The 122nd US Open @ The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts
Last week was a clean sweep with all three players finishing inside the Top 20. Kirk, Todd, and Rai all played consistent, elite golf for 4 rounds and allowed us to post a +7.75 unit weekend.
This week the golf world gets the USGA’s version of golf with brutal conditions and 6.5 hour rounds. The Country Club in Brookline, MA is the host for the US Open and this track is just a grind for these elite players. Here is the course thumbnail:
The Country Club in Brookline
Rolling & rugged New England landscape
Uneven lies, elevated greens, blind shots & small & fast greens
The Green complexes are 70% Poa Annua & 30% Bent grass (6th smallest on Tour) with very sharp slopes and lightning quick
Extremely penal Bluegrass/Fescue 3.5+" rough
Like Augusta National, this old school course names all the holes. Here is a run down of all 18:
1st: Polo Field | Par 4 | 488 yards
2nd: Cottage | Par 3 | 215 yards
3rd: Pond | Par 4 | 499 yards
4th: Newton | Par 4 | 493 yards
5th: Bakers | Par 4 | 310 yards
6th: Plateau | Par 3 | 192 yards
7th: Corner | Par 4 | 375 yards
8th: Quarry | Par 5 | 557 yards
9th: Primrose 9 | Par 4 | 427 yards
Out: Par 35 | 3,556 yards
10th: Himalayas | Par 4 | 499 yards
11th: Redan | Par 3 | 131 yards
12th: Stockton | Par 4 | 473 yards
13th: Primrose 1&2 | Par 4 | 450 yards
14th: Primrose 8 | Par 5 | 619 yards
15th: Liverpool | Par 4 | 510 yards
16th: Clyde | Par 3 | 202 yards
17th: Elbow | Par 4 | 373 yards
18th: Home | Par 4 | 451 yards
In: Par 35 | 3,708 yards
Total: Par 70 | 7,264 yards
There are only 2 par 5s and both are just diabolical. The betting market has the winning score this week around 273.5 strokes, which is -3.5 under Par. Given the conditions and if any wind shows up, then anyone at Even Par entering Sunday should be in the mix. Here are the two players who made the card:
Denny McCarthy Top 40 +165 (FanDuel)
This guy always plays tough courses well. He is a world class putter and his putting will be critical this week to avoid the big numbers. Driving accuracy and putting are the pillars of his game. McCarthy ranks 39th in Driving Accuracy Percentage (65.0%) and 6th in SG putting on the PGA Tour. With small greens and bunkers, he also checks the boxes for Sand Save Percentage (35th on Tour at 56.82%) and SG Around the Green (31st on Tour). Lastly, he comes into the week with really solid form with 10 of 11 cuts made.
Billy Horschel Top 20 +200 (FanDuel & Caesars)
Horschel enters the week in top form coming off a commanding win at The Memorial and 6 of 7 made cuts. The stats that really jump out for him are Driving Accuracy Percentage, ranking 10th at 68.49% and SG Putting where he also ranks 10th on Tour. If Billy misses the green, he has the short game to rHe has the grind it out mentality to handle the USGA set-up.