US Open Betting Tips, Predictions & Odds
Every major has its own identity but the US Open remains the one most capable of making world-class golfers look ordinary.
It is often labelled golf’s toughest examination and while that can sometimes be overstated, there is no denying that this championship tends to reward a different set of qualities. Power is still important and birdies are never irrelevant, yet success here is usually built on discipline, positioning and the willingness to accept that not every hole can be attacked.
That becomes especially true when the venue is Shinnecock Hills.
Few courses create uncertainty in quite the same way. Players are given enough space to swing freely from the tee but are then challenged to place the ball correctly and control trajectories into greens that rarely accept anything less than conviction. Small misses have a habit of becoming expensive and rounds can unravel quickly.
The putting surfaces are central to everything. Their slopes and surrounding areas place enormous pressure on approach play and demand imagination whenever greens are missed. Saving par becomes a skill in itself and patience is often every bit as important as scoring.
For us punters, that creates an interesting puzzle. Recent US Opens have produced a mix of established stars and breakthrough winners, but the common thread is usually the same: players arriving with their long game in good order and enough confidence to trust it when scoring conditions become uncomfortable.
Our Freebets.com golf expert Ben Smith is here with his golf tips ahead of this week's action in New York.
US Open Betting Tips
Check out our golf betting tips for the US Open below.
Tip 1: Winner - Tyrrell Hatton (Each-Way)
Englishman Aaron Rai got his first major over the line at the PGA Championship, and I’m happy to start this card with another who looks capable of following him.
Hatton has been knocking on the door for a while now, and his recent record in the biggest events suggests he is getting closer. Third at Augusta earlier this year followed fourth in this championship last season, and those results sit comfortably alongside a broader run of high-level golf.
He also arrives off the back of a victory at Valderrama, a demanding test that rewarded control and good decision-making.
There is useful course evidence too. Hatton finished inside the top 10 when Shinnecock last hosted, despite arriving with little form.
That result becomes more impressive when viewed through today's lens because Hatton was nowhere near the player he is now. Since then, he has become far more reliable in the majors and built a record on links and exposed venues that points towards this type of challenge suiting him.
I also like that his strengths line up naturally with what this week usually demands. Approach play and work around the greens have been at the heart of most of his best results and if this turns into the sort of US Open where level par remains valuable, Hatton looks well equipped to stay involved throughout.
Tip 2: First Round Leader - Chris Gotterup (Each-Way)
Chris Gotterup is the player I want on side in the first-round leader market.
His rise over the last couple of seasons has been rapid, and one thing that stands out is how quickly he tends to settle into tournaments. He ranks inside the top 15 on the PGA Tour for opening-round scoring this season and showed that again at the PGA Championship, where he was tied for third after his Thursday round before going on to secure his second top-10 major finish in the last 12 months.
There are reasons to think this setup suits an aggressive start, too. Gotterup's power should be an asset on a course that offers more room from the tee than many US Open venues and his improving iron play gives him the chance to take advantage before conditions become more demanding later in the week.
The local connection is another positive. Raised in New Jersey and comfortable in breezy conditions, this is a venue and environment that should feel familiar. He has shown enough in majors recently to suggest he belongs, and I like his chances of getting out quickly.
Tip 3: Top Australian - Cameron Smith
Min Woo Lee heads the Top Australian market, but I like Cameron Smith to come out on top. Lee’s US Open record is decent, last year aside, but his T21, T5 and T27 in previous years all came at venues that played more naturally to his strengths, and I’m not convinced Shinnecock plays quite as much in his favour.
His approach play can still be inconsistent, and that feels a concern at a course likely to reward players who repeatedly leave the ball in the right places.
Jason Day is also one I’m keen to oppose. His short game is still in good shape, but everything else is miles off it.
Adam Scott is respected, but I prefer Smith, who may finally be returning to something near his best. The top-10 at Aronimink was his best major result in some time, and he has backed it up with enough encouraging golf since, most notably a T5 at LIV Andalucia.
Tip 4: Top 20 Finish - Tom Kim
I like Tom Kim for a top 20 because we do not need him to rediscover his absolute best, only continue a trend that has started to emerge again.
His overall results still look patchy, but there have been enough flashes to think the game is in a reasonable place. Last week's top-15 came with excellent iron numbers and he has now put together several starts this season where the approach play has been much closer to the level that made him one of the game's brightest young players.
The attraction, though, is his record in this event. Four starts have produced four made cuts and while only one of those produced a top 20 (T8 in 2023), he only just fell short in 2022 and 2024, finishing 23rd and T26.
He does not need a career week to land this and that makes top 20 the right way to play him.
US Open Latest Odds
Check out the latest US Open odds from the top UK betting sites below.
Where to Watch the US Open
Whether you're planning to watch the action unfold or get involved with golf betting this weekend, here’s everything you need to know about following the US Open live from Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Long Island.
TV Channel
Golf fans in the UK can watch live US Open coverage throughout the week on Sky Sports Golf, with selected programming also shown on Sky Sports Main Event.
Live Stream Information
Sky Sports subscribers can stream every round of the US Open live via the Sky Go app, while non-subscribers can watch all the action on NOW with a Day or Month Membership.
