majors and at 70/1 is worth a go each way.
Finally, at 200/1 we can find Eric Cole, who placed last week and is playing very well of late.
