US OPEN '24: Capsules of 10 prominent players at Pinehurst No. 2
US OPEN '24: Capsules of 10 prominent players at Pinehurst No. 2
A capsule look at 10 leading players in the U.S. Open, to be played June 13-16 at Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Listed in predicted order of finish (odds provided by BetMGM Sportsbook)
Country: United States.
World ranking: 1.
Worldwide victories: 11.
Majors: Masters (2024, 2022).
U.S. Open appearances: 6.
Best U.S. Open: Runner-up at Brookline in 2022.
Backspin: The best player in golf is a favorite no matter where he plays. Scheffler is coming off a PGA Championship where he was briefly arrested and jailed. He still tied for eighth at Valhalla and was a runner-up the following week at Colonial. His tee-to-green, and chipping, should come in handy at Pinehurst No. 2.
BetMGM odds: +400.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 23.
Worldwide victories: 15.
Majors: PGA Championship (2017, 2022).
U.S. Open appearances: 9.
Best U.S. Open: Tie for eighth at Winged Foot in 2020.
Backspin: Thomas hasn’t won in more than two years and is coming off his first top-10 finish in a major since winning the PGA Championship at Southern Hills. But he has a good feel for the movement at Pinehurst No. 2 and has an elite short game.
BetMGM odds: +3300
Country: United States.
World ranking: 8.
Worldwide victories: 7.
Majors: PGA Championship (2020), British Open (2021).
U.S. Open appearances: 5.
Best U.S. Open: Tie for fourth at Torrey Pines in 2021.
Backspin: Morikawa has been giving himself chances, especially in the majors. He has been in the final group at the Masters and the PGA Championship, losing one chance with a bad hole (double bogey at No. 9), the other with a bad round (71 at the PGA). He’s close.
BetMGM odds: +2000.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 2.
Worldwide victories: 9.
Majors: PGA Championship (2024).
U.S. Open appearances: 7.
Best U.S. Open: Tie for third at Pebble Beach in 2019.
Backspin: Schauffele has been playing consistently well and now has a major championship to show for it. The list of players to win the PGA Championship and U.S. Open in the same year is mighty — Brooks Koepka, Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.
BetMGM odds: +1200.
Country: Spain.
World ranking: 7.
Worldwide victories: 20.
Majors: Masters (2023), U.S. Open (2021).
U.S. Open appearances: 8.
Best U.S. Open: Won at Torrey Pines in 2021.
Backspin: Rahm is getting plenty of attention at this U.S. Open for what he hasn’t done. He hasn’t won since the 2023 Masters. And until missing the cut at the PGA Championship, he had not had a weekend off at a major since the 2019 PGA. There’s a lot of talent, and a lot of pride, in this Spaniard.
BetMGM odds: +1600.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 36.
Worldwide victories: 11.
Majors: U.S. Open (2020).
U.S. Open appearances: 9.
Best U.S. Open: Won at Winged Foot in 2020.
Backspin: DeChambeau reminded the golf world of his level of entertainment with his runner-up finish at beefy Valhalla. Power never hurts in golf. But control going into and around the greens is paramount. This will be his challenge.
BetMGM odds: +2000.
Country: Northern Ireland.
World ranking: 3.
Worldwide victories: 35.
Majors: U.S. Open (2011), British Open (2014), PGA Championship (2012, 2014).
U.S. Open appearances: 15.
Best U.S. Open: Won at Congressional in 2011.
Backspin: McIlroy only broke par in one round at Pinehurst No. 2 in the 2014 U.S. Open, the year he went on to win the next two majors. Going into the weekend at his last three majors, he was seven shots back at the PGA Championship, 10 shots back at the Masters and nine shots back at the British Open.
BetMGM odds: +1000
Country: Norway.
World ranking: 5.
Worldwide victories: 10.
Majors: None.
U.S. Open appearances: 5.
Best U.S. Open: Tied for 12th as an amateur at Pebble Beach in 2019.
Backspin: Hovland pursued a better game even after winning the FedEx Cup last year. He was lost at the Masters. He found himself at the PGA Championship. All indications are that he is on the upward path to returning to an elite player. And when he’s good, he’s very good.
BetMGM odds: +1600.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 820.
Worldwide wins: 93.
Majors: Masters (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2019), PGA Championship (1999, 2000, 2006, 2007), U.S Open (2000, 2002, 2008), British Open (2000, 2005, 2006).
U.S. Open appearances: 22.
Best U.S. Open: Won at Pebble Beach in 2000, at Bethpage Black in 2002 and at Torrey Pines in 2008.
Backspin: Woods has a great record at Pinehurst No. 2. He tied for third in 1999 and was runner-up in 2005. He also was a lot younger and didn’t have any hardware in his legs. Woods doesn’t like this, but small victories are making the cut. This will be his first U.S. Open since 2020 at Winged Foot.
BetMGM odds: +15000.
Country: United States.
World ranking: 179.
Worldwide victories: 47.
Majors: Masters (2004, 2006, 2010), PGA Championship (2005, 2021), British Open (2013).
U.S. Open appearances: 32.
Best U.S. Open: Runner-up a record six times.
Backspin: Mickelson gets a mention as he pursues the career Grand Slam, even though at 53 it gets more improbable every year. He hasn’t won since his 2021 PGA Championship title at age 50. And while he was runner-up at Pinehurst No. 2 in 1999, he was never a factor in 2005 or 2014.
BetMGM odds: +25000.
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