With Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and others returning from the first LIV Golf event to play in the 2022 U.S. Open, this might be one of the most intriguing majors in recent history – and one of the most important in PGA history.

Rory McIlroy, coming off a win at the RBC Canadian Open, and John Rahm lead a contingent of PGA stars in the third major of the season. Rahm is the defending U.S. Open champion, edging LIV Golf defector Louis Oosthuizen by one stroke last year. Oosthuizen is also in the field.

Scottie Scheffler won The Masters in April (McIlroy took second) and Justin Thomas won the PGA Championship in a tiebreaker over Will Zalatoris.

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The Country Club at Brookline, Mass. offers an ultimate test of strategy hitting, nailing the green and finishing with U.S. Open-worthy putting. Unfortunately for Massachusetts sports betting fans, this major comes too early for legal sports betting in the Bay State. That could still happen in 2022, but legislation is currently in joint committee with a deadline for a new bill of July 31.

For those that can legally wager, the golf betting odds board is a who’s who of modern golf. McIlroy is the favorite at +1000 on most top betting sites and betting apps.

According to the latest US Open odds, Thomas (+1100), Rahm (+1200) and Scheffler (+1400) sit close behind the Northern Irishman atop the betting board.

For those wondering where the LIV Golf players reside, Johnson is the highest on the board at DraftKings Sportsbook at +2800, Oosthuizen is +4000 and Bryson DeChambeau is available at +8000.

Top 2022 U.S. Open Odds

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2022 U.S. Open Expert Picks & Predictions

Shane Lowry, Top 10 Finish

Odds: +330 at DraftKings

Lowry is not considered one of the top contenders on the golf odds board, but he should be. He finished 10th last week at the RBC, and before that had back-to-back thirds, including at The Masters. He was also 13th at the TPC and 23rd at the PGA Championship.

Lowry is +140 to finish Top 20, and we like that too. His No. 2 ranking in scrambling and top 25 or better ranking in ball striking, Greens In Regulation and putting makes him a top 10 or better candidate this week.

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Seamus Power, Top 20 Finish

Odds: +250 at Caesars Sportsbook

Power doesn’t show up every weekend, but he seems to do very well at the biggest events. That includes a ninth-place showing at PGA, and 27th/33rd spots at The Masters and TPC, respectively.

Like Lowry, Power has showcased an all-around effort. In those four aforementioned categories, Power ranks 17th or higher in three of them and is a respectable 32nd on the tour in putting. We love the higher odds. He’s also -115 to finish Top 40.

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Sungjae Im, Top 20 Finish

Odds: +150 at BetMGM Sportsbook

Sungjae has finished 21st or better in four consecutive events, including eighth at The Masters and 10th at The Memorial. In fact, he’s been at least 21st in seven of his last 10 tournaments.

Couple that with a top-five PGA Tour ranking in putting, ball striking and Greens In Regulation, and you’re talking a golfer that has all the tools to be special. We’ll settle for yet-another Top 20.

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2022 U.S. Open Betting Tips

This course isn’t ridiculously long. Instead, it’s ridiculously tough, with big penalties for missing shots. That’s especially true around the greens, which are often surrounded by tough rough and challenging bunkers.

It’s going to take excellent ballstriking ability, getting to the green (or even the fringe) in regulation to avoid the messes around it, and a deft scrambling skill to escape trouble when it inevitably comes. Putting, often a second-thought stat on many tour stops, is important in the U.S. Open.

“Going for it” – aiming directly for the hole instead of just getting on the green – is likely to be a mistake. Getting on in regulation and putting strong from there is the way to success.

It doesn’t set up well for any shockers to come out and win, instead for those who have an all-around game and have been playing well to this point.

LIV Golf Players Face Scrutiny at U.S. Open

If LIV Golf was never invented, the likes of Johnson, Oosthuizen and DeChambeau may have been higher on the U.S. Open odds board. Instead, they return to play in this major but will be grilled by media and potentially distracted by fans and all the surroundings.

None of the above golfers necessarily have the game to play well at such a track, with Oosthuizen being a possible outlier. The pressure and scrutiny to represent LIV Golf only makes it tougher.

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2022 U.S. Open, Date & TV

When: Thursday-Sunday, June 16-19

Where: The Country Club, Brookline, MA

TV: Golf Channel, NBC