2024 U.S. Open sleeper picks to look at: Who would possibly escape at Pinehurst

He gained three weeks in the past. 

And two weeks in the past. 

And he survived final Monday, in a seven-for-two playoff for a berth on this week’s U.S. Open.

However right here’s the very, highest half about Harry Higgs, do you have to be trying to make investments forward of the festivities at Pinehurst No. 2:

He’s at the moment round 350-1 to win. 

Fascinating, proper? 

In fact, the victories have come on the Korn Ferry Tour. And earlier than that, he hadn’t gained on any PGA Tour stage since July of 2019, additionally on the Korn Ferry. His newest success can also simply be a blip. 

Or it might be one thing extra. In any case, Higgs’ momentum is unquestioned. 

“If I put together as I do know I ought to and I’m good to myself,” Higgs stated two weeks in the past, “I can do some nice issues on this tour [the Korn Ferry] and I consider I can do some nice issues on the PGA Tour as effectively.” 

With that, let’s proceed to dig. Under, members of our workers have every made a long-shot choice to assist you with your own weekly picks, whether or not these are for a low-stakes workplace fantasy league, or (authorized!) big-bucks bets with a sportsbook. It’s an pleasurable endeavor for us. Deploy it as you want. 

On to our evaluation.

2024 U.S. Open sleeper picks to look at

Ryan Barath

Sleeper decide: Zac Blair, +40,000. Blair has been taking part in fairly effectively lately and bought into the sphere by way of sectionals. He’s not a very lengthy participant, however Pinehurst will probably be taking part in agency and quick, and each participant goes to overlook a number of greens, which means his WAY above-average chipping and placing may assist him round No. 2. 

Alan Bastable 

Sleeper decide: Lucas Glover, +15,000. Don’t let Glover’s U.S. Open document (11 MCs — and a  win! — in 15 begins) scare you off. He’s quietly having a gentle 12 months (simply two MCs) and stays among the many Tour’s finest ball-strikers. Hitting greens at No. 2 is crucial and that’s what Glover does finest.  

Adam Christensen 

Sleeper decide: Aaron Rai, +15,000. The double gloves he makes use of for additional grip will probably be a bonus within the humid Southern local weather, giving him a slight leg up on the competitors. He’s additionally extraordinarily correct off the tee and above common in approaches and across the greens. If he can magically conjure up placing week, perhaps he can pull off a miracle. 

James Colgan 

Sleeper decide: Peter Malnati, +40,000: The final time a significant got here to Pinehurst, Martin Kaymer gained by placing EVERYTHING round these mightly turtleback greens. Malnati ranks close to the highest on Tour in practically each placing statistic, and at his odds, I’ve seen worse values.

Nick Dimengo    

Sleeper decide: Keegan Bradley, +8,000. It’s Keegan time. Not solely is he slowly rediscovering his type — coming off a T2 end on the Charles Schwab Problem in Could — however one thing simply feels proper about selecting Bradley to win his second profession main proper now. Possibly it’s nonetheless the “Full Swing” impact the place I’ve bought a smooth spot for him, however, greater than something, I like the truth that he completed T4 right here a decade in the past. I’m laying down the cash for him to win and enthusiastically trying ahead to watching him go to work.

Connor Federico  

Sleeper decide: Phil Mickelson, +25,000. Lefty’s 54th birthday simply so occurs to fall on U.S. Open Sunday this 12 months. If the oldest man to ever win a significant is ever going to make one other run at one, why not at Pinehurst, one of the vital infamous short-game assessments in all of golf? If Mickelson, after his previous few embattled years, may end off the profession grand slam on his birthday and Father’s Day, it might go down as one of many best tales within the historical past of the game.

Jessica Marksbury

Sleeper decide: Justin Rose, +8,000. Fairly a pleasant value for a former U.S. Open champ, who additionally confirmed some tremendous type on the PGA Championship with a T6 end.

Zephyr Melton 

Sleeper decide: Nick Dunlap, +30,000. Final summer season, Dunlap had slightly little bit of success at Pinehurst as he gained the North-South Newbie. This 12 months, he returns to the Carolina Sand Hills a PGA Tour winner. Why not throw down slightly money on the lengthy shot? 

Nick Piastowski 

Sleeper decide: Akshay Bhatia, +15,000. I’m a sucker for story traces. However Bhatia grew up close to close by Raleigh, the place good buddy Grayson Murray additionally grew up. I’d additionally like to make use of this house to toss out Harry Higgs, who’s hotter than anybody and is listed round 350-1. 

Josh Sens

Sleeper decide: Tiger Woods, +15,000. In fact, he’s not the power he as soon as was. However he’s nonetheless Tiger Freakin’ Woods, listed in your betting board at 150-1.

Sean Zak 

Sleeper decide: Alex Noren, +8,000. Individuals have been sleeping on Noren all 12 months lengthy. He could not win at Pinehurst, however he’d be a really juicy top-10 wager. 

Nick Piastowski

Golf.com Editor

Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Journal. In his function, he’s chargeable for enhancing, writing and growing tales throughout the golf house. And when he’s not writing about methods to hit the golf ball farther and straighter, the Milwaukee native might be taking part in the sport, hitting the ball left, proper and quick, and ingesting a chilly beer to scrub away his rating. You possibly can attain out to him about any of those matters — his tales, his sport or his beers — at [email protected].