West Virginia bettors have numerous variables regarding the 2022 US Open, unfolding Thursday-Sunday from The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Can Rory McIlroy stay hot, parlaying his monstrous final-round 62 and victory in the Canadian Open last week into a triumph at a major?
Will Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, who has scuffled in recent tournaments, launch another good run?
Can Jon Rahm, who’s been quiet lately, recapture the form that brought him the 2021 Open?
Those angles and others have been placed into the opening odds at West Virginia sportsbooks.
US Open odds at WV sportsbooks
McIlroy opened as the favorite at DraftKings WV Sportsbook. He is +1000 to win, +300 for a top-five finish, and +140 for the top 10.
Justin Thomas is +1100, +300, and +140 in the same categories. Other contenders include:
- Rahm +1200, +300, +140
- Scheffler +1400, +330, +160
- Xander Schauffele +1600, +400, +190
The next group, on the win line:
- Patrick Cantlay +2000
- Cam Smith +2200
- Dustin Johnson +2800
- Jordan Spieth +2800
- Matthew Fitzpatrick +3000
How to watch the 2022 US Open
- Thursday: NBC, 2-5 p.m.
- Friday: NBC, 4-7 p.m.
- Saturday: NBC, 12-8 p.m.
- Sunday: NBC, 12-7 p.m.
US Open betting options for WV sports bettors
Here are some of the leading golfers who finish in the top 10, along with their number of victories. They might be considered for a top-10 bet.
Scheffler, the FedEx points leader, has entered 18 tournaments. He has four wins (in a six-tournament period) and eight top 10s.
Sam Burns has been an excellent hidden value by staying under the radar. In 17 tournaments, he has three triumphs and eight top-10 finishes.
Thomas has been in 15 tournaments. He has nine top-10 finishes, including one victory.
McIlroy has been playing his best golf in a long time. He’s been in 10 tournaments, bagging six top-10 finishes and two victories.
Cam Smith has five top 10s in 13 tournaments. That includes two wins.
Cantlay has one triumph in 12 tries. He’s been in the top 10 seven times.
PGA players with hidden value
Fitzpatrick was fourth in the Canadian Open. If he finishes in the top 20 here, it pays +130.
Burns was fourth last week. His price to finish in the top 20 is +140.
Tony Finau was second in the Canadian Open. He occasionally gets hot in flurries. Finau is +140 to finish in the top 20.
All three choices will pay even more handsomely on the win, top-five, and top-10 lines. It’s just a matter of where the bettors believe the cutoff is with these selections.
Analyzing key holes at The Country Club
For players who like next-hole bets, a few stand out prominently as birdie and bogey opportunities. Although most scores end in par, the prices often lie in the birdie or bogey menu.
Bogey threats
The second hole is surrounded by left-side bunkers and has a multitiered green. It’s a par 4 that is moved up to a par 3, meaning the green was designed to handle wedges and 9-irons, not the lower clubs players will need off the tee. Downhill putts are treacherous.
The 10th hole has three left-side traps that must be gone over in most cases. The terrain slopes left, so it won’t be easy for players to settle the ball right and get a clear shot into the green.
Birdie opportunities
Hole No. 5 is a 310-yard par 4. Some players can drive the green. Others can get close and punch a shot into a big birdie opportunity. This hole should play well for the golfers.
Hole No. 8 is a long par 5 with no real resistance before the green. It can be a classic setup for a pitch onto the green in three for a birdie try or a risk-reward challenge in trying to reach the green in two.
The 14th is a wild card. It’s a par 5 at 625 yards. A large hill separates the two sections of the hole. Even after players clear the hill, they have a sharp dogleg left to a relatively small green.
For most players, there is more risk than reward in trying to cut off distance from the dogleg and go for the green in two. But some pros will try it. And that will be fascinating to watch.
Scores might fluctuate wildly on his hole.
PGA Tour gains a rival in LIV
The LIV tour is a new rival to the PGA.
Dustin Johnson became the latest name to resign from the PGA Tour to join the LIV circuit. He did that last week but is still allowed to play in the majors. He opened at +2800 to win here.
Given the national media attention, along with some big players like Johnson and Phil Mickelson backing LIV, this could be an explosive issue in golf in the coming weeks.
