I’m not sure about you, but I’m pumped for the 2023 US Open at The Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course. I mean have you seen The Fried Egg’s preview video? This place is truly a masterpiece! Gil Hanse and Geoff Shackelford’s 2009 restoration of the North will be on full display this weekend and I’m sure the original artist, George C. Thomas Jr., would be proud. Long fescue and massive bunkers surround every green and fairway of these hallowed grounds. Not to mention the native barranca coming into play seemingly every shot. You thought Oak Hill was tough, wait til you see this place. This tournament should be one to remember.

The last big golf event this venue hosted was the 2017 Walker Cup. As luck would have it a few of the top players in the field participated in that competition, including the favorite. This will be the first major championship contested at LACC and it won’t disappoint.

Obviously it’s been a crazy week in the world of golf. Honestly crazy doesn’t even do it justice. However, this is about the 2023 US Open so we’ll avoid the absurdity, for now.

Matthew Fitzpatrick (35-1)
Feel like we have to start with the defending champ. It’s just respectful. His performance at The Country Club last year was spectacular. I can still picture the dagger he hit out of the bunker on 18, but 2023 is a new year. Due to injury, Fitzy had a slow start to the season but has since rounded into form. A win at The Heritage, along some other strong showings, he may have a shot to repeat. I just won’t be betting on it. I mean can you picture Matthew Fitzpatrick winning the same major back to back, sorry, but I can’t get there.

Brooks Koepka (12-1)
Coming off his 5th Major win and 3rd PGA Championship. Mr. Koepka has a chance to make it 3 US Open’s too which would put him in even more exclusive company. Only Hale Irwin and Eldrick have 3 US Open wins, with 4 others having won 4. He would also join Jack and Tiger as the only men with 3 PGA and 3 US Open wins ELITE, ELITE shit. No clue where his game’s at after the two week post PGA bender (sorry other than that 6:30 workout, Go Smash!) BUT i fully expect him to be in contention on Sunday with a shot at number 6. Keep in mind only 12 men have ever won six or more majors in their career and Brooksy is only 33.

Viktor Hovland (18-1)
I’m a big Viktor stan, who isn’t, and I’m not sure how I feel about him winning The Memorial. On one hand it’s the biggest win of his career, full stop. Unfortunately, now his odds are almost unbettable for this event. Having said that 18-1’s not too bad so you can guarantee I’ll have some action on this Norwegian King. If his performance the past few months are indication, Hovland will be taking one of these majors very, very soon.

Scottie Scheffler (7-1)
There’s not much to say about this absolute STUD. If he putts even average this week he’ll win by 4 strokes but the putter has killed him this year. He finished DFL in SG putting at Memorial but finished 1st in SG Tee-to-Green. With the gap between him and second being the same as 2nd to 32nd. Point being, if he figures out the flat stick it’s game over. Also, Scottie was a member of that 2017 US Walker Cup team so he’s got experience here too.

Jon Rahm (10-1)
One guy that may have something to say about Scottie winning his second major in the last two years is Rahmbo. Rahm, who has a chance to win two of the first three majors of 2023, comes in with his game a little shaky of late. Honestly, who cares though, he won The Masters two months ago and he hasn’t been awful. No one would be surprised if the Spaniard captured his second US Open on Sunday.

Rory McIlroy (14-1)
Our beloved sacrificial lamb comes into the US Open looking for his first major in 9 years. If he takes home the trophy this week the golfing world would be overjoyed, but can he finally deliver. The game’s been solid this year but we haven’t seen him put it all together for four rounds. He’s coming off back to back forgettable Sunday performances at The Memorial and The Canadian, where was the favorite heading into the final round of each event. Although he couldn’t close the deal on either occasion, his games looks like it’s right there and mentally he somehow seems to be in a great place. The golfing world will be anxiously awaiting to see which Rory shows up on the first tee on Thursday.

Max Homa (28-1)
Ahh the hometown kid. Spoiler alert. This is my pick to win the 2023 US Open. John Maxwell Homa, LFG! I mean all the stars are aligned for Homa to capture his first major title, just down the road from where he grew up. He has the course record on the North (61) and he’s played here countless times. This feels a lot like Fitzpatrick last year. Sometimes the most obvious choice is the right one.

Xander Schauffele (18-1)
Xander Schauffele will win a major in the next four years. I don’t think that’s a bold statement, I just have no clue which one it will be. His game is too good and he’s been around the hoop too many times for me to think he won’t get it done. He’s also a California kid but can he finally get it done when it really counts.

