US Open: Round 3
Los Angeles Country Club (North Course), Los Angeles, California
Nothing says Father’s Day weekend like the U.S. Open week in the golf world. If there is a second tradition like none other, it’s U.S. Open Sunday, watching the final round action and eating some good food with dad. A very happy inaugural Father’s Day to our DDSN partner Research! Last week’s Canadian Open was a great show, with Canadian Nick Taylor draining a 72-foot eagle putt on the 4th playoff hole, to edge out Tommy Fleetwood, who we had at 20/1 to win. It was a devastating loss from a gambling perspective, but it was a great battle witnessed, and an awesome tackle by the security guard on Adam Hadwin.
This week, the test will be monumental, as the USGA hosts the top golfers in the world to compete in the shadows of the Hollywood Hills, in the 123rd U.S. Open. Los Angeles Country Club (North Course) looks up for the challenge this week, with videos showing lightning-fast greens, super undulating fairways, and thick, unrelenting rough. There also seemed to be no first cut anywhere on the course. The fairways and fringe around greens were heavily guarded by the rough. In our lifetime, the U.S. Open has always been the utmost challenge, and the superintendents always strive to make their courses set up to break down the best golfers in the world. The additional storylines to be played out are this being the first major since the announcement of the merger of the three major golf leagues last week. Brooks Koepka seemed to be very animated about the situation in his presser today, even throwing in a jab as he left, saying, “I will see y’all at the Traveler’s next week,” referring to the next scheduled event on the PGA tour schedule. Additionally, late news that Jay Monahan will not be present due to medical issues.
The Field:
The additional aspect that makes the U.S. Open unique is the qualifying process being open to anyone with an index not exceeding 1.4, and this year there was a record of 10,187 entries. Those entrants then have to compete initially in local qualifiers, then advance to “golf’s longest day” for final qualifying, playing 36 holes to win a spot in the Championship Field. Of the over 10,000 entries, 63 players made it through qualifying, and some are household names, including Sergio Garcia, Taylor Pendrith, Charley Hoffman, Stewart Cink, and Austin Eckroat. The final field consists of 156 players, and after Friday’s round, the cut will be top 60 including ties. The field will include 49 out of the 50 top golfers in the world; the only golfer missing is the injured Will Zalatoris. The way the course is set up this week, the cream definitely will rise to the top. To round out the bottom of your DraftKings line ups, look for guys with high Greens in Regulation % (GIR%), high approach % from 150+, and scrambling %. Also, be on the lookout for a strong showing from the California golfers, as guys like Patrick Cantlay, Colin Morikawa, and Max Homa, who owns the course record at 61, to do well this week. If somehow Scottie Scheffler learns how to putt between now and Thursday morning, or if Jon Rahm comes out hot and locked in, there will be no contest and either could win by 5 strokes.
The Course:
Los Angeles Country Club will host the first U.S. Open in Los Angeles in 75 years, previously held at Riviera Golf Club in 1948. The course is set up at 7,421 yards, Par 70 35-35, with Bermuda grass on tees, fairways, and rough. The greens are laid with bent grass, which as we saw from prior weeks, leads to fast greens. The Stimpmeter is reading at 13, which is ridiculously fast and will get faster over the course of the weekend. The distances on the course are going to be demanding with par 3s at 284 and 290 yards, par 4s at 542 and 520 yards, and par 5s at 623 and 578 yards. The weather looks to be dry with no rain in the forecast. The golfers had a break last week with the course playing easier than the prior two weeks, but the Los Angeles Country Club will look to bring the field back to earth with an anticipated single digit under winning score.
TexHoss Top 5 (via BetOnline):
Patrick Cantlay +1600
Max Homa +2800
Tyrrell Hatton +3300
Hideki Matsuyama +5500
Brooks Koepka +1300
Tournament Wagers:
[WIN] Matchup: Justin Suh OVER Adrian Meronk (+108) [via BetOnline]
[WIN] Matchup: Jordan Spieth OVER Justin Thomas (-130) [via Draft Kings]
[LOSER] Matchup: Tommy Fleetwood OVER Tony Finau (+105) [via Draft Kings]
[WIN] Matchup: Adam Hadwin OVER Emiliano Grillo (-120) [via Draft Kings]
[LOSER] 3 Ball: Justin Rose OVER Tony Finau & Jason Day (+175) [via Draft Kings]
Top Australian: Cam Smith (+225) [via Draft Kings]
[LOSER] Top Frenchman: Victor Perez (+150) [via Draft Kings]
Top 30: Ryan Fox (+220) [via Draft Kings]
[LOSER] Top 30: Victor Perez (+330) [via Draft Kings]
Top 20: Hideki Matsuyama (+185) [via BetOnline]
[LOSER] Top 20: Cam Davis (+450) [via Draft Kings]
[LOSER] Top 20: Paul Barjon (+450) [via Draft Kings] {added after Round 1}
Top 20: Justin Suh (+320) [via Draft Kings] {added after Round 1}
Top 20: Sam Bennett (+280) [via Draft Kings] {added after Round 1}
1st Round Wagers: (-3.09 units)
[LOSER] Matchup: Patrick Rodgers OVER Lucas Herbert (-115) [via BetOnline]
[LOSER] Matchup: Adam Schenk OVER Eric Cole (-105) [via BetOnline]
[WIN] Matchup: Dustin Johnson OVER Cameron Young (-110) [via BetOnline]
[PUSH] Matchup: Tommy Fleetwood OVER Justin Thomas (-110) [via Draft Kings]
[LOSER] Matchup: Sahith Theegala OVER Tom (Joohyung) Kim (-110) [via Draft Kings]
[LOSER] Matchups: Justin Rose OVER Jason Day (-105) [via Draft Kings]
2nd Round Wagers: (-4.20 units)
[LOSER] Matchup: Si Woo Kim OVER Patrick Reed (-115) [via Draft Kings]
[LOSER] Matchup: Cam Davis OVER Kurth Kitayama (-115) [via Draft Kings]
[LOSER] Matchup: Max Homa OVER Collin Morikawa (-105) [via Draft Kings]
[WIN] 2 Ball: Bryson DeChambeau OVER Justin Thomas (-125) [via Draft Kings]
[LOSER] 3 Ball: : Adam Hadwin OVER Denny McCarthy & Joel Dahmen (+170) [Draft Kings]
[LOSER] Leader After Round 2: Dustin Johnson (+700) [via Draft Kings]
3rd Round Wagers:
Top 20: Sahith Theegala (+230) [via Draft Kings] {added after Round 2}
Top 20: Austin Eckroat (+300) [via Draft Kings] {added after Round 2}
Top 20: Tommy Fleetwood (+330) [via Draft Kings] {added after Round 2}
Top 20: Ryan Fox (+650) [via Draft Kings] {added after Round 2}
Top 20: Joohyung (Tom) Kim (+400) [via Draft Kings] {added after Round 2}
Leader After Round 3: Dustin Johnson (+1800) [via Draft Kings] {added after Round 2}