Scottie Scheffler heavily backed as big U.S. Open favorite

Scottie Scheffler appears comfortable being the biggest favorite heading into a major in 15 years, and the public continues to back him despite extremely short odds ahead of this week's U.S. Open.

The world's No. 1-ranked player is coming off his fifth win of 2024. That includes a major (the Masters), the "fifth major" (The Players) and three signature events (Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage, the Memorial).

Scheffler is consistently beating the best fields in golf, and the public largely expects him to do so against this week at Pinehurst No. 2.

He is the +300 favorite at DraftKings, where the next shortest odds belong to Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy at +1100. Despite the smaller potential payout, Scheffler leads the field with 38 percent of all money wagered on this week's winner. The next closest is LIV Golf's Bryson DeChambeau with 10 percent of the money backing him at +1800.

The story is similar at BetRivers, where Scheffler is the +335 favorite -- well ahead of Schauffele at +900 and McIlroy at +1200. Meanwhile, defending champion Wyndham Clark carries +6600 longshot odds.

Scheffler has already raked in a recorded $24.02 million in earnings this season and is riding a streak of 11 consecutive top-10 finishes. Despite taking a few weeks off following the berth of his first child last month, Scheffler has remained in dominant form.

"It it's a good place to be," Scheffler said after holding on to win the Memorial by a shot on Sunday. "I like how my game's feeling right now. I feel like I've been playing some good golf. It's great to see some results too and some wins.

"Out here the margins are so small between winning and losing. It's a putt or a shot here or there. Fortunately, today I was able to hit the shots when I needed to and hopefully going into next week I'm going it stick to my game plan and prepare the way I usually would and get ready to go out and compete again on Thursday."

Scheffler said he doesn't feel as though he has a target on his back. Each week is a new start, and Scheffler is still seeking his first U.S. Open title, with a previous best of second place coming in 2022.

"Just because I'm the favorite (at Pinehurst) doesn't really have any affect on my score," he said. "I think we all start at even par, if I remember correctly."

--Field Level Media