US Open Saturday Betting Tips: All to play for at Shinnecock

Wyndham Clark retains a handy advantage as we head into the weekend of the U.S. Open, but this event is a marathon, not a sprint. With course conditions set to ramp up in difficulty for the second half, it’s all very much still to play for.

Golf Odds

Leaderboard after round two:

1^st – Wyndham Clark (-7)

T2 – Matt Fitzpatrick (-3)

T2 – Xander Schauffele (-3)

T2 – Sam Stevens (-3)

T2 – Tom Kim (-3)

6^th – Collin Morikawa (-2)

T7 – Justin Thomas (-1)

T7 – Harry Higgs (-1)

T7 – Sam Burns (-1)

T7 – Sahith Theegala (-1)

Clark closed out his superb six-under 64 for round one yesterday morning, before then making a flurry of late birdies in his second round to set the target at -7, giving him a four-shot lead at the halfway stage. The 2023 winner is a gritty competitor and, arriving here in excellent form following a recent win at the Byron Nelson and a 3^rd-place finish at the Memorial Tournament, I don’t expect him to wilt in this position.

The major-winning duo of Matt Fitzpatrick and Xander Schauffele are among a four-man group tied for second place and make for a formidable chasing pair. They are joined by a revitalised Tom Kim and American Sam Stevens – neither of whom is a stranger to performing in this event, having each finished inside the top 25.

We can find added major-winning credentials just behind them, as Collin Morikawa’s five-under 65 – the joint-lowest score of round two – catapulted him into 6^th place. Justin Thomas adds further stardust to the immediate chasers on -1, alongside Sam Burns, Sahith Theegala and, no doubt the surprise package of the lot, Harry Higgs.

Lurking ominously behind that top 10 are world No. 1 and No. 2, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. Meanwhile, the top-class trio of Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Ludvig Aberg are nicely positioned inside the top 25.

For all the quality still well in contention, there are plenty of high-profile names who will be taking the weekend off in New York. Following his encouraging opening two-under-par round, Jon Rahm is perhaps the most disappointing of these, as he succumbed to an eight-over 78 in round two to miss the cut by two shots.

Two-time U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau continues to flounder in the majors in 2026, missing his third straight cut in the game’s most prestigious events. The well-fancied Patrick Reed also struggled, and the hand injury sustained by 2018 Shinnecock winner Brooks Koepka appeared to hold him back, shooting +10 for his two rounds.

SELECTIONS

Market leaders: Wyndham Clark 9/5, Xander Schauffele 6/1, Matt Fitzpatrick 7/1, Scottie Scheffler 9/1, Collin Morikawa 14/1, Rory McIlroy 18/1

Wyndham Clark holds on to favouritism, as Xander Schauffele leaps into second favourite and Matt Fitzpatrick holds steady in third. Scottie Scheffler has shortened from 12/1 to 9/1 after yesterday, while Rory McIlroy has been pushed out 10 points to 18/1.

Wind speeds of around 20mph are expected in round three, gusting in the high 30s, and with these poa annua greens getting increasingly firm, this is where Shinnecock truly comes alive. No lead is ever large enough around here and we will witness some serious movement on what should be a brilliant moving day.

Fitzpatrick provides us with a strong contender as we enter the business end of the event, and Tyrrell Hatton back at +2 can certainly still get involved if he goes well today.

With that, I’m happy to leave the outright betting alone and have instead picked out a couple of two-ball selections who can thrive on day three.

Sam Burns to beat Sahith Theegala

First up, I’m picking Sam Burns to take down Sahith Theegala at Shinnecock. He arrives here in excellent form, has the far superior U.S. Open record and, with this rise up the leaderboard coming somewhat out of the blue for his playing partner, he’s much more likely to kick on today.

Birdieing two of his first four holes, Burns started the week strongly, but some loose approach shots towards the end of round one saw him slip to a one-over 71. He put that right yesterday, ranking 2^nd in SG: Approach and 6^th in GIR on his way to recording a two-under-par round, moving him inside the top 10.

Failing to find many fairways or hole a putt, it was due to some excellent iron play that Theegala was able to limit the damage to a two-over 72 on Thursday. That was rectified in round two as he looked solid through the bag to sign for a 67, but as a player who has been erratic off the tee and inconsistent with his irons, a big score is always just around the corner.

Burns, on the other hand, is currently enjoying his strongest spell of the season in approach, ranking 5^th at the Memorial Tournament two starts ago. He’s also been reliable off the tee of late, and as a more competent putter by any metric, ranking 1^st in SG: Putting this season to Theegala’s 50^th, he’s liable to stay around in contention.

This belief is not only strengthened by recent form, with Burns producing six top-25s in nine appearances compared to Theegala being without one since April, but by their respective record in this event. He’s finished 9^th (2024, Pinehurst) and 7^th (2025, Oakmont) in the last two, whilst his competitor has a best of 27^th from 2023 at L.A. Country Club.

Burns simply outranks Theegala in almost every aspect and looks the one to beat in this twosome.

Ryo Hisatsune to beat Gary Woodland

As this tournament progresses, you’re going to need to be playing from the fairways to have any chance of sticking these greens, or else bring a superb short game. Gary Woodland loses out to Ryo Hisatsune in each of these areas, which could just give the edge to the Japanese youngster on moving day.

Woodland hit the ball well on day one, but it was catching fire on the greens that helped him towards his three-under 67, as he gained almost four-and-a-half strokes. That looked unsustainable and it showed yesterday, as he ranked 110^th on the greens and, having also lost control off the tee, succumbed to a three-over 73.

Hisatsune has been super-steady throughout, opening with a one-over 71 before shooting 69 on Friday. He’s hit more greens overall, ranking 16^th to Woodland’s 59^th, has performed better from tee-to-green, sitting 20^th compared to Woodland’s 46^th and, perhaps more importantly as the challenge intensifies, he is 16^th in SG: Around-the-Greens compared to Woodland being 129^th.

When we also factor in that he’s generally a straighter driver than the American and has produced his two best putting displays of the season on the poa annua surfaces at Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach, I’m confident the underdog has the game to overcome the 2019 U.S. Open champion.

3 pts Sam Burns & Ryo Hisatsune to win their 2-balls @ 2.69/1