The talk is over, the predicting has (almost) ceased and the potential event of the year has arrived. The 123rd United States Open begins Thursday at Los Angeles Country Club with Hollywood in the backdrop and stars in the eyes of some of the game’s best players.
Early talk this week is that this will be an unusual U.S. Open course. Gone is the thick rough and narrow fairways that so many are so accustomed at this major championship. Replace those features are native areas, landing zones with some real girth and all the approach strategy you can possibly handle.
That’s a good thing because it means the one aspect that is not tested enough in championship golf — the minds of the best players in the world — will be on full display this week in La La Land.
So, when you consider all of that — great iron play, nasty short games on tight lies, the wisdom to choose proper routing, and of course, the patience a U.S. Open always requires — here are the nine players who are most likely to win the third major of 2023.
When you’re done, be sure to check out our full slate of U.S. Open expert picks and predictions.
2023 U.S. Open predictions, favorites
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
Who will win the U.S. Open, and which longshots will stun the golfing world? Visit SportsLine to see the projected U.S. Open leaderboard, all from the model that’s nailed nine golf majors, including this year’s Masters.