US Open: Fitzpatrick (and caddie) can ride to victory in classic test

Some ride at Brookline in store

Paul McGinley called it a course where the jockeys will have to keep a tight rein in the horses - the caddies on the players - and with that in mind, Matt Fitzpatrick looks an obvious candidate for this week's US Open.

The Country Club at Brookline is not a cookie-cutter, modern TPC course where players can fire away at will and use their power to bring the venue to its knees.

Fitzpatrick won the 2013 Amateur Championship at Brookline, and with the vastly experienced Billy Foster on his bag, he has all the tools required to conquer this 7,254-yard classic, where guile, precision and patience trump strength and distance. Brookline, the site of Francis Ouimet's legendary 1913 US Open win as an amateur, is a piece of living history.

"It's a beautiful design," said defending champion Jon Rahm. "I always love coming to places and courses that were designed so long ago because even though they add tee boxes, the uniqueness of the architecture from back then still stands." With "playable" rough and a firmness that has not yet gotten out of hand, players are predicting a winning score of 10-under par.

It would be a significant venue for favourite Rory McIlroy to declare his genius and return to the winner's circle in a major, but at 12.5 ahead of PGA champion Justin Thomas (14.5), we see better value in Fitzpatrick at 38.

Yes, world number one Scottie Scheffler is a tempting 16.5, but Fitzpatrick, still smarting after his disappointing final round performance in Tulsa, looks like a man on a mission as he seeks his first professional win on US soil.

Justin Thomas expected to be a contender at Brookline

Lowry has potential

Even better value is on offer in the shape of Ireland's Shane Lowry, who has been winless since his 2019 Open Championship triumph but looks like a man ready to lift a trophy again soon.

His results show it - three top-three finishes and another seven top 25s in 12 starts this year. He's putting better than ever and with US Open pedigree - he led by four before finishing tied second behind Dustin Johnson at Oakmont in 2016 - he's certainly one to watch at 32.

Rose an outsider to consider

Another is 2013 champion Justin Rose, who remains a class act and a man in form as he showed with that closing 60 in the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday. At 110, Rose is value for money on a track that resembles Merion, another storied venue.

Of the favourites, perhaps Will Zalatoris has the tee-to-green genius to get the job done under pressure. He will have learned much from the PGA Championship, and as a ball-striking machine, it would be a surprise if he were not in the mix come the weekend.

At 34, he's attractively priced, but we're sticking with Fitzpatrick to become just the third English winner of the toughest of all the majors in 52 years.

Recommended bets

Shane Lowry @ 32

Will Zalatoris @ 34

Matthew Fitzpatrick @ 38

Justin Rose @ 110