Original article published 17 October 2022
The third Major of the year is now just around the corner, as the world's best players gear up for the US Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
What: US Open
Where: The Country Club, Brookline, Massachusetts
When: 16th-19th June 2022
How to watch: Live on Sky Sports Golf
Odds: Scottie Scheffler 11/1, Rory McIlroy 14/1, Jon Rahm 14/1, Justin Thomas 14/1, Cameron Smith 20/1
Jon Rahm was the winner of the prestigious event 12 months ago and the Spaniard will be among many peoples' favourites to retain his title, while world number one Scottie Scheffler and recently-crowned US PGA champion Justin Thomas are also expected to be leading contenders.
Driving accuracy rather than power is likely to be key around Brookline's testing 7,300-yard par 70 course, a venue that will be staging its first Major championship since Curtis Strange beat Nick Faldo in a playoff to win the US Open way back in 1988.
Here are our five players to follow at the US Open and don't forget you can keep track of all the action via bet365's Live Golf Tracker.
Cantlay ready to deliver Major success
World number three Patrick Cantlay turned 30 earlier this year and he has enjoyed plenty of success on the PGA Tour, the highlight being his triumph in last year's FedEx Cup.
However, Major glory still eludes the Californian, who has registered just two top-10 finishes in the big four events, his best showing coming when he finished T-3 at the 2019 US PGA Championship.
That is certainly not a record befitting a player of Cantlay's quality, but he has made the cut on all six of his previous US Open appearances, finishing T-15 during last year's edition at Torrey Pines.
Cantlay is priced at 22/1 to finally break his Major duck this month and he has plenty of recent form to justify tipping him to challenge, as he has registered a win and two top-three finishes across his last four starts on the PGA Tour, while he headed into this week's RBC Canadian Open sitting fourth in the FedEx Cup standings.
Zalatoris the man for the big occasion
Will Zalatoris may still be awaiting his first victory on the PGA Tour, but the world number 14 tends to save his best golf for the Majors, registering five top-10 finishes since bursting onto the scene in 2020 with a tie for sixth at the US Open.
The 25-year-old was also T-6 at the Masters in April before agonisingly losing in a playoff to Thomas at last month's US PGA Championship, all of which suggests his maiden win is now just around the corner.
Zalatoris is 25/1 to break his duck at Brookline, and after missing the cut at his first event post the US PGA Championship, the Californian appears to be back to his ruthless best following a T-5 at the recent Memorial Tournament.
Although he is one of the bigger hitters on tour and not necessarily the most accurate driver, Zalatoris has proven himself a Major specialist and he should be there or thereabouts come the final round.
Burns enjoying breakthrough season
Sam Burns won his first two titles on the PGA Tour in 2021, but this year he has taken his game to another level, winning three more tournaments, including at the recent Charles Schwab Challenge where he beat Scheffler in a playoff.
Indeed, if it wasn't for world number one Scheffler - the only player to have won more titles on the PGA Tour than Burns during 2022 - then the 25-year-old would no doubt be the player everyone is talking about.
The next step for Burns is to have an impact at a Major, as he is yet to challenge at the top of the leaderboard in one of the big-four events.
He did secure a career-best T20 on his most recent Major outing at the US PGA, and having won on two of his last five starts on the PGA Tour, now could be the time for Burns to deliver at odds of 33/1.
Fitzpatrick could lead European charge
Matt Fitzpatrick appears to finally be at home on the PGA Tour, and although he is still awaiting his first victory stateside, he has been a picture of consistency over recent months.
The Englishman has delivered nine top-20 finishes across his last 12 starts, a sequence that includes a T-14 at the Masters and a career-best Major performance as he finished T-5 at the US PGA Championship.
Fitzpatrick may well have entered the winners' circle by the time he heads to Brookline, as he has made a strong start at this week's RBC Canadian Open, while he is 25/1 to break his major duck in Massachusetts.
Let's face it, it's not as if Fitzpatrick doesn't have winning experience, as he is a seven-time victor on the European Tour (now DP World Tour), with his most recent success coming at the Andalucia Masters last October.
Hoge an each-way shout
Tom Hoge may not be one of the biggest names in the field next week, but the 33-year-old has caught the eye this year, registering his first PGA Tour success at the AT & T Pebble Beach Pro-Am back in February.
That is one of four top-10 finishes Hoge has secured on tour in 2022, the most recent of which was a T-9 at the US PGA Championship - his best performance in a Major to date.
The world number 39th is currently 11th in the FedEx Cup standings and his shorter, more accurate driving style will certainly suit the layout at The Country Club.
An outside shot at 140/1 perhaps, but Hoge has proven he is capable of mixing it with the very best this year, and certainly appears to be a good each-way option heading into the penultimate Major of 2022.
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