The Los Angeles Country Club is set to host a great US Open in history with its par 70 test at 7314 yards. This week features a Gil Hanse redesign of George C. Thomas Jr. work that has won many plaudits. The course will see some of the widest fairways ever used for a U.S. Open, many of which are on a steep camber.
The topography is spectacular with a barranca running through the course and huge elevation changes on many of the holes will test the pros thoroughly. The greens are Bentgrass with rugged bunkering surrounds and the fairways are Bermuda grass.
With sunshine forecast for all four days and Los Angeles being without rain in the lead-up, expect firm and fast conditions.
Picks Summary
- Max Homa Outright to Win (+3000) Bet365
- Max Homa to Finish Top 10 (+320) Bet365
- Justin Rose Outright to Win (+4000) BetMGM
- Justin Rose to Win Top European (+1200) Unibet
- Justin Rose to Finish Top 10 (+160) Bet365
- Denny McCarthy to Finish Top 20 (+433) Bet365
- Denny McCarthy Top American (+6000) Bet365
2023 U.S. Open
June 15-18 at Los Angeles Country Club
Par 70, 7314 yards
Can Max win the Homa Game?
This week is something of a home game for Max Homa which is very useful in terms of course experience. In 2013, the popular Californian won the Pac-12 Conference Championship at the track, wire to wire over four rounds after opening with a round of 61, with a certain Jon Rahm back in 10th.
There would be no more popular winner on the PGA Tour as he’s a fan favorite, even this last week when the controversial merger with LIV was taking place Homa was light-heartedly tweeting about the reality Television show Vanderpump Rules.
Let’s Get Serious
On a more serious note, Homa has much of his best form in firm and fast conditions. The one thing Homa needs to include from his C.V. is major championship form but at some point, the six-time winner on the PGA Tour looks plenty good enough.
Homa has won at three Championship tracks in those wins, Quail Hollow and Torrey Pines, both have hosted recent US Opens and the Riviera Country Club, down the road in L.A. has hosted two recent PGA Championships and one US Open.
The Pick
Max Homa was 9th two weeks ago at the Charles Schwab Challenge which looks a perfect prep for a US Open he is perfectly suited by.
Golf Pick: Max Homa Outright to Win (+3000) Bet365
Golf Pick: Max Homa to Finish Top 10 (+320) Bet365
Firm and Fast Conditions Anyone?
Firm and fast conditions at a US Open can be notoriously difficult and requires huge patience to overcome and L.A.C.C. looks set to provide a brute of a test.
One player who sticks out in these types of conditions is England’s Justin Rose. Back in 2013, Rose won the US Open at Merion in 2013 and around the greens at L.A.C.C. looks to have similar rugged bunkering.
Patience Is Virtue
The Englishman has the patience needed for the unique demands of a US Open and has been in sublime form. Last week, Rose flew into Toronto and had a perfect prep at the Oakdale Country Club when an early double bogey in the final round derailed his challenge.
The forty-five-year-old Englishman has already won on the PGA Tour this year and last week’s Canadian Open will have sharpened him up perfectly.
I think the top 20 props bet is a lock with the Top European bet good value while adding a more modest stake on Justin Rose winning a second US Open and PGA title this year at BetMGM number (+4000).
Golf Pick: Justin Rose outright to win (+4000) BetMGM
Golf pick: Justin Rose to win top European (+1200) Unibet
Golf Pick: Justin Rose to finish top 20 (+160) Bet365
Denny McCarthy for Top Yank
Sneakily on my radar for the last 53 weeks is Denny McCarthy. I say 53 weeks because it was the 2022 Memorial Tournament that I first started to consider him at the highest level. That meant I took him for a top-10 finish in last year’s US Open and he duly obliged at (+2000).
This year, McCarthy again produced at the Memorial, when a brave runner-up to Viktor Hovland. I was impressed by the result and when Jack Nicklaus went to console him, what Denny McCarthy said was even more impressive;
“I’ll be back,” McCarthy said, nodding his head. Then one more time, for emphasis. “I’ll be back.”
It’s a huge disappointment to come back from straight away but fast and firm conditions have become McCarthy’s specialty so let’s take a stab at the props markets this week.
Golf Pick: Denny McCarthy to Finish Top 20 (+333) Bet365
Golf Pick: Denny McCarthy Top American (+6000) Bet365
