Lines are open and action is taking off for U.S. Open betting. Before the next golf major tees off on Thursday at Torrey Pines, here are some great pre-tournament prop bet values on DraftKings for some of the world’s top golfers.
Bryson DeChambeau (-136) to beat Brooks Koepka
In this fun little head-to-head matchup between the feuding American stars, Brooks Koepka (+105) actually presents the better value, but to be frank, his game has been off of late. By that, the intent is to convey Koepka has just taken time off.
We all know Koepka has trouble focusing if he’s not competing in a major, yet it’s hard to say he’ll be ready to rock after playing just one event since the PGA Championship and missing the cut.
Although Bryson DeChambeau is the defending champion, he’s finished only tied 46th at the Masters and joint 38th at the PGA Championship in an unimpressive 2021 majors campaign to date. U.S. Open betting could be a lot less stressful if you avoided this rivalry prop altogether.
But there’s a reason DeChambeau is favored. He lapped the field last year with his driving prowess and just finished tied for 18th at the Memorial, so he comes in with better form than Koepka.
Wagering against a two-time U.S. Open champion in Koepka seems ridiculous, yet in this instance, it seems right.
Collin Morikawa in top 20 after Round 1 (+225)
Some will discount Collin Morikawa at a lengthy Torrey Pines course because of his lack of driving distance. However, he’s arguably the best all-around ball-striker on the planet right now, and the numbers make a strong case for that.
First of all, Torrey Pines only has a couple of longer par 4’s that’ll give the field real trouble. Much of its length comes from longer par 3’s and stretched-out par 5’s, the latter of which Morikawa will have no problem handling as three-shot holes anyway.
Back to the primary point: Morikawa leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained: tee-to-green this season, and in greens in regulation percentage (71.83%). Oh, and Morikawa is 12th in driving accuracy and No. 1 in scoring average before the cut — hence the projection that he’ll start strong.
Pars are going to be at a premium in the U.S. Open. Morikawa’s long game translates well to this championship’s aesthetic. He’s machine-like when it comes to hitting fairways and greens.
Longer than 2-to-1 odds for Morikawa to be in the top 20 after one round? How can’t you like those numbers? Plus, he’s coming off a runner-up finish at the Memorial, so he’s firing on all cylinders at the perfect time.
Xander Schauffele to finish top 10 (+163)
Xander Schauffele may not be a household name. No matter. He’s an absolute boss who, similar to Koepka, likes to turn it on most at the majors.
It’s only a matter of time before Schauffele gets a major win, and DraftKings recognizes that, putting him as a No. 2 co-favorite to claim the 2021 U.S. Open at +1400.
Schauffele rates behind only DeChambeau and favorite Jon Rahm in strokes gained: total this season. In other words: not many holes to this dude’s game.
If you’re looking for a safer wager, it’s almost a lock to say Schauffele will finish inside the top 10. Consider his last four finishes at this major: T5-T6-T3-5.
Schauffele is +335 to finish in the top five if you’re feeling really lucky, but going this route is among the best values you’ll find in all the U.S. Open betting props.
Jordan Spieth (+1800) to win 2021 U.S. Open
Any wager on an outright winner in golf is often a fool’s errand — hence why the odds are so long.
However, when it comes to backing a champion in U.S. Open betting, you could do a lot worse than Jordan Spieth. DraftKings only has four golfers ahead of him on its list of favorites.
Since winning the 2015 edition of this championship, his track record has been rather poor. Do bear in mind, though, that Spieth had a multi-year winless slump that he only snapped this April at the Valero Texas Open. That marked Spieth’s first victory since the Open Championship in 2017.
Considering it’s been so long since Spieth has seized a major trophy, what better time than now for him to do it?
Spieth has logged top 10s in eight of his last 12 starts, and despite concerns about his wayward drives, he’s ranked ninth in strokes gained: around the green and seventh in overall putting average. He has plenty of short game and flat stick chops to get it done at the U.S. Open.
The smart move in most golf tournaments is to wait to wager on a winner as the event unfolds. That said, if you’re itchy for U.S. Open betting and want to take a shot before the action gets underway, take a flier on Spieth.
