Rory McIlroy blistered the field Sunday to win the RBC Canadian Open, rocked a Kyle Lowry jersey afterward to pump up the local crowd and now is the trendy pick to take home the year's third major championship.
No word yet on if he'll wear a Steph Curry jersey should the Warriors mount an NBA Finals comeback and beat the Raptors. But I digress.
The U.S. Open is back at Pebble Beach for the centennial anniversary of the famed course, and after McIlroy posted a Sunday-61 to roll over the field in Canada, he's sure to be a popular pick to take home his second U.S. Open.
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While McIlroy (10/1) and tournament co-favorites Brooks Kopeka and Dustin Johnson (8/1) look like good picks to win, you'll have to use a lot of capital in order to make those bets worth your while. Betting on someone high up the board also limits your exposure, which means unless you're certain that Koepka, Johnson, McIlroy, Tiger Woods or Jordan Spieth will leave Pebble with the trophy, it might be best to start your betting card a little lower.
There's no better time than the start of summer to try and make a few extra bucks, so with that being said, here are five golfers whose odds are worth a sprinkle to try and bring home a nice chunk of change. (Odds courtesy of Westgate Las Vegas and Golfodds.com)
Justin Thomas 25/1
No, Thomas didn't make the cut in my picks to win preview, but that doesn't mean there's no value in this number. Thomas is the seventh-ranked golfer in the world and is only this low because he's coming off a wrist injury that he suffered at the Honda Classic.
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After securing a top 10 at The Masters despite the wrist injury, Thomas took some time off to heal. He returned at The Memorial and missed the cut due to a Friday 77. But he played well this past week at the RBC Canadian Open, finishing fourth in the field in Stroke Gained: Tee-to-Green at 2.37. He finished tied for 20th thanks to shaky week with the putter, but the irons looked good, and he's been known to get hot at major championships. The discounted price for Thomas is worth a few dollars.
Xander Schauffele 25/1
It feels like Schauffele is on the verge of breaking through at a major. The 25-year-old continues to show up at the biggest events, carding wins at the WGC-HSBC Champions, the Tour Championship and the Tournament of Champions. He also has been brilliant at majors since bursting onto the scene in 2017. In nine majors, he's made eight cuts and carded four top-six finishes, including runner-ups at The 2018 British Open and this year's Masters. The California native also is used to playing on poa greens, which should add to his comfort level at Pebble Beach.
In his two previous U.S. Open starts, Schauffele has finished tied for fifth and tied for sixth. He's ready to win on the biggest stage.
Brandt Snedeker 50/1
Snedeker petered out after a second-round 60 at the Canadian Open this past weekend, finishing in a tie for fourth. But the American has shown good form in previous U.S. Opens, amassing six top-11 finishes, including a tie for eighth in 2010 at Pebble. Snedeker also is comfortable on Monterey Peninsula, winning the AT&T twice.
While he's not a long hitter, the U.S. Open conditions should level the playing field, and I wouldn't be shocked to see Snedeker have a chance to win come Sunday.
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Henrik Stenson 60/1
The Swede has an up-and-down track record at U.S. Opens, but his game appears to be rounding into form. Stenson was fourth at the Canadian Open in Stokes Gained: Approach en route to a tie for eighth place. His around-the-green game was the only facet of his game that was poor in Canada, which is a concern with the penal rough at Pebble.
Still, 60/1 for a major champion is worth a look.
Tyrrell Hatton 150/1
One of the only triple-digit plays that I believe is worth a look. Hatton hasn't played great this year, but there are signs his game is coming around after he posted a top 10 at Colonial two weeks ago.
The Englishman likes to play seaside courses and showed last year at Shinnecock Hills that he has the patience to withstand a U.S. Open test when he finished in a tie for sixth. So, throw a few on Hatton, and buy yourself something nice if he leaves Monterey Peninsula with a win.