2022 U.S. Open: Sung-Jae Im Betting Odds, Preview & Prediction

by Harris Hicks |
Jun 14, 2022

For the first time since 1988, the U.S. Open returns to The Country Club in Brookline, Mass, this Thursday. While most of the conversation swirls around the feud between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, the field proves promising. The 2022 PGA Tour average score sits at 70.76, on pace for the 3rd lowest average for a single season ever.

The last time the course was used was the 1999 Ryder Cup, where Justin Leonard sank a 45-foot-birdie putt on the 17th hole to defeat JosÃ© Maria Olazabal and give the Americans the lead in the 33rd Ryder Cup.

Twenty-three years later, The Country Club has endured a variety of renovations that cost over $11 million. The course sits near the PGA average in size at 7,264 yards, but its small greens separate it from average PGA courses. The Country Clubâ€™s greens take up approximately 4,400 square feet, an entire third below the PGA course average (6,600 for all math nerds.)

Since the Battle of Brookline, the courseâ€™s greens have expanded by 20%, but Pebble Beach remains the only championship golf course with smaller greens than Brooklineâ€™s. Those thriving around the green will be a massive advantage this weekend. For those betters out there, Will Zalatoris leads the entire PGA in shots gained approaching the green with a 97% success rate, and Jon Rahm leads golf in Greens hit in Regulation at 72.34%.

Along with the challenging greens, the weather wonâ€™t make it any easier for the players, with winds projected at 10-20 mph and a 70% & 35% chance of rain on Friday and Saturday. Golfers with low spin rates and high hangtimes in swings would be at a slight disadvantage, such as Cameron Smith (197th out of 205 in average spin rate per swing) and the favorite, Rory McIlroy (T14th out of 203 in longest hang time per swing). Players with high spin rates that are less likely to get carried by the wind, such as Max Homa (6th in spin rate), and Sergio Garcia (10th in spin rate), could be at a slight advantage.

The weather conditions, the state of the PGA Tour, and the course outlook all have something in common; nothing is certain, which could make this yearâ€™s U.S. Open one of the most dramatic golf tournaments in history. So here are some of the tournamentâ€™s favorites who could hoist the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday.

Sung-Jae Im Stats to Know

Projected Odds: +4100 (via Fanduel)
World Ranking: 19
Best U.S. Open Finish: 22nd (2020)
Last Four Tournament Finishes: T10, T15, T21, T8

Sung-Jae Imâ€™s Recent Form

Over these last three months, Sung-Jae Im has been one of the most consistent young stars on tour, finishing in the top 25 in each of his previous four tournaments. Not only is he the 2nd youngest player in the entire PGA to be ranked in the top 25, but heâ€™s also one of 16 players to average a score of under 70 in 2022.

Sung-Jae Imâ€™s U.S. Open Predictions

Betting on Sung-Jae Im to win the entire U.S. Open would be reckless but not out of the question. Betting on Im at +140 to finish in the top 20 or -160 in the top 40 is a safe bet due to his recent consistency. Heâ€™s 12th in shots gained off the tee and 29th in driving accuracy. Not many golfers can get away with missing greens as good as Sung-Jae Im; he ranks 3rd in scrambling percentage, as heâ€™s traditionally able to save pars despite missing greens. If Im wants to take the next step up and win a major, heâ€™ll need to improve his ball striking, as he ranked 64th in strokes gained approaching the green, but his ability to scramble and hit accurate drives makes him a safe bet to contend at the U.S. Open.

The Pick: +140 Top 20, -160 Top 40

U.S. Open 2022 Golfer Profiles

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