It’s on to the 115th edition of the U.S. Open, and it gets even more exciting being played at a difficult course such as Chambers Bay. Can the favorites dominate the tournament despite such a difficult course? Or will one of the sleepers wake up to shake things up at the U.S. Open? Read on as we breakdown the top three sleepers to take the Chambers Bay links this month.
[sc:Golf240banner ]Perhaps the best player suited to win the U.S. Open isn’t even one of the favorites. It may be Francesco Molinari, who’s a +8,000 underdog to win the tournament. Molinari ranks first in driving accuracy and sixth in greens in regulation on tour. Both of those stats are crucial on a links golf course like Chambers Bay.
Molinari has also had success in links golf in his career. He finished runner-up at the Scottish Open in 2012. Scottish golf is well-known as the origin for links golf.
Molinari is also not short on big tournament experience, winning three titles on the European Tour. He also held up big time in the 2012 Ryder Cup. Molinari halved with Tiger Woods in the final singles match of the tournament, clinching the 2012 Ryder Cup for Europe.
Billy Horschel
Like Molinari, Billy Horschel is one of the best golfers on tour when it comes to hitting greens in regulation (16th). He also has momentum on his side. Horschel has steadily improved his placement in tournaments since missing the cut at the Masters in April. He finished 13th in the Players Championship, 11th in the Memorial Tournament and eighth in the St. Jude Classic in succession leading to the U.S. Open.
Horschel is also just two years removed from his best career finish at a Grand Slam of fourth-place in the 2013 U.S. Open. He finished that tournament with a five-over 285. Horschel is +4,000 to win this year’s U.S. Open.
Webb Simpson
Webb Simpson is another live dog in the U.S. Open. His game translates really well in links courses with a driving accuracy of 67 percent and hitting greens 68 percent of the time on tour. Simpson offers plenty of value at +6,000 to win the U.S. Open.
It’s also difficult to count out a former champion on the biggest of stages. Simpson won the 2012 U.S. Open. He also won two titles at Sedgefield Country Club and TPC Boston — two courses which featured heavily sloping greens that are common in links courses.
But Simpson has been inconsistent in his last two performances. He tied for second place in the Wells Fargo Championship in May before finishing tied for 97th at the St. Jude Classic this month.
