12 Jun 2019
Dustin Johnson the man to beat in New York after showing why he deserves to be world number 1 at St Jude Classic
As final rounds go, you will do well to top Dustin Johnson’s efforts at the weekend. The 33-year-old holed out for eagle on the 18th hole from 170 yards, securing victory at the St Jude Classic and reclaiming his world number one ranking in the process.
Bookies have him favourite to continue his winning ways at the second major tournament of the year in New York. To do so, he’ll need to buck a recent trend of first time major winners. When Patrick Reed claimed the green jacket at Augusta this year, he became the ninth first-time major winner in the last 10 majors. Johnson will be playing in a star-studded group, having been paired with Tiger Woods and world number two Justin Thomas. With three first round scores in the 60s from his last four starts, backing DJ to be 1st round leader at 14/1 is all too tempting.
Back-to-back for Brooks?
Another major champion who will be hoping to fend off the rookies is Brooks Koepka. The 28-year-old bagged his first major title at the US Open last year and victory at Shinnecock Hills this week would see Koepka join an elite club of three players in history to have the US Open in consecutive years. At 18/1 for the outright win and coming in off two top-12 finishes in his last three starts, he’s got to be worth a flutter this week. Koepka has said he feels his game is in as good a shape right now as it was this time last year, so don’t bet against the reigning champion being in the mix again come Sunday.
Career Grand Slam at Stake
A US Open title has seemingly proven more elusive to Phil Mickelson than any other golfer. The 47-year-old is a sixth time runner up at the event and it’s the only major he is yet to win. It would be a record breaking victory in New York, with the previous oldest winner of the US Open being 45-year-old Hale Irwin. The good thing for Lefty is he has been in contention at Shinnecock Hills before. Back in 2004, when the course last played host to the US Open, Mickelson finished runner up. The time before that (in 1995), he was good enough for tied-4th. It goes without saying that a sharp short-game will be required at Shinnecock. Mickelson is 2nd in putting on the PGA Tour and there are few players, if any, that are able to match his creativity and guile around the greens. Mickelson is 28/1 for the win in the golf betting odds this week, and what a story it would be if he could complete a career grand slam.
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