US Open First-Round Leader Tips: Three Selections To Make Fast Starts At Oakmont
The toughest major at one of the most difficult courses on the planet has all the makings of a brutal four days at this week’s US Open.
The Panel have already picked out seven tips for the third major of the year which takes place at Oakmont, just outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Scottie Scheffler is the 3/1 favourite with betting sites to make it back-to-back major titles following his success at Quail Hollow, but who will top the leaderboard on Thursday?
The Panel have picked out three potential first-round leaders as part of their US Open betting tips.
.@TyrrellHatton vs. the rough at Oakmont. 😂 #USOpen pic.twitter.com/MaqJj6zK48
— PING GOLF (@PingTour) June 10, 2025
US Open First-Round Leader Tips: Bradley To Burst Out Of Blocks
Keegan Bradley has generally struggled at the US Open in the last 10 years, but that could all change this week.
The USA Ryder Cup captain missed the cut when Oakmont last hosted the US Open in 2016, the first of five in eight appearances, but lately he has been performing better.
Seventh at Brookline in 2022 and just outside the top 30 at Pinehurst last year are signs of improvement and he has been an ever-present in the world’s top 20 since the start of the year on the back of some excellent displays.
Oakmont’s greens like you’ve never seen them before 🚁
— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 10, 2025
Comment your favorite to get a closer look. pic.twitter.com/fdCghScGXs
Bradley has finished inside the top 10 in his last two tournaments, including the USPGA Championship, and even more encouraging for the purposes of this column is that he has been making fast starts on a regular basis.
Tenth at Harbour Town, seventh at the Truist Championship, ninth at Quail Hollow followed by fourth at Muirfield suggest Bradley is dialled in when it comes to teeing off at tournaments.
Although Bradley missed the weekend nine years ago, he actually opened with a 71, five shots off the lead and tied for 17th.
He would be thrilled if he could shoot a similar score on a brutal course where the thick rough is five inches long and ungraduated.
Long, straight hitting will be big advantages this week and with Bradley inside the top 50 for finding fairways and hitting it in excess of 300 yards off the tee, The Panel are hoping that the American can burst out of the blocks once more.
The world number 18 has an early start and is 66/1 with golf betting sites to top the leaderboard after the opening day.
The Panel's US Open First-Round Leader Prediction 1: Keegan Bradley (Each-Way) - 66/1 With BoyleSports (Six Places)
US Open First-Round Leader Betting Tips:
- Keegan Bradley (Each-Way) - 66/1 With BoyleSports (Six Places)
- Shane Lowry (Each-Way) - 50/1 With Betfred (Five Places)
- Russell Henley (Each-Way) - 60/1 With BetGoodwin (Five Places)
US Open First-Round Leader Predictions: Early Dash For Lowry
Shane Lowry shot a third-round 65 at Oakmont in 2016 which he described as being “as good as anything I’ve ever done”.
That round, which took place over Saturday and early Sunday, meant he started his final round holding a four-shot lead, but a closing 76 scuppered his hopes, finishing three shots off winner Dustin Johnson in a tie for second place.
The fact Lowry went so low on what is probably the toughest course on the US Open rota is cause for optimism when picking out US Open first-round leader tips.
The Ryder Cup star, 12th in the world rankings, has also been bursting out of the blocks lately which also adds fuel to The Panel’s hopes Lowry can make a fast start.
Seventh at the Truist Championship on day one, Lowry was fourth at The Memorial and fifth at the Canadian Open, with his only blip coming at Quail Hollow.
Top 30 for driving accuracy this season, only Scheffler has been better from tee-to-green using the Strokes gained metrics, so everything looks in place for a good week and hopefully an even better Thursday when he will be playing alongside Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose.
Lowry can be backed at 50/1 with betting apps to top the US Open leaderboard after the opening day.
The Panel's US Open First-Round Leader Prediction 2: Shane Lowry (Each-Way) - 50/1 With Betfred (Five Places)
US Open First-Round Leader Tips: Henley Can Hit Heights Early
Russell Henley, like Lowry, has been included in The Panel’s outright tips for the US Open, but there is every reason to suspect he can get off to a quick start on this unrelenting track.
Henley may not be the longest hitter on the PGA Tour, but he is inside the top 20 for SG: Tee-to-Green and finding fairways which will surely be more advantageous than length this week.
The Panel have already enjoyed first-round success with Henley this season after the American was placed at 45/1 at the Cognizant Classic, and a week later it got even better when he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at 35/1.
Henley has been either first or second at the end of day one in three of his last 10 tournaments and he has twice led the US Open after the opening round.
The world number seven shared the lead at the 2018 US Open at Shinnecock Hills and topped the leaderboard alongside Louis Oosthuizen in his next appearance in the major three years later at Torrey Pines.
Henley is enjoying one of his best seasons on the PGA Tour and appeals at 60/1 with BetGoodwin to get off to another quick start.
The Panel's US Open First-Round Leader Prediction 3: Russell Henley (Each-Way) - 60/1 With BetGoodwin (Five Places)
