Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay sit atop the leaderboard as we shop the U.S. Open Round 2 odds from our best golf betting sites for our top picks heading into Friday.

Heading into the second round of the U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay are tied for the lead at Pinehurst No. 2. The duo, with 34 career PGA Tour victories and four major wins between them, are on top of the leaderboard heading into Friday after each opening with a round of 5-under, 65.

Former U.S. Open champ Bryson DeChambeau and young Swedish superstar Ludvig Aberg sit close behind after Round 1. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and reigning PGA Champion Xander Schauffele both failed to break par, but they’re still receiving plenty of respect from our best sports betting sites after closing as the pre-tournament favorites by the U.S. Open odds.

Here are the live U.S. Open Round 2 odds and our top picks for Friday at Pinehurst No. 2.

Live U.S. Open Round 2 odds

Odds from our best sports betting apps as of Tuesday at 7:10 a.m. ET.

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U.S. Open Round 2 picks

Tyrrell Hatton vs. Jordan Spieth 18 hole matchup ⭐⭐⭐⭐

DraftKings is offering an 18-hole matchup prop between Tyrell Hatton and Jordan Spieth in Round 2. Hatton was 1-over through his first four holes on Thursday before settling into a rhythm, finishing three-under-par on the final 14 holes.

Conversely, Spieth, who opened at 1-unde and bogey-free through the first seven holes in Round 1, finished the final 11 holes at plus-3. We’ve seen Spieth unravel again and again, missing short putts and winding up with errant lies off the tee. Despite Speith being a phenomenal scrambler, Hatton’s numbers in Round 1 stand out, particularly ranking second in strokes gained: short game and eighth in SG: off-the-tee. 

The Englishman also recorded just 26 putts, good enough for 19th in the field during the first round. This gives him an edge over Spieth in Round 2, despite the Texas native and former U.S. Open winner playing with more urgency to make the cut line. A one-unit wager is sufficient for Hatton to score lower than Spieth in Round 2 at -125 odds.

Best odds: -125 via DraftKings

Akshay Bhatia vs. Eric Cole and Erik van Rooyen 3-ball ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We’re wrapping up our Round 2 picks with a 3-ball matchup at FanDuel, investing in Akshay Bhatia to beat Eric Cole and Erik van Rooyen in his group on Friday.

Bhatia broke through earlier this season with a playoff win over Denny McCarthy at the Valero Texas Open, and he’s ranked inside the top 15 for SG: approach and top-50 SG: putting. During Round 1 at Pinehurst, Bhatia carded four birdies, while ranking inside the top 30 for SG: off-the-tee, SG: approach, while finding 12 of 14 fairways.

Cole and van Rooyen each need to put their foot on the gas after going 3-over and 6-over, respectively, in Round 1, but Bhatia’s form in nearly every aspect of the game he showed at Pinehurst is too good for them to beat in 18 holes on Friday.

Let’s stake one more unit at plus odds for Bhatia to continue playing well and finishing with a lower score in Round 2 than Cole and van Rooyen.

Best odds: +125 via FanDuel

How to bet on golf

Betting on the U.S. Open golf tournament requires understanding the unique challenges presented by the course and conditions, especially when it’s held at Pinehurst No. 2. Here’s a guide to help you get started:

First, familiarize yourself with the different types of bets available. Common options include outright winner bets, where you pick the golfer you think will win the tournament. For example, you might see odds like +300 for a favorite like Scottie Scheffler, meaning a $10 bet would return a profit of $30 if he wins.

Head-to-head matchups are also popular. In these bets, you pick which of two golfers will have the better score in the tournament. For example, you might bet on Xander Schauffele at -120 to beat Rory McIlroy at +100, meaning you risk $12 to win $10 if Schauffele scores lower. Prop bets focus on specific events within the tournament, such as betting on whether there will be a hole-in-one or the performance of a particular golfer on a certain hole.

Pinehurst No. 2 is known for its challenging greens and difficult roughs, which can significantly impact player performance. When betting on the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, consider golfers who excel in accuracy and putting. Additionally, look at recent form and past performances at similar courses.

Research the players, paying attention to their recent tournament performances, course history, and any injuries or changes in form. For example, if a golfer has a strong track record at courses with difficult greens, they might be a good bet for Pinehurst No. 2. Factor in weather conditions as well, as they can influence play significantly.

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