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Kurt Kitayama 2023 US Open Betting Guide: Odds, Picks & Predictions

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The U.S. Open comes to the Los Angeles Country Club this week for the first time ever, and to the city of Los Angeles for the first time since 1948, when Ben Hogan won at Riviera.

A fascinating and unfamiliar venue should make for an entertaining tournament. Los Angeles Country Club's north course features five par-3s, and two of them are monsters. The 11th hole measures 290 yards, though it will play shorter since it's downhill. The 7th plays at 284 yards. Then there's the tiny 15th, which is listed at 124 yards. It could play even shorter if the pin is in front, but it's a harrowing tee shot to a small, well-guarded green. Another hole that promises high entertainment value is the 6th, a reachable 330-yard par-4 with a blind tee shot over a tree.

LACC has wider fairways than a typical U.S. Open venue, but course management will be of the essence, as having the proper angle of attack on approach shots is critical. The course figures to play firm and fast, and its undulating greens will present a stern test.

Scottie Scheffler is the betting favorite, followed closely by reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm. Not far behind is Brooks Koepka, who won the PGA last month and leads the contingent of players from the LIV Tour.

And speaking of LIV, this will be the first major since the bombshell announcement of a planned merger between the LIV and PGA tours. The deal is a controversial one, and with a blended field of PGA Tour and LIV Tour players, merger talk will add to the intrigue of the event.

The 123rd U.S. Open should be a fun ride. Buckle up.

Check Out Our 2023 U.S. Open Betting Guide: Odds, Picks & Predictions >>

Kurt Kitayama 2023 U.S. Open Best Bets

Here is our betting outlook and picks for Kurt Kitayama.

Kurt Kitayama (Outright +18000 [0.25u]; Top-10 +1200 [0.5u]; Top-20 +450 [0.5u])

Homerism aside, LACC is going to test every golfer’s mettle this week. Kurt Kitayama is intimately familiar with California courses and succeeding in pressure-packed, challenging environments. Kitayama also excels at the key metrics I’m looking at this week. He is one of the world’s best on approaches of more than 200 yards, as well as razor-sharp with a wedge. His weakness has been driving accuracy, but the ample fairways will help in that regard. The 20th-ranked player in the world should never be 180-1 at any tournament, so invest accordingly. Kitayama is a hot putter away from providing us with another massive payday.

More 2023 U.S. Open Betting Advice

PGA Championship Odds Boost: Add +1000 to Any Golfer to Win! >>

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