Only 9 golfers have finished ahead of Scottie Scheffler across all the tournaments he has played since the start of March and the world’s best golfer is once again likely to be tough to beat at the US Open at iconic Pinehurst No.2. Scheffler held his nerve down the stretch at the Memorial Tournament on Sunday evening, taking his form figures from the Arnold Palmer Invitational onwards to 1-1-2-1-1-8-2-1 — a run o f results not seen since Tiger Woods was at his best — and his odds are as low as +300 to win his first US Open.
Last week’s tough Muirfield Village test, in which only 11 players finished under par for the tournament, should serve as ideal preparation for Pinehurst, a Donald Ross-designed gem that last hosted the US Open in 2014 when Martin Kaymer eased to the title. While Kaymer reached -9 a decade ago, only Eric Compton and Rickie Fowler joined him in red numbers, both finishing at -1 as the German roared to an 8-shot victory 3 months after winning the Players Championship.
In addition to winning the Masters, Scheffler also won the Players earlier this season and were it not for the actions of some overzealous Kentucky police officers, he might well have been teeing it up in North Carolina with the 3rd leg of a calendar Grand Slam in his sights. As it happens, that’s not the case but his odds illustrate his dominance. The question is, how low can they go before it’s worth looking elsewhere? Scheffler had bigger odds for the Masters at a course where he’d already won, in a field featuring 67 fewer players, many of whom had little to no chance of contending, but bettors will still be considering the short odds available on the favorite.
Pinehurst tests all facets of the game but, ultimately, it’s a true test of tee-to-green brilliance which puts pressure on the driver and long irons, so there is every chance it plays into the hands of Scheffler. Without wishing to doubt him, the Texas-based star did show some vulnerability at Muirfield Village on Sunday and while a brave five-foot putt on the last was enough to secure another victory, preference at Pinehurst is for the man who pushed him all the way in Ohio.