2022 US Open Golf Preview

The 2022 US Open takes place at Brookline CC in Boston. A relatively short 7264 yard layout, but with a par of 70 and just two par 5s, it still requires big hitting. As with all US Open venues, it will be set up to play very tough. Thick, penal rough is the norm. With a weather forecast which suggests that it will be windy for all four days, keeping out of trouble will be key.

Quite a few of the greens are surrounded by bunkers and rough. This means aerial approach shots will be required, again not helped by the wind. The relatively small greens will be firm and fast and like all US Open courses, this will be a very tough test.

Trends

There are a few interesting trends for recent US Opens. One is that ten of the last thirteen winners were first time major winners. A good omen for 2013 US Amateur champion Matt Fitzpatrick? He won that championship over this course, or at least a version of it. The course to be used this week is a hybrid of three different courses. It has been given a revamp by Gil Hanse, who also carried out a similar task at Southern Hills, the venue for the recent USPGA Championship, won by Justin Thomas.

Being a relatively short course might bring some of the shorter hitters into the picture. However, the small, well protected greens, will be easier to find and hold with a more lofted club, and that favours the long hitters. The greens are tough and hitting the right part of the green is crucial, rather like Augusta. You do not want too many fast, downhill putts. US Opens are famed for the tough rough and narrow fairways, but hitting it long is still a must.

Rory On Song

After winning last week’s Canadian Open in fine style, Rory McIlroy starts as the 12.00 favourite, and it is easy to see why. His form figures of 2/5/8/18/1 tell you his game is in great shape and on top of winning the 2011 US Open, he has finished top 10 in the last three. He is long off the tee and his high ball flight could be an asset into these small, hard to hold greens. He has also picked up four wins on poa annua/bent grass greens which feature here.

The big question mark is his mentality. He is struggling in major championships. Shooting very poor opening rounds to take him out of contention, and when he shot the lights out on his opening round at the recent PGA Championship he didn’t cope well with the expectations of converting it into a win.

JT Solid

PGA Championship winner, Justin Thomas chased McIlroy home in Toronto last weekend. Like McIlroy, he is in great form (5/1/mc/3) and he has had two US Open top 10s in the last five years. Another player who is great off the tee, he should be in the frame again this weekend.

Jon Rahm is the defending Champion, has had a recent win and is ranked 1st for shots gained off the tee. He isn’t a player you would think has the patience needed for US Open style courses, but he proved that was not the case last year and he was 3rd in 2019. Like McIlroy, he is a four time winner on poa annua/bentgrass mix greens.

One of the players looking for his first major is Will Zalatoris. Ranked sixth for shots gained off the tee and first for shots gained on approach to the green. He seems to have the game for the course, his form is good (mc/2/mc/5) and he was sixth in 2020.

Rory McIlroy 1 point e/w to win the 2022 US Open @ 12.00 with Hills (e/w 1-9)

Justin Thomas 1 point e/w to win the 2022 US Open @ 13.00 with Hills (e/w 1-9)

Jon Rahm 1 point e/w to win the 2022 US Open @ 17.00 with Hills (e/w 1-9)

Will Zalatoris 1 point e/w to win the 2022 US Open @ 29.00 with BET365 (e/w 1-8)

The above four selections are all ranked top 4 for shots gained tee to green which seems a reasonable guide for this weekend’s challenge.

-JamesPunt