THE U. S. OPEN
And, just like that, we are at Major #3!!
We are heading to one of the most iconic courses around. Not only because it’s possible for the general public to play it. This has been the site of memorable performances. Martin Kaymer’s dominant performance in 2014. Michael Campbell’s unexpected win in 2005. And, who can forget, the Payne Stewart fist pump after holding off Phil Mickelson in 1999.
The LIV guys are back! Not a bad thing. Pricing is usually softer than regular tournaments simply because of the quality of the field. However, like the PGA with club pros qualifying, you have the regional qualifiers for this. So, there will be plenty of names that you see that will not register with you. Most of them aren’t even considerations for daily fantasy.
Highlights: Pinehurst #2
- Par 70 – 7,543 yards
- Greens: On the large side (6500 sf average) and, get this, Champion Ultradwarf Bermudagrass – What? Yeah, that’s what she said! I suppose treat it like Bermuda
- Plenty of bunkers
- Only one hole on the course with water in play
- U. S. Open set-up!! It will not be easy!!
NOTE: This is a 156-player field. Top 60 and ties make the cut!! This will be a brutal cut this week so don’t feel bad if you don’t get 6/6. Many time, 5/6 can cash in a large GPP and can win some of the single-entry contests.
NOTE: All pricing is based on DraftKings
** are my favorites in each category – could be pricing or the fact I think they play best.
$10,000 and Above
There are seven guys priced in the five-figure range. “Lock and Load” is playing so he must be considered.
- Scottie “Lock and Load” Scheffler ($13,200) – the best player on the planet right now! Last six events? 6 Top 10s (includes 3 wins)! This includes The Players and The Masters as wins! It probably won’t pay to fade him even if he doesn’t win.
- Xander Schauffele ($11,500) – it’s a toss-up for #2 in this group between him and Rory but Xander has never finished below T14 in U. S. Opens. One of the keys this week will be guys that play tough set ups well. I think his finishes are enough proof of that.
- Rory McIlroy ($12,100) – Besides “Lock and Load”, he may be playing the best golf in the world right now. He has to be considered. Between him and X, I may go X just to save the $600.
- Brooks Koepka ($10,000) – Good players on tough courses? Cue the “tough course’s worst nightmare”! Now, I realize this isn’t the Brooks of 6 or 7 years ago when he went back-to-back in U. S. Opens, but…
- Others (in order of preference)
Bryson DeChambeau ($10,100) – I’m not sure the bomber mentality plays well here, but he has won a U. S. Open and finished 2nd at the PGA and T6 at The Masters in 2024. I can’t rule him out, but I like the other four above better…unless I have $10,100 left and there’s little chance of that.
Jon Rahm ($10,900) – I think there is something wrong here. MC and T45 in last two Majors is not what we have come to expect from Rahm. Is it LIV-regret? Is it an injury? Don’t know, but I’m not paying $10,900 to find out.
$9,000 to $9,900 (Ranking all the guys in my order of preference)
- Ludvig Aberg ($9,600) – You all know by now that I love this guy’s game! He withdrew from a tournament a few weeks ago with a knee issue but looked fine last week. My “man-crush” is the only reason I’m ranking him above Collin.
- Collin Morikawa ($9,400) – a real solid price for a guy with 5 Top 10s in his last 7 events. This includes three straight Top 5s in recent play.
- Patrick Cantlay ($9,200) – In “Cantlay” standards, he’s sucked the last month or so. Prior to that he was playing better even though the Top 25s weren’t what we expected. I’m going with a short memory and playing the “tough player for tough courses card”. He’s been Top 15 in the last three U. S. Opens so I’m banking on that.
- Viktor Hovland ($9,800) – a little more than I may want to pay for a guy whose short game has improved but, to me, still isn’t U. S. Open-worthy! Now, he’s played 5 and finished Top 20 in 3 of them so I may be mistaken. To me, he and Cantlay are probably interchangeable but Cantlay is cheaper.
- Wyndham Clark ($9,000) – the defending champ, but not playing well right now.
$8,000 to $8,900 (Ranking all 8 in this Group)
- Hideki Matsuyama ($8,000)** – Great price for him! He’s solid on tough courses and in Majors. Plus, he hasn’t missed a cut this year.
- Tony Finau ($8,100)
- Tommy Fleetwood ($8,500) – We’ve always thought he would win a Major. I’m not there any longer but I think a Top 15 is in the cards.
- Matthew Fitzpatrick ($8,200)** – Winner in 2022! Solid finish last week on a course that plays somewhat like a U. S. Open layout. Too cheap!
- Will Zalatoris ($8,300) – I know he isn’t all the way back (pun intended)! However, he has the patience and the consistency to survive this type of tournament.
- Cameron Smith ($8,700)
- Max Homa ($8,600)
- Justin Thomas ($8,900) – never thought I’d list him last in a grouping. I guess he’s playing “OK” but I just don’t have a good feeling. SO – load up because my gut usually triggers a guy to play well! Kidding, but I just wanted to let you know this is a gut call and has nothing to do with his current form.
$7,000 to $7,900
- Sahith Theegala ($7,600)** – Not getting enough credit for his talent and play.
- Shane Lowry ($7,700) – he had a really tough Sunday at The Memorial! But, what I liked was the fact that he still kept an even head and appeared to be having fun even though it had to suck!
- Sam Burns ($7,200)** – he will likely go under the radar this week. The site I use for my stats shows that he gains 0.617 strokes on Bermuda greens…and he’s already a good putter on other surfaces. I think Sam shines!
- Dustin Johnson ($7,400) – Two things here! (1) I never thought I’d see DJ priced between $7K and $8K until he was approaching the Champions Tour age and (2) DJ comes to life at U. S. Opens! Last 10: T10-T24-T19-T6-T35-3rd-MC-Win-T2-T4!
- LONGSHOT (this Group): Tom Kim ($7,300)
Under $7,000
- Alex Noren ($6,900)** – Love this Price!
- Sepp Straka ($6,500)** – Love this Price even more!
- Brian Harman ($6,900)
- Russell Henley ($6,900)
- Adam Hadwin ($6,200) – last week has to be a confidence boost!
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout ($6,200)
- LONGSHOT (this Group): Harris English ($6,700)
$6,000 & Under
- Adam Svensson ($5,900)
- S. H. Kim ($5,900)
- Matteo Manasserro ($5,700)
Longshot(s)
- Mark Hubbard ($6,000) – This dude has still not missed a cut this season! He has little U. S. Open history which tells me he’s playing better now than he ever has or he would have qualified. At this price, a made cut is a WIN!
- Plus those listed above.
CORE PLAYS (Listing 6 – Maybe play 3):
- Scottie Scheffler ($13,200)
- Ludvig Aberg ($9,100)
- Sam Burns ($7,200)
- Hideki Matsuyama ($8,000)
- Collin Morikawa ($9,400)
- Alex Noren ($6,900)
$3,800 over the cap!
Ask questions on Discord if you have them. Make sure to tag me so I don’t miss it!
GOOD LUCK!!