The 2025 U.S. Open, the third major championship of the year, is scheduled to take place from Thursday through Sunday at Oakmont. As anticipation builds, golf and betting experts weigh in with their predictions for potential winners and identify valuable betting opportunities.

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Expert Picks for the Winner

Scottie Scheffler on the golf course — Scottie Scheffler aims for his first U.S. Open victory.

Matt Barrie:: Jon Rahm. While Scottie Scheffler is the obvious favorite, Rahm is showing signs of his best major championship form (T14 Masters, T8 PGA Championship), reminding us of the player who was world number one before joining LIV Golf.
Tory Barron:: Scottie Scheffler. Oakmont is a formidable challenge, demanding an equally formidable champion. Scheffler, who has won three of his last four starts by a combined 17 strokes, is currently the sport`s most dominant force, especially when playing at his peak.
Michael Collins:: Scottie Scheffler. Like a superhero with ultimate power, Scottie is “inevitable.” Given how the USGA typically sets up Oakmont, only a handful of players are capable of winning, and Scheffler is undoubtedly one of them.
Jeff Darlington:: Scottie Scheffler. We`ve reached a point reminiscent of Tiger Woods` prime, where picking Scheffler feels almost cliché yet necessary. Even though Bryson DeChambeau might seem well-suited for Oakmont, Scheffler`s exceptional consistency and skill level are simply too high to ignore.
Michael Eaves:: Sepp Straka. The expected challenging Oakmont setup places a premium on hitting fairways and greens, which aligns perfectly with Straka`s strengths this season (accurate, confident, two wins). His game is well-suited for this test, and his recent victories could signal a breakthrough, following the trend of first-time major winners at the U.S. Open.
Peter Lawrence-Riddell:: Scottie Scheffler. If I were picking Scottie versus the rest of the field combined, I might take the field. But when choosing an individual winner, my instincts watching the sport compel me to pick Scottie, despite the pick being so widely anticipated.
Andy North:: Scottie Scheffler. As the world number one and a winner in three of his last four events, Scheffler is in top form. Oakmont demands precise iron play, an area where Scottie excels above the competition.
Mark Schlabach:: Scottie Scheffler. While not the most daring pick, it`s hard to choose anyone else to lift the trophy. Scheffler`s dominance was clear even when I picked Rory McIlroy at the PGA Championship. He leads in most strokes gained statistics from tee to green and has significantly improved his putting (25th). When near the lead on Sunday, nobody finishes stronger than Scottie.
Marty Smith:: Scottie Scheffler. Oakmont, arguably the toughest course in the world, demands incredible precision and accuracy. Scottie`s current form is characterized by both freedom and precision, which should serve him exceptionally well here.
Curtis Strange:: Scottie Scheffler. The world number one, fresh off winning three of his last four starts, on a strategically challenging course like Oakmont – Scheffler is the clear choice.
Paolo Uggetti:: Jon Rahm. I was impressed by Rahm`s performance at the PGA Championship, where he returned to major contention. His game and competitive drive seem to be back in sync, and his style is well-suited for Oakmont. I believe he has a strong chance to be one of the few players capable of challenging Scheffler this week.
Scott Van Pelt:: Jon Rahm. Someone has to pick an alternative to Scottie.

Betting Roundtable

Jon Rahm celebrating — Jon Rahm seeks his second U.S. Open victory.

Who is your pick to win?

David Gordon, ESPN Research:: Rory McIlroy (+1200). McIlroy was a co-favorite at +450 for the recent PGA Championship but is now available at nearly three times the price, partly due to rumored equipment issues. I trust him to resolve these and regain the form that saw him finish runner-up in the last two U.S. Opens.
Pamela Maldonado, Betting Analyst:: Collin Morikawa (+2200). Morikawa possesses the mental composure and analytical approach well-suited for Oakmont. He started the year strongly with two runner-up finishes but has cooled slightly. His game fundamentals (4th in accuracy, 5th in approach) are ideal for this course. If he remains calm and focused, he could quietly contend on Sunday.
Anita Marks, Betting Analyst:: Jon Rahm (+1200). Rahm`s long game is perfectly suited for Oakmont. He arrives in strong form, and his competitive edge seems revitalized (T14 Masters, T8 PGA). He leads the LIV tour in greens in regulation, a crucial statistic for success here.

