The 2024 U.S. Open has a loaded field as the best in the world are set to tee it up at Pinehurst No. 2.
The big question entering the week is if anyone can actually catch Scottie Scheffler. The top-ranked player in the world is on fire and just hoisted his first trophy since becoming a father last week in Ohio.
That’s Scottie’s fifth win in his last eight starts, and there have been some unprecedented reactions in the market. Most books have Scottie anywhere from +300 to +333, which is both insane and justified given his current form.
Consequently, we are looking for a longshots with high upside who can thrive on the biggest stage.
Pinehurst No. 2 is a gorgeous and challenging course that will test all players in the field. With no thick rough, the course is renowned for its expansive fairways that bleed into sandy waste areas with natural vegetation. The course is expected to play firm and fast this week.
In order to win here, golfers need accuracy off the tee, strong long-iron play and a quality short game. History tells us that longshots can win the U.S. Open, but they can't be too far down the board. Since 2010, no one longer than 80-1 has won the U.S. Open, but four of the last 14 winners have been valued at 70-1 or 80-1, including reigning champion Wyndham Clark.
That is where we find all three of our favorite longshot bets this week, with all of them available as long as 100-1 if you shop around.
Let's take a look at my 2024 U.S. Open Sleeper Picks & Longshots below who have a chance to shock the golf world at Pinehurst.
2024 U.S. Open Longshots & Sleeper Picks
Sepp Straka 100-1 (bet365)
I wrote about Sepp Straka in this article for the Memorial Tournament last week, and I'm going back to him because he has been playing incredibly consistent golf. In his last six events, Straka has finished T5, T11, T8, missed cut, T5 and T5.
He was stellar last week at the Memorial Tournament and finished his weekend with a chip in to mark back-to-back top-five finishes in his last two weeks. Straka has now finished in the top 16 in seven of his last nine starts. He is simply on fire right now, and his odds are yet to reflect that.
Straka also does his work in the key categories that Pinehurst will demand week. He is second on the entire PGA Tour in Driving Accuracy and grades above average in Scrambling, Par-4 Scoring and Strokes Gained: Approach. His consistency off the tee allows him to get in rhythm from tee to green, and his tendency to avoid disaster will give him a great shot this week.
The last two weeks, betting Straka pre-tournament allowed for profitable cashouts coming into Sunday. If he keeps playing at this level, he may give you the same opportunity yet again this week. Straka is widely available at 70-1 but can be found at a market-best price at bet365 at 100-1.
Will Zalatoris 100-1 (FanDuel)
Willy Z has not been at his best for stretches of this season, but anytime at a major championship, Zalatoris is worth backing.
In seven of Zalatoris’ last nine appearances at the PGA Championship, U.S. Open and the Masters, he has finished in a tie for 10th or better. His last top-10 finish this season came at the Masters. He gets up for the biggest moments of the season, and this weekend should be no different.
Zalatoris is an accurate driver of the golf ball who ranks 25th in Driving Accuracy this season. When he is finding fairways, he has immense upside.
He is also very comfortable with long approach shots, which are incredibly important at Pinehurst No. 2. The Wake Forest product ranks 46th on Tour this season in Approach proximity from outside 200 yards.
Zalatoris is also above average in Scrambling, which may come in handy in big moments on these challenging greens. Out of all the golfers in the 80-1 range or higher, Zalatoris has the highest upside given his track record in big tournaments. He is available at a market-best price at FanDuel at 100-1.
Dustin Johnson 100-1 (bet365)
Dustin Johnson is our final longshot for the U.S. Open this week.
On any given week, DJ is capable of going toe to toe with the best in the world and emerging victorious. Given Scheffler’s current form, that may be exactly what is needed at Pinehurst No. 2.
At the major championships in the United States since 2018, Dustin Johnson ranks sixth in Strokes Gained: Total. The only golfers rated ahead of him are Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler, which puts him in elite company.
DJ rattled off a 66 in the final round at the PGA Championship, and while that wasn’t enough to contend, it demonstrated his upside.
He has a win on LIV Golf this season in Las Vegas and is a previous champion who won the U.S. Open in 2016 at Oakmont.
As far as longshots go, Johnson is an undervalued golfer worth a ticket. He is widely available at 80-1 but can be found at 100-1 at bet365.
