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2022 U.S. Open: Betting Preview, Prop Bets, Parlay Picks & Predictions

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The 2022 US Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., is now just days away as 158 of the world’s best will tee it up on Thursday morning. Let’s take a closer look at a couple of players I think will find success before it’s all said and done.

Previous Winners of the US Open

  • 2021: Jon Rahm
  • 2020: Bryson DeChambeau
  • 2019: Gary Woodland

2022 US Open Course Preview: The Country Club

The Country Club is set to play host to its 4th US Open this week and first since 1988, as only the 1999 Ryder Cup and 2013 US Amateur have been hosted here since. One of the first five courses that founded the United States Golf Association (USGA), however, The Country Club holds a special place in the heart of the game.

Coming in at the Tour average of 7,264 yards, the Par 70 is a tree-lined course featuring 82 bunkers and four water hazards from start to finish. The fairways are lined with Poa annua/Bentgrass, with the greens lined with the same surface (70% poa/30% Bentgrass). It is also known for its small greens and rocky terrain, making approach and scrambling two critical metrics for success.

2022 US Open Relevant Betting Stats

  • SG: Approach
  • Putting on Bentgrass
  • Scrambling

2022 US Open Outright Betting Pick

Cameron Smith (+2200 on DraftKings Sportsbook)

With two wins and nine top 25s in just 13 events played this season, Smith has ascended to the #4 golfer in the world and is certainly in big game hunting mode every time he steps onto the course. Currently #3 in the world in SG: approach and Scoring Average, Smith is easily turning in the best season of his career and has the results to show.

He’s also been dialed in at majors, finishing the first two T3 (Masters) and T13 (PGA Championship), putting himself in contention come the weekend in both instances. With more wins this season than the entire four prior, Smith’s game is clicking at the perfect time, and on a course where essentially no one has a course history, I think Smith’s ability to dial in his approach shots gives him a great chance this week.

Additionally, unlike most US Opens, what he lacks off the tee won’t hurt him this week, with The Country Club taking distance out of the typical equation. If Smith can get his putter going early, which the 11th ranked SG: Putting player on Tour very well could, I like for the Aussie to be in contention to once again to bring home his first major.

2022 US Open Best Parlay Odds & Picks

Leg #1. Tournament Group – McIlroy, Rahm, Thomas, Scheffler, Smith – Winner is Justin Thomas (+275)

Still, in search of his first non-PGA Championship major win, JT is playing some of the best golf of his life this season, and I think we see that shine through early here in a group of killers. In 15 starts so far this season, JT has finished in the top 10 in nine, including four of his past six.

Last week at the RBC Canadian Open, Thomas fell just short despite shooting a Saturday 63 and Sunday 64, losing to McIlroy in a battle for the ages. As of this week, Thomas ranks inside the top 20 on Tour in SG: Approach, Around-the-Green, and Tee-to-Green, all three critical metrics for success here at The Country Club.

In seven US Open appearances dating back to 2014, Thomas has four top 25 finishes, including a T19 last year at Torrey Pines. I think Thomas’ major performances have largely flown under the radar, as he has four top 10 finishes in his past six dating back to the 2021 Masters.

While this is by far the most challenging group on the board, I think Thomas can get it done with his recent form and his experience going deep at majors.

Leg #2. Tournament Group – Finau, Im, Lowry, Matsuyama, Homa – Winner is Max Homa (+330)

With as many wins this season as the rest of his career combined, Homa has officially arrived on Tour as the #23 ranked golfer in the world and is playing some terrific golf as of late. In addition to his outright wins, Homa has 11 top 25s in 17 events played, including four straight entering this week.

Having taken off the RBC Canadian Open in preparation for this event, Homa comes in well-rested and looking to improve on his major-best T13 a few weeks ago at the PGA Championship. While there isn’t much in the way of course history, The Country Club has widely been compared to TPC Potomac; a rugged northeast course with small greens where the driver is critical.

That, Homa knows something about, winning the Wells Fargo Championship just over a month ago for his second victory of the season. In his four rounds played, the only four in his career, Homa turned in true strokes gained of +3.7, more than 300% than the rest of the Tour’s average. While he may fade late given his limited experience at this stage, I would like Homa to compete with the rest of this group throughout the weekend.

Total Odds: +1512 at DK Sportsbook

2022 US Open Best Prop Bet Picks, Odds & Predictions

Scottie Scheffler Top-20 Finish (-140 on DraftKings Sportsbook)

#1 in the world by a wide margin, Scheffler comes into the third major of the season looking to make it his second after winning the Masters in runaway fashion to start us off. With the win, Scheffler claimed victory for the fourth time in six events adding to what has been one of the best seasons of any golfer in recent memory as he now looks to become just the sixth in the sport’s history to win both the Masters and US Open in the same season.

With guys like JT and Rory McIlroy as dialed as they have been recent, I’m staying away from the Scheffler outright market but love the value here in him finishing in the top 20. In addition to his current form, which has him #2 in the world in Greens in Regulation % and #8 in SG: Total, Scheffler has finished T25 or better in a staggering 13 of 18 events entered this season.

I like for Scheffler to make it three straight top 20s this week at The Country Club.

Rory McIlroy Top-10 Finish (+140 on DraftKings Sportsbook)

Speaking of guys playing out of their minds, the now #3 golfer in the world, McIlroy, is on an absolute tear as of late. Coming into this week fresh off a win at the RBC Canadian Open in which he shot 62 on Sunday, McIlroy has finished 8th or higher in four of his past five events, including both the Masters (2nd) and PGA Championship (8th).

And then there’s his US Open pedigree.

While his career record is mixed with just one more top 10 (6) than missed cuts (5), McIlroy has made three straight top 10s, including a T7 last year at the challenging Torrey Pines. In fact, McIlroy fired a Saturday 67 at Torrey before faltering on Sunday, shooting a final round 73.

As one of the best ball strikers in the world, I like McIlroy to find pay dirt this week and be in the hunt come Sunday in Brookline.

2022 US Open Golfer Profiles

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