Who is your favorite bet to make the Top 10?

David Gordon:: Xander Schauffele (+210). I`m relying on Schauffele`s spectacular history at the U.S. Open (seven Top 10s in eight starts, with a worst finish of T14) over his recent form. This price offers excellent value given his record in this specific major.
Pamela Maldonado:: Keegan Bradley (+475). Bradley`s game is in a good place, showing trust in his swing with back-to-back Top 10 finishes and positive putting. He`s a high-quality ball striker and surprisingly effective around the greens. While putting can be volatile, his strong ballstriking gives him the potential to contend.

What is your favorite Scottie Scheffler bet?

David Gordon & Pamela Maldonado:: To finish Round 1 in Top 10 (+150). Scheffler is exceptional from the start, finishing in the Top 10 in 10 of his last 11 major first rounds. Historically, nine of the last eleven U.S. Open winners were within the Top 10 after 18 holes. Scheffler`s stats are strongest in Round 1 across tee-to-green categories, gaining an average of nearly 4 strokes.

Betting Favorites (Odds Approximate)

According to odds, the top favorites heading into the tournament include:

Scottie Scheffler (+275)
Bryson DeChambeau (+750)
Jon Rahm (12-1)
Rory McIlroy (14-1)

Who are your favorite long shots/value bets?

David Gordon:: Cameron Young: (+10000). After a difficult start to the season, Young has shown recent form with a T4 at the RBC Canadian Open and a T7 earlier. He has proven major championship pedigree with five Top 10 finishes between 2022 and 2024.
Pamela Maldonado:: Keegan Bradley to win (+7500). Despite some concerns about his putting and scrambling, Bradley`s approach and ballstriking are elite. He`s peaking in form with two recent Top 10s and ranks second in tee-to-green performance over the last 32 rounds. At these odds, his winning potential from ballstriking is worth the bet.

Any other bets stand out to you?

David Gordon:: Make the cut parlay: Tommy Fleetwood and Harris English (-104). English is having a career year and has never missed the cut in nine U.S. Open appearances. Fleetwood hasn`t missed a cut this season and has consistently been well within the cut line after 36 holes in his recent starts. This parlay seems quite secure.
Pamela Maldonado:: Scottie Scheffler Top 5 (-140). While the odds are short, this bet might still be undervalued. Scheffler has finished in the Top 5 in 19 of 31 starts since January 2024, including 10 wins. He is remarkably consistent, rarely has a poor round, and his ballstriking alone is usually enough to keep him near the top of the leaderboard.
Tyler Fulghum:: Dustin Johnson to miss the cut (-120). Johnson won at Oakmont in 2016, but that feels like a distant memory. Since joining LIV in 2022, his major championship results have been poor (best finish T31 in 10 starts since 2023), including missed cuts at both the Masters and PGA Championship this year.
Anita Marks:: Rory McIlroy to miss the cut (+290). McIlroy`s play hasn`t been as sharp recently (e.g., a high score at the Canadian Open), and he didn`t perform strongly at Quail Hollow. His driving issues seem persistent, and his iron play hasn`t been stellar. There`s a question about his hunger after significant wins.
Anita Marks:: Ludvig Aberg top 20 (+155) and top Nordic golfer (+190). Aberg recently contended strongly at the Canadian Open. His driving is elite, and he`s posted several low rounds lately. There`s good value here for him to finish in the Top 20, and he`s a strong contender for the top Nordic player.
Anita Marks:: Sepp Straka top 20 (+170). Straka is enjoying a career year, with a 3rd place at the Memorial Tournament and two wins this season. His ballstriking strengths make him a great fit for Oakmont. He ranks exceptionally high in key stats: 1st in Greens in Regulation, 4th Tee-to-Green, 2nd in Approach, and Top 10 in Driving Accuracy.