Following the excitement and drama of the first two majors, the 2024 US Open Golf Championship is set to take place from 13 to 16 June at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, North Carolina.
Known for its challenging layout, crowned greens and historical significance, the Pinehurst No. 2 course will host the US Open for the fourth time, promising a demanding test for the world’s best golfers and a compelling week of viewing for the avid fan.
Defending champion, Wyndham Clark has had a promising start to the season, with a win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and three other top 10 finishes; 2nd at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T2 at THE PLAYERS Championship and T3 at the RBC Heritage.
However, the World No. 4 has failed to perform in both majors this season, missing the cut at The Masters and PGA Championship. Ranking 115th in driving accuracy, 93rd in approach (200 yds) and 154th in scrambling, the Colorado native will need to find better consistency at 28/1 to defend his title.
As always, the talk of the majors falls on Rory McIlroy. After a lacklustre start to the season, the World No. 3 picked up wins at the Wells Fargo Championship and the Zurich Classic alongside Shane Lowry.
It’s been 10 years since his last major victory, and although he has had close calls in years gone by, his recent efforts have been somewhat anticlimactic. The Northern Irishman showed form coming into this year’s Masters and PGA Championship but failed to finish in the top 10 for either.
If he’s to pick up his first major in a decade, the 35-year-old will surely have to address the mental block that has been seemingly preventing him from performing in golf’s four biggest competitions. Though, at 10/1, he’s never out of the frame.
It’s been a whirlwind of a year for World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. With 11 top-10 finishes so far this season, including the ridiculous Win-Win-T2-Win-Win run of form, in which he secured his second Masters title, the 27-year-old has never looked like faltering.
That was until the PGA Championship. After welcoming his newborn son into the world just a week prior, Scheffler was detained by police upon entering Valhalla Golf Club for an apparent traffic violation before his second round. The two-time major winner valiantly shot a 5-under 66 after being released the same morning but was unable to reach the heights that we’ve seen this season.
Now, with the chaos behind him and a T2 finish at the Charles Schwab Challenge, Scheffler looks back to form. With a stellar all-round game and disciplined mindset, the World No. 1 goes in as the favourite for the third major this year at 4/1.
The highest-ranked golfer in the world to have never won a major finally won a major. Xander Schauffele etched his name into history during his PGA Championship triumph, carding the joint lowest-ever round in major championship history and lowest-ever in PGA Championship history, shooting a 9-under 62 in the opening round — which was then matched by Ireland’s Shane Lowry in the third round.
The World No. 2 then went on to prove his worth, fighting off stiff competition in Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa to record the lowest 72-hole score to par and 72-hole scoring total in major championship history to secure his first major.
It was already evident that the Californian was capable of success, and now with a major championship under his belt, he looks set for another big performance at 12/1.
It’s been a somewhat up-and-down year for Viktor Hovland. After a standout 2022/23 season, with nine top 10s, one runner up and three wins — including the Tour Championship to secure the FedEx Cup — the young Norwegian made the questionable decision to change coaches and ‘work’ on his swing before The Masters.
Already known for his ball-striking prowess, the decision came as a surprise to golf fans and pundits alike. However, his performance in The Masters didn’t come as a surprise to many. The World No. 5 missed the cut at 8-over-par, with the swing changes seeming to hinder rather than help.
Now back with his former swing coach, Joe Mayo, the 26-year-old is looking closer to his usual self. A well-rounded performance saw him finish solo third at the PGA Championship, growing in strength as the tournament progressed. And, in the same fashion that Martin Kaymer won at Pinehurst in 2014, Hovland might very well find a way around the course that suits his game. At 16/1, he’s not to be discounted.
For the latest US Open Golf Championship betting odds, see below.
Pinehurst No. 2 course overview:
Pinehurst No. 2 is renowned for its hard-to-conquer crowned, undulating greens and strategic layout. Designed by famed Scottish architect, Donald Ross, the course demands precision and creativity, particularly around the greens.
Its natural, sandy terrain and wire grass make for a distinctive challenge, with the wider fairways allowing the golfer to determine the best angle of attack for the approach depending on the pin position.
Key Holes to Watch:
Hole 2 (Par 4, 507 yards): A long and demanding par 4 with a challenging green complex and heavily bunkered front right edge. In the 2005 US Open, the field scoring average was 4.5, making it a tricky start for the world’s best.
Hole 5 (Par 5, 576 yards): A reachable par 5 offering risk-and-reward opportunities. The tee shot should favour the right side of the fairway to counteract the severe right-to-left slope, while a right-side approach into the green is necessary, as anything to the left will demand a deft touch to make up and down.
Hole 16 (Par 4, 528 yards): The 2nd most difficult hole on the course with a historic field average of 4.4. It requires accuracy and strategic shot-making to card a well-deserved par.
Hole 18 (Par 4, 451 yards): A classic finishing hole that has seen many memorable moments in US Open history, including Payne Stewart’s dramatic 1999 victory.
With preparations underway, the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 lines up to be another enthralling championship, as the world’s best golfers take the stage on one of the sport’s most iconic and challenging courses.
Latest outright odds from BETWAY.COM
Scottie Scheffler — 4/1
Rory McIlroy — 10/1
Xander Schauffele — 12/1
Viktor Hovland — 16/1
Jon Rahm — 16/1
Bryson DeChambeau — 18/1
Ludvig Aberg — 18/1
Brooks Koepka — 20/1
Collin Morikawa — 20/1
Wyndham Clark — 28/1
