4 days ago
Scheff can cook up victory to add US Open to his honours list
Golfers at this week's US Open at Oakmont may wish to say a few prayers before they tackle one of the toughest courses in the world and bid to stop Scottie Scheffler edging closer to winning all four majors.
It's the tenth time in 125 editions the Pittsburgh venue has hosted the tournament and it has gained a fearsome reputation, chiefly because of the formidable rough, slick greens and Church Pew bunker which sprawls across the third and fourth holes.
But world No.1 Scheffler is an even bigger obstacle for those chasing glory, the Jack Nicklaus Medal and the £3.19million cheque handed to the man whose name tops the leaderboard after 72 holes around the daunting par-70 course.
Scheff may have taken time to hit top form after suffering a hand injury at the turn of the year but he's back to his best after winning three of his last four outings, starting with an eight-stroke victory at the Byron Nelson, a five-shot triumph at the US PGA at Quail Hollow and a four-shot romp at the Memorial.
Basically, those figures show that if he's playing at the peak of his powers nobody is going to get close and he can win a fourth major, following the US PGA and two Masters successes at Augusta, then turn his attention to achieving the career Grand Slam at next month's Open at Royal Portrush.
Don't expect low scores at Oakmont. Dustin Johnson won the US Open with a course record of just four-under par the last time it was held at the track near the ominously named Dark Woods in 2016.
That means pinpoint accuracy and nerves of steel are required for success and Scheff, who is also the FedEx Cup leader, has those qualities in abundance. Yes, he's extremely skinny at no bigger than 11/4 with Betfred, BetMGM and Unibet but we'll back him because there's nothing better than having a few quid on the winner.
Value seekers can get stuck into the each-way value claims of Ben Griffin, second behind Scheffler at the Memorial, winner of the Charles Schwab Challenge and eighth at the US PGA in his last three starts, at 50/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral. More Trending
Also play the hot hand of Sam Burns. He may have lost Sunday's Canadian Open play-off but hit a last-round 62 to get there and he's 55/1 with the same two firms, who offer the same price on Harris English. He finished tied 12th at Augusta and T2 at Quail Hollow.
Sadly for Rory McIlroy fans, the Northern Irishman is struggling with a new driver, missed the cut at last week's Canadian Open and cannot be backed to add to his thrilling, Grand-Slam-competing win at the Masters.
Shane Lowry just missed the cut for our US Open betting fourball, but he has been in decent form with a tied second at the Truist Championship and is worth an each-way flutter to be the first-round leader at Oakmont at 40/1 with BetMGM and Unibet. The Irishman is also 6/4 with Betfred for a top-20 finish.
Meanwhile, Aaron Rai has the all-round smarts to feature prominently at Oakmont and is 7/1 with William Hill and Betway to be the top English golfer at the US Open and 7/2 with BetMGM and Unibet for a top-20 finish.
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