PGA U.S. Open Picks and Odds: Canadian Adam Hadwin Coming in Hot
Tiger Woods is back in action this week in the toughest test in golf, the U.S. Open. This year’s event, the 124th staging, is held at the extremely challenging Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. Per usual, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is the betting favourite on the golf odds board.
The U.S. Open, the third of four Grand Slam events in golf on the calendar these days, is annually held on the third Sunday of June, which is also Father’s Day in the United States. Pinehurst’s No. 2 course (par 70 at approximately 7,500 yards) is considered one of the toughest in the country and when you add what the USGA does with the rough and greens during the U.S. Open, it’s hard to believe any golfer will reach double-digits under par. The weather often decides that, and it will be very hot and mostly dry in North Carolina, which could make the greens near impossible to navigate. It’s the fourth time that Pinehurst hosts in the past 25 years, which no other course can claim.
Tiger Woods U.S. Open Odds
It last did in 2014 and Germany’s Martin Kaymer won at 9-under 271 by a whopping eight shots. At the time, Kaymer became first player from continental Europe to win the U.S. Open. Tiger was unable to play that year recovering from back surgery. He has three U.S. Open titles but not since that epic 19-hole Monday playoff win over Rocco Mediate in 2008. Folks, Woods is not winning this week and is priced +25000. If he makes the cut, that’s a success. Since 2018, the USGA adopted a two-hole aggregate playoff format and then sudden-death after that if needed
The defending champion is American Wyndham Clark, who is +6600 to repeat. He finished at 10-under 270 at Los Angeles Country Club last June to edge Rory McIlroy by a shot. Clark was the fifth consecutive champion to make the U.S. Open his first major title following Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Gary Woodland. Clark overcame bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16 in the final round with a terrific par save on the 71st hole, then two-putted from 60 feet on the 72nd hole to hold off McIlroy, who was our pick to win in 2023 at +1400. McIlroy birdied the first hole on Sunday but didn’t make another.
Odds to win the PGA U.S. Open
Of course, DeChambeau (+2000) and the other LIV guys who qualified will be in action this week as well. The last repeat winner of the tournament was Brooks Koepka (another LIV guy) in 2018, and he’s +2200. The most notable LIV player looking for his first U.S. Open title is Phil Mickelson, who has finished second a record six times. It’s all Lefty needs for the career Grand Slam, but he’s +30000.
The World Golf Hall of Fame was founded in Pinehurst in 1974 and was operated by the resort’s management company until 1983. It had been in St. Augustine, Fla., since 1998 but returned to Pinehurst earlier this year to stay. It is now located on USGA’s new Golf House campus on the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club property.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is ridiculously priced at +333 to win his first U.S. Open and yet we almost can’t argue with that price after Scheffler won for a fifth time already this year this past Sunday at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio, which had a stellar field as well. Scheffler is the first player since Tom Watson in 1980 to come into a U.S. Open with five wins already in a season. The American and reigning Masters champion already has earned a PGA Tour record $24 million (US) in 2024 and there are still a few months to go. He has finished Top 10 at the past three U.S. Opens.
Xander Schauffele won his first major title last month at the PGA Championship and is +1100. He finished T8 at the Memorial. In seven career U.S. Opens, his worst result is 14th and his best a third in 2019. Rory McIlroy (+1200) and Collin Morikawa (+1400) are the only other players below +2000. McIlroy’s lone U.S. Open win was in 2011 when he set a tournament record with a total of 268 that still stands. Last year’s runner-up was his fifth straight Top 10 at the tournament. Morikawa’s best result in the event was fourth in 2021. He finished second to Scheffler by a shot on Sunday at the Memorial.
Adam Hadwin is ready for Pinehurst No. 2
Speaking of the Memorial, Adam Hadwin led for a bit but ended up third due to a final-round 74 to be the top Canadian finisher. He earned a spot into this year’s British Open with that finish and helped his chances for one of two spots on Team Canada for the Olympic golf competition in the upcoming Summer Games in Paris. Olympic golf qualification is determined via the Official World Golf Ranking, finalized after this event. Nick Taylor (No. 30) all but has locked down a spot. Hadwin is next in the rankings at 35 (up from 59 entering last week) and then Corey Conners at No. 46.
Players from 11 different countries have won the U.S. Open but not from Canada. Hadwin is +15000 this week. His best U.S. Open finish was seventh two years ago. Conners is +8000, and he has yet to make a cut in this tournament. Taylor Pendrith is +22500, Mackenzie Hughes also +22500 and Nick Taylor +30000
U.S. Open golf betting predictions
When you add in the LIV guys, the American contingent is awfully strong so we simply like a winner from the USA at -155. That same play worked at the Memorial.
