SB Nation staff makes U.S. Open picks, predictions for Pinehurst No. 2

The U.S. Open will return to Pinehurst’s No. 2 course for the first time since 2014, when Martin Kaymer outshone the other players on his way to his second major title. That year, the German won by eight strokes and was one of only three players to finish under par that week.

This golf course lacks the deep, rugged rough that characterizes the U.S. Open. Instead, Pinehurst’s fairways feature sandy barren patches overgrown with crabgrass, reminding all who play that they are in the heart of the Carolinas.

But what makes Pinehurst No. 2 so challenging is its putting surface.

“The greens are just so dangerous. They’re all turtlebacks,” former PGA Tour pro and current Golf Channel announcer Peter Jacobsen explained to Playing Through.

“When you play the second hole at Pinehurst, you have to aim for the middle of the green and pray that it stays on the green. It’s a wide-open tee shot. It’s not a precision driving course, it’s a course that requires an iron approach.”

Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images

With that in mind, we expect players with solid iron play and a good short game to do well at the 2024 U.S. Open. Here are our staff picks. Matt Warren of SB Nation’s NFL site I will be the guest picker for the third major tournament of the year:

Jack Mirko — Golf reporter

My three bold predictions pointed to an international player winning his third consecutive U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.

So, I Ludvig Oberg It was his first major championship victory in one of golf’s most sacred places.

The Swedish phenom with a great swing is a phenomenal ball-striker, a must-have on the course. He ranks third on the PGA Tour in proximity to the hole, a number that attests to his exceptional accuracy. He also hits the greens at a high rate, around 69%, ranking 20th on the tour.

But his short game is also impressive. While his stroke gain numbers aren’t spectacular, he ranks 13th on the PGA Tour this season with a scrambling percentage of 66.38%. And he’s just come off the Memorial Tournament on the challenging Muirfield Village course. [6th] Stroke gain: Around the green.

His putting performance has not been particularly impressive. However, in his major debut at Augusta National in April of this year, 2 strokes on the greenAccording to DataGolf, that score ranked first on the course, and Augusta’s greens are notoriously undulating.

Augusta and Pinehurst don’t have much in common, but the greens have plenty of slope and bumps, plus, like this year’s Masters, players will be faced with a firm and fast second hole, but given how well Oberg did at Augusta this year, I believe he’ll perform just as well this week.

His knee looks healthy, as evidenced by his strong week at the Memorial, so I expect Oberg to win his first major championship in the second round at Pinehurst.

DraftKings Odds: +2000

Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Matt Warren — SB Nation NFL Associate Director

Pinehurst’s No. 2 hole has hosted the U.S. Open three times, but only four players total have finished under par, including 2005 winner Michael Campbell, who finished at even par.

Scottie Schaeffler He dominates many accuracy statistics such as driving percentage, greens in regulation and approaches, and I believe his accuracy on tee shots and onto tricky greens will be the key to him overcoming the odds and winning his first U.S. Open.

I know this is a safe choice and very boring, but he has only finished outside the top 10 once this year, at the American Express five months ago, and his historic season continues in North Carolina with a second major win waiting in the wings in 2024.

DraftKings Odds: +300

Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Savannah Richardson — Golf reporter

Bryson DeChambeau It’s my choice.

I never thought I’d make this choice, and anyone who knows my history with Bryson would be shocked.

But he looked good in the PGA Championship, which I watched in person, and yet DeChambeau acknowledged last week that he wasn’t at his best in Valhalla, despite finishing at 20 under par, one stroke behind Xander Schauffele.

If he keeps his moustache, he’ll win his second U.S. Open trophy, and I’m going with my gut feeling this time around because I liked his play at Pinehurst.

DraftKings Odds: +1600

Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images

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Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.