Major number three is here! We head to Pinehurst, North Carolina. The last time we played Pinehurst No. 2 was in 2014. Martin Kaymer put on an absolute display of lag putting around the green. After walking the course for two straight days, it really confirms how impressive Kaymer’s strategy was.
Chipping and pitching around these surfaces is unique and difficult, unlike anything else on The PGA Tour. The only way to prepare for these conditions is to select a strategy on Monday morning and practice it during the practice rounds.
Outside of the absurd around-the-green play needed this week, driving distance will come in handy. The whispy grass area is far less penal than we originally thought. The grasses are oddly firm at the core, leading balls to bounce around them and end up in clean spots.
Obviously, here and there, you will find a bad lie, but the reward of driving the ball long is worth the risk. Below, we will take a look at the props board ahead of the 2024 US Open.
CHECK OUT THE SPORTS GAMBLING PODCAST’S DAILY BEST BETS
2024 US Open Props
Hideki Matsuyama Top Japan -115
This is truly a disrespectful line for the former Masters champ and 2024 PGA Tour winner. With Hideki, the question is always his health. When he is fully healthy, he is a top-five talent in the world. Thankfully for us, he looks awesome out there!
After walking the course at Valhalla, Hideki did not hit shots in the practice rounds and instead rested his neck. This time around, he was striping the golf ball and looked both confident and healthy. That is all I needed to see from Hideki!
Hideki Matusyama (40-1) is the only player in the field under par!
He’s -1 today (thru 8) & on the week.#BMWChamps #FedExCup pic.twitter.com/WbPhB1lAce
— SportsBettingDime (@SBD) August 29, 2020
The rest of this market is extremely weak. There is a very strong chance Takumi Kanaya, Ryo Ishikawa, Rikuya Hoshino, Taisei Shimizu, and Riki Kawamoto will all miss the cut. None of these players have any solid history on the big stage or can hit the ball nearly as well as Hideki Matsuyama.
I truly believe he can contend in this golf tournament, which none of these guys will. Over four rounds, Hideki Matsuyama will be the top Japanese golfer and is a great addition to your 2024 US Open Props card.
Will Zalatoris to make the cut -165
Don’t be scared to lay some juice! They all cash the same. Will Z looked so confident on the golf course this week. His season has not been great, but when you look back to his last time in contention, it was at a firm and fast Bermuda Golf Course. That is what Pinehurst is. We cannot forget that Will played his college golf around the corner from Pinehurst.
The Wake Forest Demon Deacon has surely played this golf course many times, and that showed in his practice rounds. I was so impressed by how Will Zalatoris chipped around these greens. As I stated earlier this week, the only way to get used to these around-the-green conditions is to rep it out. Add Will Zalatoris to your 2024 US Prop Card.
