The 2023 U.S. Open tees off on Thursday as 156 golfers compete at the 123 edition of the event from Los Angeles Country Club. This week is headed by the three headed monster that is Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and Brooks Kopeka, oh and defending champion, Matt Fitzpatrick. After hitting big on Brooks during the PGA Championship, I have analyzed the data, crunched the numbers, and created a new model for the US Open, that only consists of winners. So what is going to happen in Hollywood? Let's take a look at a full set of predictions and picks for the 2023 U.S. Open odds provided by Caesars Sportsbook.
Picks To Win:
Brooks Koepka (+900): Picking Koepka to prevail at the PGA Championship worked out alright, and I'm following suit for the other major championship he seeks to win for the third time. The U.S. Open can make the best golfers in the world look like me after 12 Miller Lites, but Koepka has proven more than once that is not fazed by the game's greatest test of skill. Between his swagger and confidence and from winning this event twice as well as momentum acquired at Oak Hill, it's too hard to bet against a man who could easily have entered this week sitting 2-0 in majors this year after holding the 54-hole lead at the Masters. Kopeka has never won consecutive majors, but he did win three in a span of 11 months one U.S. Open and two PGA Championships, from June 2018 to May 2019.
Max Homa (+2200): Homa has flashed some form, and he has a nice history here. This is a massive home game for him. LACC is a great second-shot course, which will favor the Cal grad's style of play. Outside of being the popular pick, I think he’s one of the few golfers who could generate some much-needed positive vibes all around at the U.S. Open. We could use a U.S. Open winner who is universally beloved in the golf world.
Great interviews with @MaxHoma23 & @BKopeka on @PardonMyTake today.
Cameron Smith (+2500): Smith is in the conversation for best putter in the world right now, and there might not be a conversation for best in the clutch. If the magic wand is working to its usual capabilities this week. For those who haven't seen much of Cam since he made the jump to the LIV tour, may forgot that he's one of the best in the game when he's on, and he can dial it up for the big tournaments. With the course conditions prepared to be rigorous, those who can capitalize with the flat stick you can find at the top of the leaderboard, and that's where you will find Smith.
Sleepers:
Rickie Fowler (+5000): I know, I know. But the resurgence is real. Fowler arrives off back-to-back top-10 finishes, one of which came at Jack's Place where he had a real chance to win on the back nine Sunday Rickie Fowler has been showing strong form of late. One of the most popular pros to have never won a major, he'll be in the mix to get it done this week.
Adam Scott (+8,000): Who is Austrailian, wears brown sweaters in 75 degree weather, and game is primed to win a major. Adam Scott. The Aussie is showing sneaky form; after starting 2023 with eight consecutive finishes outside the top 20, he’s logged three top 10s in four starts. This man at this price seems like a worthwhile option. And if he doesn't win, it's only money!
Phil Mickelson (+25,000): Phil and the US Open are synonymous, like the 4th of July and hot dogs, or like my ex wife and her boyfriend. I wasn't going to touch this, but the odds are too juicy and after his showing at Augusta in April, he's still got some left in the tank. Before Phil took on the PGA Tour, he took on the USGA. How crazy would it be to see Phil, at this point in his career, win the championship that has eluded him for so long? After all the drama in recent years, months, weeks and days. Maybe we’re destined for more madness in the golf world.
Fading:
Patrick Cantlay: This has traditionally been a good spot to put Cantlay, who has just four top 10s in 25 major championship appearances. He has all the game, all the skill in the world. But for some reason, he has just lacked figuring out how to solve major championships at this point in his career.
Justin Thomas: Writing off a two-time major champion has its risks, but it hasn't exactly been an inspiring season for Thomas. He missed the cut at the Masters for the first time in his career this April, and his PGA Championship title defense last month resulted in a T65 finish at 12 over. I will be sitting JT this week despite his odds being juicy.
Viktor Hovland: This is just a gut pick. Feel like he's always around and honestly, I am sick of it. He smiles too much and seems too happy for me. Must be nice to be sick at golf and rich.
Top 10:
Scottie Scheffler (-150): I'm sure some of you are like, YH why aren't you picking Scottie to win it's better value. Simple, he will not win. Scheffler rides 15 straight top-12 finishes on the PGA Tour into the U.S. Open and has proven he can finish on the first page of the leaderboard without the help of his putter. The tee-to-green metrics are historic, the bogey rate is nearing 2000 Tiger Woods levels, and if the putter cooperates at all, then that's just gravy. He's finished T2 and T7 in his last two U.S. Opens. I just cant see him putting well enough to secure the W.
Xander Schauffele (+160): His record at the U.S. Open is sterling. And while I don't see him as a huge threat to actually win the tournament, he's finished in the top 10 in five of six appearances. I expect him to do so once again.
Hideki Matsuyama (+400): Matsuyama has two things going for him, the first is that he's playing solid golf, having made every cut since missing one at the Arnold Palmer Invitational with five top 25s in that span and loads of great ball-striking. The other is that he's been under-the-radar great at U.S. Opens. Since missing the cut at Oakmont in 2016, he's finished in the top 21 five of six times and has two top-four finishes (2017, 2022).
Ride with me, don't ride with me, I just hope everyone has fun this weekend! #Sports