The 120th US Open tees off on Friday (AEDT) from the historic Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York.
Fresh from a thrilling conclusion to the FedEx Cup Playoffs, golf fans now prepare for a hectic early season stretch with only two months separating the US Open from the Masters.
FedEx Cup champion Dustin Johnson has opened as the favourie heading into the weekend, while there is also a strong Aussie contingent made up of Jason Day, Adam Scott and Marc Leishman.
Defending champ Gary Woodland will also be in attendance, alongside this year’s only major winner, Collin Morikawa.
If you’re looking to tee off on a few winners nice and early, be sure to read our entire 2020 US Open Preview below.
US Open Best Bet
Jon Rahm at $11.00
Anything DJ can do Rahm can do.
After what can only be described as one of golf’s greatest victories at the BMW Championship, the Spaniard went on to finish outright fourth at the TOUR Championship behind a beautiful final round 66.
This is Rahm’s first look at Winged Foot, but everything suggests he’ll handle it just fine.
Still in search of his first major, Rahm currently ranks second in scoring average, 18th in greens in regulation and 13th in birdie average.
US Open Best Value
Xander Schauffele at $17.00
Schauffele is by far the biggest dark horse in this year’s field.
He’s been absolutely flying since the restart finishing Top 25 in nine of his ten appearances, which includes a runner-up at East Lake behind DJ.
The American is one of the best on Tour with the putter, while he’s also developed into a bit of an all-rounder ranking seventh in tee-to-green percentage.
After coming in hot for outright 16th at Bethpage last year, I want to have something small on Schauffele at odds.
US Open Best Roughie
Adam Scott at $41.00
Scott stormed home to a T7 finish at Bethpage last year, a form line that reads well heading into the weekend.
Like Day, he’s well-rested coming off a T25 at the BMW after a T22 at the PGA Championship.
Unlike just about everyone else in the field, Scott has also played at Wingfoot before in the 2006 US Open where he finished outright 21st. On a course that calls for just about everyone, experience is very valuable.
US Open Top 20 Finish
Webb Simpson at $2.10
The model of consistency if there ever was one.
Simpson has finished inside the Top 25 at his last three events and should feel pretty good about his putting after sinking five birdies in the final round of the TOUR Championship.
The 2012 US Open winner finished first in birdie and scoring average last year and 11th in greens in regulation. His ball-striking was phenomenal at East Lake, so I’m keen to have something on him here at a good price.
US Open Best of the Rest
Dustin Johnson at $8.50
No surprise here. DJ has enjoyed a handy week off following his win at East Lake ahead of his first appearance at Winged Foot.
Much like Augusta, this course calls for some freakish putting, something the World No. 1 has had in abundance over the last month.
DJ ranks seventh in birdie average and 10th in driving distance. If he can find the fairways consistently, he might just go to another level (if that’s possible).
Justin Thomas at $15.00
Thomas has missed the cut only once since play resumed and it would come as no surprise to watch him win his second major.
The American has been a little up and down recently, but they say you’re only as good as your last round, so based on Thomas’ T2 at East Lake a fortnight ago, he should be right in the thick of things.
Like DJ, Thomas’ accuracy off the tee is the only real concern. He’s got a great short game to match his putting and he shouldn’t be short on motivation after missing the cut at this event last year.
Rory McIlroy at $15.00
He’s back in form, but is it enough to join the likes of Curtis Strange and Brooks Koepka as a two-time champ?
McIlroy finished T12 at the BMW three weeks ago before going one better at the TOUR Championship to finish T8.
Like so many others, this is McIlroy’s first look at Winged Foot though, and his troubles finding the green this year (76th in Greens in Regulation) could spell potential disaster.
Collin Morikawa at $19.00
Is this the calm before another storm?
The PGA Champ has cooled off slightly since his barnstorming win at TPC Harding Park, but he does look poised to strike after finishing outright sixth at the TOUR Championship.
A T35 on debut at the US Open last year bodes well for Morikawa’s chances, although his putting might just let him down slightly.
Byson DeChambeau at $21.00
DeChambeau struggled to string together four consistent rounds during each event of the FedEx Cup Playoff, but he does represent strong value here after finishing T35 at last year’s US Open.
Known for his powerful drive, the American also has a decent short game to match.
Last season DeChambeau finished 10th in strokes gained: putting and seventh in scoring average.
Hideki Matsuyama at $29.00
Matsuyama might be over the odds here coming off three very impressive performances during the FedEx Cup Playoff.
Japan’s finest finished T3 at the BMW before an equally impressive T15 at the TOUR Championship a week later.
Matsuyama is quite easily one of the top ball strikers on Tour, so he’s a very live chance at Winged Foot if he can find some accuracy off the tee.
Tony Finau at $29.00
Finau missed the cut at last year’s Open, but he should be more competitive this time around.
The 31-year-old continues to flirt with a win after finishing fifth at the BMW and outright 17th at the TOUR Championship.
Stat wise, Finau is tough to fault ranking 11th in shots gained: tee-to-green and 20th in scoring average.
That said, his putting does seem to let him down in crucial moments, so it’s tough to tip Finau with confidence.
Daniel Berger at $29.00
I was a huge fan of Berger throughout the previous season and it no surprise to find him as a mid-tier chance this weekend.
The American was outstanding during the FedEx Cup Playoff finishing Top 25 in all three events.
He’s also made the cut in each of his last four major appearances, which includes a T13 at the PGA Championship back in August.
Jason Day at $41.00
Day has rest on his side after a disappointing end to the FedEx Cup Playoff last month.
His putting let him down enormously at the BMW, but if he can rediscover some of the form he showed prior, Day is a massive chance.
The Australian strung together four Top 10 finishes at the Workday Charity Open, the Memorial, the WGC St Jude and the PGA Championship. He also finished first in stroked gained: around the green, so there’s plenty to suggest a bounce back is imminent.
Tiger Woods at $46.00
It’s hard to have Tiger based on his form over the last 12 months, but with three US Open wins to his name, you can’t discount him.
One more would place Tiger alongside Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones and Willie Anderson for four, but if he continues to miss birdie putts like he did at the BMW and Northern Trust, he might be lucky to make the cut.
Phil Mickelson at $91.00
For a number of reasons, this would be quite the story.
Mickelson has played Winged Foot twice in his career, finishing 29th at the 1997 PGA Championship and outright second at the 2006 US Open.
Lefty is worth nothing more than a small shout based on recent results, but after tweeting this out earlier in the week, here’s hoping he at least comes close.
