2026 US Open predictions: Two matchup picks to target at Shinnecock Hills
The third major of the year is here, and the U.S.Open is always a different kind of betting test.Outrights get most of the attention, but matchup markets can be the cleaner way to attack a tournament built on survival, patience and avoiding the big number.With Shinnecock Hills set to punish misses and turn even par into a good score, here are our favorite U.S.
Open matchup picks for the week.The last time the U.S.Open was at Shinnecock in 2018, Koepka navigated brutal conditions to win the second major of his career.A lot has happened since then, to say the least.Koepka comes into this tournament having played some of his best golf of the year of late, but he suffered a tough break last weekend, withdrawing from the RBC Canadian Open with a hand injury that he admitted has him “struggling to grip the club.”That should be enough to scare off bettors, especially when he is matched up against a player like Gotterup, who has the distance and major pedigree to handle this course.Gotterup finished top-25 in both of his major starts this year after winning twice early in the season.The play: Chris Gotterup over Brooks Koepka (-102, DraftKings Sportsbook)Over on the LIV Golf circuit, no one comes into this week hotter than Hatton.The Englishman won at Real Club Valderrama earlier this month, outlasting presumed U.S.
Open contender Jon Rahm.Eight years ago at Shinnecock, Hatton finished T-6, five shots behind Koepka.Morikawa heads to the Hamptons amid an up-and-down season.He is still dealing with a back injury that forced him to withdraw one hole into the Players Championship in March and has played in only five tournaments since then.After a couple of strong finishes at the Masters and RBC Heritage, Morikawa has not finished better than T-29 in his past three starts.With so many questions around Morikawa, this feels like a good spot to back Hatton’s current form and proven comfort in difficult U.S.Open conditions.The play: Tyrrell Hatton over Collin Morikawa (-112...