US Open

[Bamford]

Shinnecock Hills hosts the 118th United States Open Championship. A 7,440 yard par 70, the USGA will ensure that the course will be no pushover. An inland links-type test, the course features only 2 par-5s, 7 par-4s at +450 yards and naturally plenty of thigh high fescue grass. In-reality though this Coore & Crenshaw renovation is wide off the tee and as with all US Opens of late those with a huge game off the tee are most likely to succeed. Make no bones though, this is going to play firm and fast, so those with a nuance for links-type golf on fescue fairways are going to love the test this week.

I'm going for Rickie Fowler (20/1), Jon Rahm (20/1), Jimmy Walker (100/1), Brandt Snedeker (110/1), Keegan Bradley (150/1) and Gary Woodland (150/1) - enjoy the 2nd Major of 2018 

[BillyHills]

Racing Post's Steve Palmers Tips:

J Rose
4pts each-way 16-1 bet365, Betfair
J Rahm
3pts each-way 22-1 Betfred
B DeChambeau
1pt each-way 45-1 Betfred
P Rodgers
0.5pt each-way 250-1 bet365
P Uihlein
0.5pt each-way 150-1 bet365, BoyleSports

[BillyHills]

Post's Guide To The Top Players

 

Paul Casey
The former world number three has enjoyed a great season at the age of 40, winning the Valspar Championship in March. He has endured some injury problems since, though, and his US Open record is poor.

Jason Day
The Aussie has been resurgent this term, winning the Farmers Insurance Open and Wells Fargo Championship, and his US Open record is superb, with five top-tens in seven starts. Has to be on the shortlist.

Bryson DeChambeau
The Californian firebrand won his second US Tour title in the Memorial at the start of this month. Strong character with US Open form figures of MC-15-MC. Capable of battling his way to glory.

Sergio Garcia
The 2017 Masters champion has played poorly since becoming a father in March, missing three cuts, including at Augusta, where he carded an embarrassing 13 at the 15th hole in round one. Tied for 20th at Shinnecock in 2004 and suited to the track, but probably not playing well enough to be a factor.

Branden Grace
The South African can boast US Open form figures of 4-5-50 from the last three years and is hitting his ball well enough to be a contender again this week.

Dustin Johnson
The 2016 champion has found some confidence on the greens again and is looking menacing, winning the St Jude Classic by six shots on Sunday to reclaim world-number-one status. The giant Carolinian is competing at Shinnecock Hills for the first time, but the layout suits him well. Obviously a huge runner.

Brooks Koepka
The defending champion had to miss four months of the year with wrist problems, but has returned in fine fettle, finishing runner-up at Colonial at the end of last month. Nobody can safely rule out back-to-back triumphs.

Hideki Matsuyama
The Japanese star blew a golden chance to win the USPGA last year and seems to feel immense pressure to become his country's first Major champion. Injury problems have hampered progress this season and Shinnecock does not look an ideal track for a Major breakthrough.

Rory McIlroy
The former world number one and four-times Major champion has been inconsistent since returning from a three-month sabbatical at the end of January. Near-misses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai were followed by a slump, then a masterclass at Bay Hill for spectacular three-shot triumph. Two further near-misses have followed at Augusta and Wentworth and a US Open peak is entirely possible. The 2011 US Open champ has missed the cut in this event the last two years. Must be respected.

Phil Mickelson
The US Open nearly-man gets another crack at completing the career Grand Slam of Majors. Turns 48 on Saturday, so time is running out. He skipped the event last year to attend his daughter's graduation ceremony. Lefty has finished runner-up six times, including at Shinnecock in 2004. He won the WGC-Mexico Championship in March to prove he could still hack it at elite level, but this looks like another US Open week where he will come close, without lighting a cigar.

Jon Rahm
The Spanish beefcake finished fifth at Colonial last time out, taking a fortnight off to prepare thoroughly for the US Open. In the last seven months, he has won twice in Europe and once on the US Tour, and the 23-year-old has to be on the Shinnecock shortlist. He was low amateur in the 2016 US Open, but missed the cut 12 months ago. He was fourth in the Masters in April.

Patrick Reed
The Masters champion attempts to complete the second leg of the Grand Slam. Has finished second and first in the last two Majors. US Open form of 35-14-MC-13. Has played nicely since his Major glory and should give a decent account of himself.

Justin Rose
The steady Englishman secured a ninth US Tour title with a comfortable Colonial success at the end of last month and he has become arguably the most consistent performer on the planet. The 2013 US Open is his lone Major success. He missed the cut at Shinnecock in 2004. Seems likely to be in the shake-up this time.

Jordan Spieth
The former world number one is enduring a crisis of confidence on the greens. The 2015 US Open champion quickly got three Major titles under his belt, putting like God, but the magic has disappeared from his fingers. Tied 32nd at Colonial, one of his favourite tracks, then missed the cut at Muirfield Village. Unappealing option.

Henrik Stenson
The 2016 Open champion has found some long-game form, but is being frustrated on the greens. Seven of his US Open spins have resulted in a top-30 finish the other four were missed cuts. Can be fancied to appear on the Shinnecock leaderboard, but will probably not have enough flat-stick sparkle to triumph.

Justin Thomas
The USPGA champion became world number one at Sawgrass, but Dustin Johnson reclaimed the position less than a month later. Thomas finished ninth in the US Open last year, firing a sensational third-round 63, and Shinnecock should be right up his alley. The king of Kentucky is one of many strong title candidates for a demanding punting puzzle.

Tiger Woods
The former king of golf has made a remarkable comeback from his latest back surgery, with seven top-25 finishes in ten starts, including second place in the Valspar Championship in March. Tiger is dangerous again and a Major threat, but he managed only 17th place at Shinnecock in 2004 and he will need to use his troublesome driver a lot this week.

[BillyHills]

Odds with Bet365

First 8 for EW backers

[BillyHills]

My Picks, good luck all!

 

Top 10 Finish
Justin Rose 7/4 Unibet

Top Continental-Euro
Francesco Molinari EW 7/1 Boylesports

Top English
Paul Casey EW 15/2 PP

Hole In One
Yes 10/11 PP

Cut mark
146 and over (+6) 5/4 Bet365

Outside Bet
Top USA Player
M.Kuchar EW 45/1 Boylesports