Louis Oosthuizen Among Longshots Worth Targeting at U.S. Open
The Country Club at Brookline hosted one of the most memorable upsets in sports history. In 1913, amateur Francis Ouimet shocked the sporting world when he claimed the U.S. Open championship.
Ouimet nearly didn’t play in the event having felt guilty for recently missing work to play in the National Amateur.
But tournament organizers worked with his employers to grant Ouimet the ability to compete at the course near his home. Playing with a 10-year-old caddie, Ouimet went on to beat the top players in the world at the time, including Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, in a playoff.
We likely won’t see an upset of that magnitude in golf again. In reality, the U.S. Open recently hasn’t been a place for longshots to thrive. Here are the recent winners and their odds. Gary Woodland in 2019 at 60/1 was the biggest underdog.
- 2021 – Jon Rahm 10/1
- 2020 – Bryson DeChambeau 33/1
- 2019 – Gary Woodland 60/1
- 2018 – Brooks Koepka 25/1
- 2017 – Brooks Koepka 30/1
- 2016 – Dustin Johnson 12/1
- 2015 – Jordan Spieth 8/1
- 2014 – Martin Kaymer 40/1
- 2013 – Justin Rose 25/1
In giving our U.S. Open best bet, we detailed information about the course and recent renovations. But here are some longshots who could have some value this week.
U.S. Open Longshots Worth a Wager
Louis Oosthuizen 75/1 at FanDuel
Before you bet on golf longshots, it is critical you shop across multiple sportsbooks to get the best line. The best number on the popular sportsbooks for Oosthuizen is at FanDuel Sportsbook where he’s 75/1 to win this weekend.
By comparison, his odds are nearly cut in half at DraftKings where he’s 40/1 to claim the U.S. Open title.
Oosthuizen’s form hasn’t been great this year, failing to record a top 10 this season and withdrawing from two tournaments, including the Masters. He'll also have to deal with the potential distraction from being a PGA Tour defector and joining the LIV Golf Series.
But Oosthuizen has been solid in two key metrics that will be vital at Brookline: shots gained off the tee and shots gained around the green. Brookline has the second smallest greens at just 4,400 square feet, meaning players are set to miss on their approach, making the short game critical. Oosthuizen is 23rd on Tour this season in average strokes gained around the green (.364).
Driving the ball is always important given the U.S. Open’s penal rough. Oosthuizen has been solid here, also, ranking 30th in strokes gained off the tee.
Oosthuizen always seems to play better in majors. He has finished in the top three in four of his last seven major championships, giving him the experience and pedigree to compete this weekend.
Mito Periera 66/1 at BetMGM
There might be scar tissue still for Pereira, who needed just a par on the 72nd hole to win the PGA Championship but sent his tee shot into the water and eventually double-bogeyed the last to take himself out of contention.
His season so far will be remembered for the choke job at the PGA, but even with that setback, he has continued to be in excellent form. Pereira finished seventh at the Charles Schwab Challenge and then took 13th at the Memorial.
Pereira has shown consistency in all facets of his game. He ranks 21st in strokes gained off the tee, 10th in strokes gained approach and seventh in greens in regulation percentage.
He has the game to be in contention, and perhaps the PGA Championship experience can prepare him for this weekend.
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