2021 US Open 3rd Round Updated Odds, Preview and Picks

• Richard Bland and Russell Henley co-lead the 121st US Open after two rounds
• Jon Rahm is the odds-on favorite to win, followed by Xander Schauffele
• See the updated odds at Torrey Pines, CA below for Saturday’s third round within the story below

Through two days of the US Open, there are storylines aplenty, none more impressive than 48-year-old Richard Bland becoming the oldest golfer ever to co-lead through 36 holes of this championship. He’s joined by first round co-leader Russell Henley, who has three PGA Tour victories but zero top-10’s in 26 career majors.

Tournament favorite Jon Rahm shot a solid 1-under, 70 on Friday, and he finds himself just two strokes behind the duo in the driver’s seat to win his first career major title. He’s matched by 2011 champion at this venue, Bubba Watson. Louis Oosthuizen and Matthew Wolff are both just one stroke behind the leading pair.

Of note, the last eight champions have not ranked outside the top-four after two days, with 23 of the last 25 winners at or within two shots of the lead heading into the weekend. Making up serious ground over the weekend will be very difficult, at least historically.

Read on to see the updated US Open odds and the best bets heading into Saturday’s third round.

Updated 2021 US Open Odds

Odds as of June 18th at 11:30pm EST

Matthew Wolff Seeking Revenge

With apologies to co-leaders Richard Bland and Russell Henley, they aren’t very serious contenders for the title, and their odds are reflective of that. The top two favorites, Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele, have super low odds to take the title without much value.

Matthew Wolff, who is just a shot behind, sports palpable odds at +1000 to lift the trophy come Sunday following his runner-up at last year’s US Open.

Players to win the U.S. Open the year after finishing runner-up in the last 100 years

Bobby Jones (3x)
Nicklaus (1972)
Stewart (1999)
Woods (2008)
DJ (2016)

Wolff can join them this weekend

— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) June 19, 2021

Through two days, Wolff is third in strokes gained off-the-tee and ninth in SG: approach. The 22-year-old superstar in the making fell into a rut with his game and admitted he took time off to get himself right physically and mentally, and has played well through two days.

With Rahm and Schauffele having such low odds, Wolff and his +1000 number are most enticing.

2021 US Open Best Live Value Picks

1. Brooks Koepka (+1400): We were high on Brooks Koepka entering the week with his two US Open trophies, so why deviate from that plan now? He finds himself five back, the exact same situation he was in 2018 when he was just the second golfer in the last 25 years to win the US Open that wasn’t within two shots heading into Saturday. Even though he hasn’t performed well statistically through two rounds, he has enough of a body of work in the majors (eight top-seven finishes in last 11), that he can’t be ignored.
2. Bubba Watson (+2000): Bubba Watson was on our radar this week for first round leader given his amazing strokes gained stats the last 12 rounds at Torrey Pines. He was first in total strokes gained, tee-to-green, ball striking, approach and off-the-tee. Through two days, Bubba, who won at this track in 2011, is just two shots back. He’s gained over three strokes on the field on the greens this week, and at these odds is intriguing given his success here.