U.S. Open: SB Nation employees predicts winners for Pinehurst No. 2

The U.S. Open returns to Pinehurst No. 2 for the primary time since 2014, when Martin Kaymer obliterated the sphere en path to his second main title. The German gained by eight strokes that yr, as solely three gamers completed under-par for the week.

This golf course doesn’t characteristic the gnarly, deep, and luscious tough that often characterizes a U.S. Open. Instead, sandy waste areas with crabgrass line Pinehurst’s fairways, thus reminding all who play it that they’re within the coronary heart of the Carolinas.

But what makes Pinehurst No. 2 so difficult are its placing surfaces.

“The greens are simply treacherous. They’re all turtleback,” defined former PGA Tour professional turned Golf Channel broadcaster Peter Jacobsen to Playing Through.

“You need to goal for the center of the greens whenever you play Pinehurst No. 2 and hope it stays on the inexperienced. It’s a wide-open course off the tee. It’s not a precision driving course however an exacting iron method course.”

Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images

With this in thoughts, we like gamers with cast-iron play and artful quick video games to do effectively on the 2024 U.S. Open. So let’s get to our Staff Picks, with Matt Warren from SB Nation’s NFL site filling in as our visitor picker for the third main of the yr:

Jack Milko — Staff Writer, Golf

In my three daring predictions, I famous that a global participant will win the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 for the third straight time.

As such, I’m going with Ludvig Åberg to win his first main championship on certainly one of golf’s hallowed grounds.

The sweet-swinging Swedish phenom is an outstanding ball striker, a necessity for this course. He ranks third on the PGA Tour in proximity to the opening, a statistic that demonstrates his beautiful accuracy. He additionally finds loads of greens, doing so at roughly a 69% clip, good for twentieth on tour.

But his quick recreation additionally impresses me. Although his strokes gained numbers don’t bounce off the web page, he ranks thirteenth on the PGA Tour this season in scrambling proportion at 66.38%. He additionally simply completed the Memorial Tournament, held on a difficult Muirfield Village, rating [6th] in strokes gained: across the inexperienced.

His placing numbers will not be spectacular both. Yet, in his main debut at Augusta National this previous April, he gained two strokes on the greens, per KnowledgeGolf. That ranked first within the area, and Augusta’s greens are infamous for his or her wild undulations.

Although Augusta and Pinehurst don’t share many comparisons, their greens characteristic loads of slopes and bumps. Plus, like this yr’s Masters, gamers will face a agency and quick No. 2, and contemplating Åberg thrived at Augusta this yr, I imagine he does that and them some this week.

His knee appears wholesome, too, as evidenced by his robust week on the Memorial. So, give me Åberg to win his first main at Pinehurst No. 2.

DraftKings Odds: +2000

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Matt Warren — Associate Director, SB Nation NFL

In the 3 times Pinehurst No. 2 has hosted the U.S. Open, solely 4 gamers mixed have completed underneath par, with the 2005 winner—Michael Campbell—ending at even.

Scottie Scheffler is dominating in so many accuracy statistics—together with driving proportion, greens in regulation, and method—that I believe correct pictures off the tee and into these doubtlessly loopy greens are what will get him over the hump to win his first U.S. Open.

I do know it’s the protected decide and really boring, however he solely has one end outdoors the highest 10 all yr, and it was 5 months in the past at The American Express. His historic season continues in North Carolina as he’ll win his second main of 2024.

DraftKings Odds: +300

Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Savannah Richardson — Staff Writer, Golf

Bryson DeChambeau is my decide.

I by no means thought I’d make this selection. If anybody is aware of my historical past with Bryson, it’s a shocker.

However, he performed effectively on the PGA Championship, which I noticed firsthand. And but, this previous week, DeChambeau admitted he didn’t have his greatest stuff at Valhalla regardless of ending one stroke behind Xander Schauffele at 20 underneath par.

If he retains his mustache, he’ll win the U.S. Open trophy for a second time. I like his recreation for Pinehurst, so I’m going with my intestine on this one and selecting DeChambeau.

DraftKings Odds: +1600

Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images

For all different sports activities betting content material, take a look at SB Nation’s DraftKings site.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be certain to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.