The 121st US Open will tee off at the famed Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego early on Friday morning AEST.
The world’s best golfers will chase success at the third major of the year, their share in a lucrative purse and the history books, and all of the usual suspects are prominent.
Phil Mickelson proved that age (and market position) meant little when he recorded an historic win at the PGA Championship last month and as always, there’s a case to be for plenty of roughies in US Open betting as well.
I’ve outlined all of the players that I think are worth consideration below in my 2021 US Open Tips.
Jon Rahm ($10)
Two weeks ago, he was struck down with COVID. Today, he is the $10 favourite in US Open betting.
Jon Rahm has been a model of consistency for several seasons now, and enters the US Open off the back of a few particularly pleasing months, which have heralded a T5 at The Masters and T8 at the PGA Championship.
He is yet to record his first win at a major, but his recent form and his world-class ability is certainly enough to see him into the finish, and he does appear well placed to strike.
Tips:
Outright Winner at $10
Top 5 Finish at $3.00
Brooks Koepka ($15)
Brooks Koepka owned one of the moments of the tournament at last month’s PGA Championship (we’ve all seen the post-tournament interview crashed by Bryson DeChambeau), but he also finished second behind Mickelson, and he is primed for another big effort at Torrey Pines.
Koepka has been one of the PGA’s absolute standout performers since breaking through for his first major at the 2017 US Open, and despite carrying a niggling injury into last month’s major, his class well and truly shone through.
He was cut at his only appearance in the wake, but he always keeps his best for the grandest stage.
Tips:
Outright Winner at $15
Top 5 Finish at $4.50
Viktor Hovland ($23)
I’m pretty keen on Viktor Hovland in US Open betting, and while I was hoping to get around $30, I’m still more than happy to take the $23 that is available at publish.
Hovland has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence during his short time on tour, and it is fair to say that he has gone to another level throughout the last twelve months.
Having won the Mayakaba Golf Classic in December, the 23-year-old has played extremely well this calendar year, adding T3s at both the Valspar Championship and the Well Fargo Championship to his resume.
I’m going to back him outright, but also to finish in the Top 10.
Tips:
Outright Winner at $23
Top 10 Finish at $3.25
Cameron Smith ($46)
It would obviously be unpatriotic not to find an Aussie in US Open betting and I think that Cameron Smith represents our best chance of winning.
Smith’s performances at the PGA Championship and the Memorial Tournament (his last two tournaments) left a lot to be desired, but his form prior to those were excellent, and included a win at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in late April.
We can have a small win bet and take the value on offer for him to finish in the Top 20.
Tips:
Outright Winner at $46
Top 20 Finish at $3.00
Ian Poulter ($126)
It would obviously take a career-best performance for 45-year-old Ian Poulter to claim his first ever win at a major this week, but he has recaptured some world class form this season, he has been a model of consistency, and I am happy to have something on at the huge price.
Having finished T26 at The Masters and T30 at the PGA Championship, Poulter had a real run at the Charles Schwab Challenge a couple of weeks ago and finished T3.
He is always around the mark, and I think we can make some money from a Top 20 finish again.
Tips:
