US Open 2024 Prediction and Betting Tips: Three best bets in North Carolina

An unconventional US Open test awaits the best golfers in the world this week when the third Major of the season takes place at Pinehurst Number Two course in North Carolina. Check out or best bets below. 

Like most US Open venues, Pinehurst plays extremely tough, but overly long sections of rough have been replaced by sandscapes and the tight fairways have gone.

The track will present the players with a number of challenges not seen that often on the PGA Tour circuit, such as interesting approach angles and slippy greens.

This will be the first US Open ever played on ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens, which will play firmer than their bentgrass predecessors to provide little to no leeway on errant approach shots.

World Number one Scottie Sheffler is the clear favourite to add to his five titles of 2024 and comes in hot after winning the Memorial Tournament on Sunday.

US PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele is 11/1 to continue his fine run of form with Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy at a similar price to end a decade of Major disappointment.

Hovland can hit Pinehurst pay dirt

Anyone who witnessed Viktor Hovland’s meltdown on the back nine at Jack’s Place last Saturday might struggle with the reasoning behind this pick.

After back-to-back 69s put the Norwegian in contention to defend the Memorial title, Hovland signed for a five-over 77 on ‘moving day’ before a closing round of 75 saw him finish a disappointing 15th.

It was an unexpected setback for a player who was heading in the right direction with his third-place finish at the US PGA a matter of a few weeks before.

But the idiosyncratic nature of Pinehurst means a powerful driver like Hovland may be able to keep his lob wedge in the bag when around the fringes of the green and use the putter to play some crafty bump-and-run approach shots.

It was a big part of Martin Kaymer’s success at Pinehurst in 2014 and Hovland used the tactic when he finished joint fourth at St Andrews in 2022, which was his best major finish until May's PGA Championship.

South Korea’s star is on the rise again

Sungjae Im has been spoken of as a Major champion in waiting for a few years now and his recent return to form gives the hope that he might finally make his breakthrough this week.

The South Korean appeared to be fighting himself at times earlier this season until a successful defence of his Woori Financial Group Championship title on the Korean Tour brought his game back to the boil.

The world number 30 has since produced finishes of T4, T9 and T8 in three of his subsequent four starts and can go well back in a part of America that he enjoys playing in, having banked five top-10 finishes in nine outings in North Carolina.

Noren is nudging back into winning form

Alex Noren is another player who may be ready to return from the relative wilderness with his last tournament triumph coming at the 2018 Open de France.

The Swede 41-year-old has produced efforts of T9, T19, T11, T14, T23, third, T24, T12, MC and T22 in his last 10 starts and has the short game to tame this notoriously difficult course.

The 41-year-old currently ranks third on the PGA Tour in scrambling and eighth in strokes gained: around-the-green, while his precise approach play has him 18th in greens in regulation.