U.S. Open: 4 Dark Horse picks than can win at Pinehurst No. 2

The U.S. Open returns to Pinehurst No. 2, the North Carolina course that has hosted the nationwide championship 3 times earlier than.

In 1999, the late Payne Stewart made a 15-foot par putt on the 18th gap to fend off Phil Mickelson by a stroke. His celebration additionally grew to become one of the vital memorable moments in golf historical past, as a statue of Stewart’s iconic fist pump now stands outdoors the Pinehurst clubhouse. He was additionally ranked throughout the high 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR) on the time.

Six years later, in 2005, Michael Campbell received his solely main title because the Eightieth-ranked participant on the earth. He made it to Pinehurst through ultimate qualifying, holing a putt on the final gap to earn a spot. Oddsmakers didn’t even checklist Campbell as an choice to win that week, however he doubtless would have had odds within the vary of 250-to-1—a outstanding longshot.

Then, in 2014, Martin Kaymer decimated the sphere, successful by eight strokes at 9-under par. He entered the week with odds of 40-to-1; not a favourite, however actually value contemplating. Only three gamers completed in pink figures that week, because the world’s finest gamers struggled on the refurbished No. 2 course.

Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw restored Pinehurst No. 2 in 2010, eliminating the tough and bringing the course again to its North Carolina roots. As such, this 12 months’s championship marks the second time the U.S. Open will happen on the revitalized format.

Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images

4 Dark Horse Picks for the 2024 U.S. Open:

1. Alex Noren

The 41-year-old Swede has performed constant golf all season, which explains why he’s at the moment fourth on the PGA Tour in whole strokes gained this season.

He is an incredible iron participant and has a strong brief recreation, a system for fulfillment at Pinehurst No. 2. Noren ranks fifth on the PGA Tour in greens in regulation proportion, discovering the placing floor practically 71% of the time. But within the uncommon occasion that he misfires, Noren will get up and down routinely. He leads the tour in scrambling proportion whereas rating ninth in strokes gained, across the greens.

Overall, Noren ranks third on tour in scoring common this season, proving he has the sport to win his first main championship. He tied for twelfth in his final main begin at Valhalla, courtesy of a ultimate spherical 7-under 65. But if he can put collectively 4 strong days, which he is actually able to, Noren can shock a ton of individuals.

DraftKings Odds: +10000

Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

2. Denny McCarthy

Denny McCarthy has by no means received on the PGA Tour, so why can we like him to win this week at Pinehurst No. 2?

He has probably the greatest brief video games of any participant on the earth.

McCarthy is an outstanding putter, rating second on tour in strokes gained placing. He additionally ranks first on tour in one-putt proportion at 46.97%, a formidable determine.

These greens on No. 2 are subsequent to unimaginable, as every of them contains a turtleback form, which ricochets strategy pictures that miss ever so barely. McCarthy shouldn’t be a terrific iron participant, however he’s twenty seventh on tour in strokes gained, across the greens, and fifth in scrambling proportion. McCarthy will get up-and-down at a 68.86% clip.

He did miss the lower on the PGA Championship however has made 13-of-15 cuts this season, together with two top-10s. He misplaced in a playoff on the Valero Texas Open to Akshay Bhatia and tied for sixth on the Wells Fargo Championship. He has the sport to win, however to take action this week, his brief recreation has to shine the brightest.

DraftKings Odds: +13000

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

3. Billy Horschel

Billy Horschel has turned his recreation round this season, which features a win on the Corales Puntacana Championship in April. He can also be taking part in properly as of late. Horschel tied for eighth on the PGA Championship, as he carded an 8-under 64 on Sunday.

Since then, he tied for twenty fourth at Colonial and fifteenth on the Memorial.

He has relied closely on his putter, as he ranks fourth on the PGA Tour in strokes gained placing and fifth in placing proportion inside 10 toes. Horschel can also be thirteenth in scrambling proportion.

He has additionally performed this golf course earlier than. In 2014, he tied for twenty third, a few months earlier than he received the FedEx Cup.

DraftKings Odds: +13000

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

4. Keegan Bradley

Ten years in the past, Keegan Bradley completed in a tie for fourth at Pinehurst No. 2, as he shot three rounds within the 60s to put up a strong end. If not for his third spherical, through which he shot a 6-over 76, he might have given Martin Kaymer a run for his cash.

Nevertheless, he completed the week at 1-over par, 10 again of Kaymer.

This 12 months, Bradley has posted two runner-up finishes and 6 high 25s. He tied for second on the Charles Schwab Challenge however stumbled over the weekend on the Memorial.

After sitting on the entrance web page of the leaderboard by way of 36 holes, Bradley imploded over the weekend, capturing rounds of 78 and 80 on Saturday and Sunday to ship him plummeting down the leaderboard.

And but, he nonetheless completed ninth in strokes gained placing at Muirfield Village, proof that his play from tee to inexperienced was the difficulty.

Nevertheless, we really feel that Bradley has gotten the unhealthy mojo out of him as he arrives in Pinehurst able to go. If he can hold his putter scorching, a second main may come his manner—that may undoubtedly wash away the stain of lacking out on the Ryder Cup final 12 months.

DraftKings Odds: +7500

Photo by Amy Lemus/Getty Images

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Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be positive to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.