Patrick Cantlay (14-1)
I wish I didn’t have to touch on Patrick, but at those odds, I felt obligated. Let’s be honest, Cantlay can be a little annoying on the course. He’s real meticulous out there, lots of attention to detail during his rounds. Feet shuffling aside, he can play and has a heck of a resume. Pretty much everything but a major win. He may get one at some point but it won’t be here…I hope, Cantlay is also from Cali and before Homa held the course record it was Patrick.

Justin Thomas (50-1)
Since his absurd comeback win at Southern Hills last year the game hasn’t been anywhere near JT’s standards. He comes in at, 50-1? You read that correctly, 50-1! Justin Thomas is listed at 50-1 to win a golf tournament, what year is it?! I mean maybe it makes sense based in his performance, but I’d be crazy not to throw a few sheckles on JT this week, right?? Well his best finish of the calendar year was a solo fourth at the Waste Management. He missed the cut at the Masters and finished T65 at last month’s PGA Championship. It’s really been the ball striking which has led him here. Normally one of the better ball strikers on tour. JT is 36th in SG approach this year, compared too 8th and 3rd the past two seasons. It would be remarkable if he could find his game around the treacherous grounds of LACC. But hell at those odds, I’m taking that action out of principle!

Jordan Spieth (28-1)
I think the image of Caddy Michael Greller handing Jordan a ball after he dumped one in the water at The Master really sums up how we all feel about our guy. Greller tried to tell him to lay up but you know our guy. Spieth had to try the impossible shot. Outside of Tiger and maybe Rory, Spieth is the most popular man in golf. The golfing world is aching for him to finally put it all together in a major again. Believe it or not, it’s been almost 6 years since his last major win at Royal Birkdale. He’s has a couple of close calls this year. The question is, can he minimize mistakes and have a transcendent week.

Cameron Young (40-1)
Cameron Young, one of my favorite bets on tour, is unfortunately dealing with some injuries that have him not looking like himself. He had a strong showing at the Matchplay and the Masters, but the injury seems to have derailed his impressive play. He missed the cut at the PGA and at the Memorial. Followed those up with an average performance at the RBC last week, and nothing about his form says he’ll have a shot in the US Open. However, Cameron Young looks like a guy that can win multiple major titles and I am convinced once he gets his first win the floodgates are going to open.

Tony Finau (40-1)
Tony’s taken some time off the past couple of weeks, hopefully he’s used the time to figure some things out. Finau is one of the best current players who have not won a major title. He’s had tough time in majors throughout his career, never being able to get it done on the weekend. A solo third at the 2019 Open Championship is Tony’s best ever finish at a major. That is pretty crazy considering he’ll be 34 in September. Finau does have the game to get it done on the biggest stage, I just don’t think it will be in LA.

Collin Morikawa (35-1)
Yet another California kid and another member of the 2017 Walker Cup team. Morikawa hasn’t been himself this year and coming off a WD before the final round at Memorial he may be a stay away this week. Having said that, his ball striking numbers are still absurd this year. Collin is only behind Scheffler this season in SG approach. If he’s healthy and can putt okay this week, he may have a shot to contend but those are big ifs.

Cameron Smith (25-1)
I miss Cameron Smith, he was arguably the best player on tour last year and we’ve barely seen him play since his virtuoso performance at St. Andrews. I’m not sure what to make of him since we have no data around how he’s really been playing. He has been solid at the first two majors, considering his lack of competitive rounds. Coming off a T9 at last months PGA, the best putter in the field, definitely has a shot to claim his second Major Championship this week. I just wish we had more info to put some funds on the Aussie.

Hideki Matsuyama (40-1)
The last man we’re going to cover was last seen flying Spirit airways after finishing T16 and scooping up after $275k at Memorial. His game hasn’t been great this year, but he may finally be healthy for the first time in a couple of years. When he’s healthy, Hideki is one of the best ball strikers on tour, he has chance to win on any course at any time. If he can string together a few days in a row like his second round at Memorial he could be in line for his second major title this week.

The Others
There are a ton of guys that I didn’t have time to get to, I mean I haven’t even mentioned Phil playing in a US Open. DJ, Sam Burns, Shane Lowry, Sungjae, Bryson or maybe even Rickie. If Scottie can’t putt this week it should be anyone’s game at LACC and it will be thrilling to see how it all unfolds.

Alright that was a lot of words, maybe too many, but at every major there’s some long shots that perform well. They may not win but would you be surprised if someone like Kurt Kitayama is in the hunt on Sunday, I wouldn’t. So here’s a few folks to look out for a little further down the odds board. Maybe I won’t pick these guys to win, but I feel great about T20’s for these horses.

Justin Suh, Kurt Kitayama, Sepp Straka, Min Woo Lee and Cashmere Keith Mitchell

Enjoy the 123rd US Open Golf Championship at LACC North!!

• Strokes Gained information provided by pgatour.com
• Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook as of 6/12/23