U.S. Open: Picks, Predictions and Odds

It's time for the third major of the golfing season this week, with the 125th U.S. Open taking place at the notoriously difficult Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania.

Oakmont, which underwent a restoration in 2023-24 by Gil Hanse, is hosting this tournament for a record 10th time, having last done so in 2016 when Dustin Johnson claimed the spoils.

Thick rough, cavernous bunkers and large, undulating greens that are more like table tops now instead of having build-up on the edges of them, make this one of the toughest courses in the world.

On the challenges that lay ahead, defending champion Bryson DeChambeau said: "this course doesn't just challenge your game, it challenges your sanity."

Six-time major champion Lee Trevino commented on the greens, saying: "Every time I two-putted at Oakmont, I was passing somebody on the leaderboard, while 2006 U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy added: "Playing Oakmont was like the hardest hole you have ever played on every hole."

An enthralling watch is expected over the four days of action and this year's 156-player field, headed by world number one and tournament favorite Scottie Scheffler (+280), will get the action started on Thursday.

Masters champion Rory McIlroy, who completed the Grand Slam at Augusta National in April, is +1300 to land his sixth major title, while DeChambeau is priced at +750 and Jon Rahm is +1200.

2025 U.S. Open betting picks and predictions

Shane Lowry to win and each-way (+3000)

World number 12 Shane Lowry came close to winning at Oakmont back in 2016 and he will feel he has unfinished business to attend to returning nine years later.

The Irishman held a two-shot lead after round three, only to falter over his remaining 18 holes and finish in a tie for second, with American Dustin Johnson coming through to claim the spoils.

Since that major disappointment, Lowry has won the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush - host for the 2025 edition - while he has added a further two DP World Tour titles and one PGA Tour success to his CV.

Lowry has come close to adding to his collection on numerous occasions this season, with runner-up finishes at Pebble Beach and the Truist Championship coming along with top-10 finishes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Valspar Championship.

The 38-year-old is on the cusp of getting back into the winner's circle and he warmed up for the U.S. Open with a tied-13th effort at the Canadian Open, where he started his final round eagle, birdie, birdie, birdie.

Oakmont will demand a strong tee-to-green game and it bodes well that Lowry is second in strokes gained in that department on the PGA Tour, with only Scheffler ahead of him in the pecking order.

Being able to scramble well and judge the speed of these greens will be crucial factors to success and Lowry fits into this category, as his short game is one of the best in the business.

Sepp Straka to win and each-way (+3500)

Another player worth considering this week is Austrian Sepp Straka, who has taken his game to a new level this season with victories at both the American Express and Truist Championship.

The 32-year-old now has four PGA Tour titles in his collection and now could be the time that he makes a major breakthrough, something he came close to achieving when tied-second at the 2023 Open.

Straka is fourth in strokes gained tee to green, third in approach and 17th in putting, while his driving accuracy ranking of 11th should also come in handy given the thick, penal rough.

Russell Henley to win and each-way (+5000)

Another player hoping to win their first major this week is American Russell Henley, who landed his fifth PGA Tour title when winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, edging out Collin Morikawa by a single stroke.

The 36-year-old has put in some solid efforts in recent U.S. Opens, finishing T13 in 2021 and T14 in 2023, before recording his best result in this event when tied-seventh last year.

Ranked in the top 20 for strokes gained total, tee to green, approach and around the green, world number seven Henley is a consistent performer and he heads into the tournament on the back of a tied-fifth effort at The Memorial.

2025 U.S. Open outright odds (Win Only)

Scottie Scheffler	+280
Bryson DeChambeau	+750
Jon Rahm	+1200
Rory McIlroy	+1300
Xander Schauffele	+2400
Ludvig Aberg	+2400
Joaquin Niemann	+2700
Collin Morikawa	+3000
Tommy Fleetwood	+3200
Justin Thomas	+3700

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.