KSR Golf: 2024 U.S. Open

The major championship season has reached the halfway point. For the third premium event of the golf calendar, we will get some more major championship golf. The USGA is bringing its national championship back to Pinehurst.

After Scottie Scheffler brought home his second Masters title and Xander Schauffele got the massive major monkey off his back with a record-setting win at Valhalla, we now will shift to the U.S. Open. Expect scoring to be more difficult this weekend.

From Thursday to Sunday, one of the biggest golf tournaments of the year will take centerstage. Now it’s time to find some winners.

Broadcast Schedule

NBC will be on the call for the third major championship of the season. Brandel Chamblee is stepping into the booth to provide coverage as the network is still searching for a long-term analyst to sit in Johnny Miller’s old chair. Peacock, USA, and NBA will have the coverage.

— Round One (Thursday): 6:30 a.m. ET-5:00 p.m. ET (USA) | 5:00 p.m. ET-8:00 p.m. ET (Peacock)

— Round Two (Friday): 6:30 a.m. ET-1:00 p.m. ET (Peacock) | 1:00 p.m. ET-7:00 p.m. ET (NBC) | 7:00 p.m. ET-8:00 p.m. ET (Peacock)

— Round Three (Saturday): 10:00 a.m. ET-12:00 p.m. ET (USA) | 12:00 p.m. ET-8:00 p.m. ET (NBC)

— Round Four (Sunday): 9:00 a.m. ET-12:00 p.m. ET (USA) | 12:00 p.m. ET-7:00 p.m. ET (NBC)

Course Layout

The 124th U.S. Open is heading to Pinehurst No. 2 for Father’s Day weekend. That marks the fourth time this event has returned to the course in this North Carolina village. Payne Stewart famously beat Phil Mickelson at Pinehurst in 1999.

99 days until the #USOpen! At the 99th championship, Payne Stewart holed a 15-foot putt on the 72nd hole to win the title. He immediately gave encouraging advice to would-be father and runner-up Phil Mickelson. #RoadToPebbleBeach pic.twitter.com/7kwqTwFa26

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) March 6, 2019

Martin Kaymer won this event in 2014 at nine-under par beating the rest of the field by eight shots. Scoring will be difficult this weekend. The USGA will make sure of it.

Pinehurst is a Par 70 at 7,543 yards making this the eighth-longest course on the PGA Tour this season, but it is the only one to play par 70. Players need to get off the tee, but second shots and work both on and around the green will be critical.

There will be only two Par 5 holes on the course and four Par 3 holes. There are four Par 4 holes that will play over 500 yards. Driver and long irons will be critical clubs this week. On the green, there will be a lot of speed, and the design can lead balls out of putting range if players do hit small target areas with their approach shots. Iron play is going to be so critical this weekend in the Tar Heel state.

Pinehurst has no rough. Instead, there is wiregrass filled with sand and plants that can be difficult to manage. Sometimes there are clear shots from the wiregrass, and sometimes shots are impossible. If players are not accurate off the tee, some good fortune could be needed to get a true playable second shot.

Pinehurst is a long course with variance. This will be a true multi-layered test for the best players in the world. You must get off the tee, you must hit long irons, and you must do it all with accuracy. The players that get station-to-station the best will have the advantage over the rest of the field.

Key Metric

Getting off the tee will be important this week. That is something I will be considering in my handicapping, but it’s not the most important metric. Iron play is critical at Pinehurst. The winner will hoist the trophy because of what he does on approach swings with his irons.

KSR Golf is focusing on strokes gained approach and taking a closer look at proximity on longer iron shots.

To no one’s surprise, Scottie Scheffler leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained approach and in accuracy from 150-175 yards. No one is better than the No. 1 player in the world at hitting the ball close to the hole from the fairway. That will travel well at Pinehurst.

Corey Conners and Ludvig Aberg all rank inside the top 15 in each category. All three are worth consideration this week.

Luckett’s Locks: 124th U.S. Open

Ready to find some winners? Here are my best bets for U.S. Open weekend with odds pulled from FanDuel.

Win: Scottie Scheffler (+280)

It’s boring, but we would be wrong not to include this pick. Scheffler is clearly the best player in the world and owns wins at Arnold Palmer’s tournament, Jack Nicklaus’ tournament, Augusta National, and at Harbour Town in the Carolinas. Now he’s returning to the Carolinas where his iron play almost guarantees that he will be contending on Sunday. The price is short, but Scheffler has three consecutive top-10 finishes at the U.S. Open and will win this tournament soon.

Top 10: Sahith Theegala (+360)

The 26-year-old is set to play in his third U.S. Open championship and has a game for Pinehurst. Theegala ranks No. 22 in strokes gained approach but is No. 13 from 150-175 yards. The No. 11 player in the world has a real chance to contend this weekend.

Top 20: Justin Lower (7/1)

Now time for our long-shot play. Justin Lower is the No. 144 ranked player in the world, but the 35-year-old enters this weekend playing some good golf. The Ohio native ranks inside the top 30 in both approach metrics and owns a pair of top-10 finishes this year. Lower has missed three consecutive cuts entering the tournament but fits this golf course. It’s a roll of the dice for a player competing in his first career major championship but the odds are enticing.