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US Open tips: Jordan Spieth ready to emerge from Major shadows to grab glory

Jordan Spieth Innisbrook March 2023

Tipstrr golf expert Brendan Skilling takes a measured look at the chief contenders for this year’s third Major, as all eyes turn towards the coveted US Open at Los Angeles Country Club.

After another turbulent week in professional golf where there was more talk of boardrooms and mergers than birdies and bogeys, The US Open returns to California and the West Coast of America for only the fourth time this century as L.A. Country Club hosts this tournament for the first time.
A unique venue and exclusive enough to be able to turn down membership requests from the rich and famous living in the nearby Hollywood Hills, this has all the makings of an intriguing and memorable championship, the first in Los Angeles for 75 years.
As ever, the US Open course will be set up to provide the toughest test in golf, aiming for a winning score of no more than 6 under par.
Designed by George Thomas and recently renovated by renowned 'course doctor' Gil Hanse, this impressive example of strategic architecture features rugged bunkering and dramatic land movement with elevation changes of up to 70 feet.
The wide Bermuda grass fairways and bentgrass greens are likely to be super firm and almost concrete-like after baking in the Californian summer sun, meaning accuracy from the tee and on approach will be the key to avoiding the thick rough and the barranca which weaves its way throughout.

This unique course has not hosted a professional tournament since the 1940's but did host the amateur Walker Cup in 2017, when a star-studded USA team, including US Open favourite Scottie Scheffler, hammered the Great Britain and Ireland side. 

Suggested Bet: Scottie Scheffler to win the US Open

With little course form to consider, we're fortunate that neighbouring Riviera, the annual host of the prestigious Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour, offers a handy comparison, while it will also pay to take a look at other firm and fast major venues such as Shinnecock Hills and various Open Championship sites.

With the reliance on long irons and ball striking here, I can't see past Scottie Scheffler, who heads the betting. Scheffler is putting up some incredible tee-to-green numbers this year, comparable with Tiger Woods in his prime, with only his putting letting him down.

Surely his flatstick can't stay cold forever and it may be less of an issue here on the big, undulating greens of LA CC. He was also a key member of that 2017 Walker Cup-winning side and is the preferred choice at the top of the market.

His biggest challenges may well come from Major winning machine Brooks Koepka and Californian native Patrick Cantlay (who recorded a 62 here as a college player), who might well emerge as his main rivals.

Further down the market we again have a group of 10-15 top class players with strong claims. Viktor Hovland is the form player, but I'm concerned the variety of tricky shots required around the green here may expose his short game weaknesses, while Collin Morikawa remains a supreme ball striker without being able to show any form this year.
I looked very closely at Cameron Smith, who seems perfect for LA CC given his world class short game, upbringing on firm and fast golf courses in Australia and his performance last year at The Open Championship. The downside is that his potential for wayward driving on a course where big misses will be severely punished is a huge concern.

This brings me to Jordan Spieth, who seems to have brought his own wayward driver under control recently, ranking fifth from the tee in his last outing.

He has six top-six finishes in his last 11 events and should relish the challenges on approach, recovery and around the green that this course poses.
His 2015 US Open win at Chambers Bay was in similar firm and fast conditions, calling upon the same range of skills, and he looks capable of repeating that feat and lifting his fourth major championship on Sunday evening.
Suggested Bet: Jordan Spieth each-way to win the US Open

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