5 players I’m backing to win in Los Angeles, from Scottie Scheffler to Tommy Fleetwood

The US Open comes to Los Angeles for the first time in 75 years and the first time to Los Angeles Golf and Country Club.

Though arguably the lesser known of the three LA classics designed by George Thomas alongside Bel Air and Riviera, that might have something to do with the North Course’s location between Beverly Hills and Westwood, an exclusive barrio with a prohibitive price point.

Though it measures 7,421 yards it features five par-3s, the longest on the major rota at 300 yards and the shortest at 75 yards.

Regarded as the toughest test of the four majors, the US Open does not yield many shock winners. However, there is always the exception to any rule.

Here are five to watch in LA:

US Open 2023 tips

Scottie Scheffler (odds 7-1)

No apology for the lack of originality in advancing Scottie Scheffler. His remarkable consistency makes him the obvious selection from the top-three basket that includes Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy.

The World No 1 ranks highest in three key categories; strokes gained off the tee, tee to green and approach to the green.

He has yet to finish lower than 12th in 13 starts this year, a run that includes two victories. Just needs to get lucky with the putter.

Tom Kim (100-1)

The South Korean is the youngest since Tiger Woods to notch two PGA Tour wins before the age of 21. He has four further victories, two apiece on the Asian and Korean Tours, to his name.

Outplayed McIlroy when paired with the world No 3 in the first two rounds at the Masters. Rocketed from 131st to 17th in the rankings in the space of 18 months.

Relies on accuracy over power, perfect for the needle-threading challenge that is the US Open.

US Open 2023 odds

• Scottie Scheffler – 7-1
• Jon Rahm – 11-1
• Brooks Koepka – 11-1
• Rory McIlroy – 12-1
• Patrick Cantlay – 16-1
• Viktor Hovland – 16-1
• Xander Shauffele – 18-1
• Jordan Spieth – 25-1
• Collin Morikawa – 25-1
• Cameron Smith – 25-1
• Max Homa – 25-1
• Matt Fitzpatrick – 25-1
• Tony Finau – 28-1
• Tyrell Hatton – 30-1
• Tommy Fleetwood – 33-1
• Dustin Johnson – 33-1
• Hideki Matsuyama – 33-1
• Cameron Young – 35-1
• Justin Rose – 35-1
• Justin Thomas – 35-1
• Bryson DeChambeau – 40-1

Odds via Skybet and correct as of 12 June

Tommy Fleetwood (33-1)

As the victim of a Hollywood finale in Toronto, Tommy Fleetwood is due one of his own in Tinseltown.

Fleetwood watched Nick Taylor drain a 72-foot eagle putt at the fourth extra hole to deny him a first PGA Tour victory at the Canadian Open.

Fleetwood was typically magnanimous after a result that took him past Cameron Tringale as the highest-earning player never to win on the PGA Tour with a total of $17,676,199 (£14m).

Xander Schauffele (18-1)

Something of a US Open specialist, if he is to break his major duck this would be the most likely spot. Five top tens in six appearances are already persuasive. Xander Schauffele is top 15 in strokes gained tee to green, approach to the green and putting.

He is also riding the longest cut wave in the game, 26 straight tournaments and counting. Oh, and a scoring average of 69.740 per round makes him a hot ticket item at the LA Country Club.

Aaron Rai (80-1)

The double-gloved maestro from Wolverhampton bounced back from a miserable run of four missed cuts in five tournaments to finish one-shot off the lead in Canada.

Aaron Rai was the only player to post four rounds in the Sixties at Oakdale Country Club and though an outsider will be a threat to the usual suspects should he maintain his impressive accuracy off the tee at the major that above all the others rewards precision.