U.S. Open: PGA Best Weekend Picks (2024)
Pinehurst No. 2 has claimed plenty of victims this week, including Scottie Scheffler, who barely made the cut at 5-over-par. The World No. 1 golfer is 78th in strokes gained: short game and 91st SG: putting, eliminating his prowess off-the-tee and on approach.
The top of the leaderboard features Ludvig Åberg in the solo lead at 5-under-par, followed by Bryson DeChambeau, Thomas Detry, and Patrick Cantlay at 4-under-par. Other big names such as Rory McIlroy, Tony Finau, and Hideki Matsuyama are also inside of the top-ten and only a couple of strokes behind the lead heading into what’s shaping up to be a terrific Saturday afternoon at the 2024 U.S. Open.
In this article, we’re recommending Follow me on X @Matt_MacKay_ for more free plays and PGA Tour best bets throughout the weekend.
U.S. Open: Best Weekend Picks
These plays are 1 unit, 0.50u, and 0.10 units. Or 1%, 0.50%, and 0.10% of your betting bankroll. Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Bryson DeChambeau (+400)
Undoubtedly the most consistent golfer in majors this season without a win, Bryson DeChambeau looks to be in top-form yet again at Pinehurst No. 2. DeChambeau won the 2020 U.S. Open and utilizes a blend of power off-the-tee and finesse around the greens to position himself for birdies and par-saving putts.
He’s gone under par in each of the first two rounds and is only one off the lead behind Åberg, but could easily be the outright leader if not for a couple of short missed putts on the green. Ranked seventh SG: putting, 14th SG: approach, and sixth in driving distance, DeChambeau is primed to breakthrough and win his second U.S. Open in five years. A one unit wager staked on DeChambeau at 4-1 odds is recommended.
Tony Finau (+1400)
Tony Finau is lurking atop the leaderboard in a three-way logjam at T5. Sitting at 3-under-par alongside McIlroy and Matthieu Pavon, Finau’s short game and ironplay have been enough to overcome a woeful putter.
Ranked T4 for greens in regulation in Round 2, plus finding 12 of 14 fairways, Finau’s ability to gain strokes on approach and around the green blends together for a nice one-two punch at this course. A half unit wager at +1400 odds is sufficient to place on Finau in the current outright winner betting market.
Akshay Bhatia (+8000)
We’re having some fun with Akshay Bhatia as a realistic longshot to contend this weekend due to an impressive short game. On Friday, Bhatia ranked second SG: short game, 23rd SG: off-the-tee, and still only had one birdie.
If he cleans up the miscues and goes on a run on Saturday, Bhatia will quickly find himself inside of the top-five. He’s still at 1-under-par, which is good enough for T9 on the leaderboard heading into Round 3. Yes, he regressed from Round 1 to Round 2, but the young talent already has an outright win recorded this season and plenty of confidence to keep up with the leaders in his home state of North Carolina.
A half unit staked returns 40 units of profit, but due to his inconsistency, plus the long odds, a 0.10 unit wager is the maximum play recommended on Bhatia this weekend.
Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for FantasyPros and BettingPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.