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Horse Racing US Open Championship 2022 Best Bets: June 16th-19th
Although golf has been in the news for all the wrong reasons of late, the sport will be looking to take centre stage in a different light this week at the 2022 US Open.
Rory McIlroy has cemented himself at the top of the betting market following a thrilling victory at the Canadian Open last week, and he looks well placed to add major number five to his collection if he can continue this fine form.
However, it won’t be plain sailing for the Northern Irishman, with major champions Justin Thomas and Colin Morikawa hot on his heels in the market, and Jon Rahm looking to become just the third man to win back-to-back US Open championships.
US Open Championship 2022 Best Bets
- Will Zalatoris E/W at odds of 31.0 (WilliamHill)
- Sam Burns E/W at odds of 29.0 (Bet365)
The Course: The Country Club, Brookline, Massachusetts
The 122nd edition of the US Open takes place at The Country Club in Brookline, for the fourth time in the history of the competition.
Driving distance and accuracy are a common skill set among the US Open’s recent champions, with big hitters such as Rahm, DeChambeau, Johnson and Koepka all claiming victories in the past decade.
The course itself will be a tough assignment, with long fescue grass lining the edge of fairways and several blind approaches into tiny postage-stamp greens awaiting the players.
Lining up as a 7,250-yard par 70 track, the green complexes at The Country Club aren’t too dissimilar from those found at the US PGA last month, so looking back to that leaderboard isn’t a bad starting point when assessing the field.
When looking at previous US Opens, seven out of the last ten victors have been first-time major winners, while a further seven finished in the top 15 in either of their two previous starts.
- US Open Championship
- The Country Club
- June 16th – 19th
US Open Championship Best Bet: Will Zalatoris (E/W)
Will Zalatoris simply thrives on the big stage. The 25-year-old has made his rapid ascent to the top-15 of the world rankings look like mere child’s play, and although he is yet to win on the PGA Tour, the question isn’t if he can win, but more when this victory will come.
Since claiming his PGA Tour card in 2020, Zalatoris has compiled a quite staggering Major Championship resume, including a pair of 6th place finishes at the 2020 US Open and the 2022 Masters, as well as two runner-up finishes, the most recent being his three-hole playoff defeat to Justin Thomas last month.
It isn’t just his Major Championship pedigree that makes him stand out from the crowd, but also an exceptional tee-to-green game, which is often needed at the US Open’s predominantly long, bruising set-ups.
The American ranks 1st in strokes gained on approach this season, 5th for greens in regulation, and 13th in total driving distance – showing he’s not afraid to get it out there, but also keep it in play.
His best finishes this season have come at tough classical courses, with a runner up finish at Torrey Pines (another play-off defeat) and a 5th place at Muirfield.
If Zalatoris can keep his somewhat temperamental putter at bay, he stands a great chance of breaking his major duck this week.
- Selection: Will Zalatoris E/W (9 places)
- Best Odds: 31.0 (WilliamHill)
US Open Championship Best Bet: Sam Burns (E/W)
For a player who has recorded four wins in his past 28 starts, Sam Burns’ odds of 29.0 seem a little generous.
After closing out 2021 with six top 10s in seven events, the American has kicked into yet another gear this year, most recently winning at the Charles Schwab Challenge, where he drained a 38-foot birdie putt in a play-off against fellow compatriot Scottie Scheffler.
Now sitting 9th in the world rankings and 2nd in the FedExCup standings, the next step for the 25-year-old is to compete in a Major Championship, and I think The Country Club sets up perfectly for his skillset.
Sitting in the top 30 for total driving distance, and in the top five for strokes gained on approach, greens in regulation, and strokes gained in total this year, Burns can light up any golf course on his day. His ability to keep bogeys off the scorecard (6th best on tour) should also stand him in good stead.
After recording his first top-20 Major finish at the PGA Championship and arriving on the back of a 4th place at the Canadian Open, Burns seems primed for a good run in Massachusetts this week.
- Selection: Sam Burns E/W (8 places)
- Best Odds: 29.0 (Bet365)
Odds correct as at 6pm June 13th, 2022. Odds may now differ.
