Cam Smith

Age: 29

World Ranking: 9

U.S. Opens Played: Seven

Best finish at the U.S. Open: T4 (2015)

Best Major result: Win (2022 Open Championship)

Why he can win:  It’s hard to say whether Cam Smith will get a better major championship venue to express his creativity – LACC fits Cam down to the ground. He will have some margin for error off the tee – the layout isn’t incredibly tight – it will be more about leaving yourself in decent spots and being prepared to play some risk/reward golf. The deep and daunting bunkers will not worry him, and being a world-class putter will never hurt your chances at a U.S. Open.

Odds: $29

Jason Day

Age: 35

World Ranking: 23

U.S. Opens Played: 10

Best finish at the U.S. Open: 2nd/T2 (2011,2013)

Best Major result: Win (2015 PGA Championship)

Why he can win: The resurgence of Jason Day’s game has been well-documented over the last few months, and he is back at a U.S. Open for the first time since 2020. For Day, it is now about getting himself in the mix at one of these big events. Of course, he can win at LACC, he is a short-game maestro and has been hitting the ball as well as ever, and now that he is fit and healthy, Day is primed to make the jump from one, to two major titles. 

Odds: $41

Min Woo Lee

Age: 24

World Ranking: 65

U.S. Opens Played: One

Best finish at the U.S. Open: T27 (2022)

Best Major result: T14 (2022 Masters)

Why he can win: Coming off a solid display at the PGA Championship, where he finished T18, Min Woo will be confident his game stands up with the best in the business. His elite ball striking will be at a premium around LACC. He has proven he can mix it with the best in the world and has a swagger knowing he belongs among the best.. It certainly wouldn’t surprise many if he features over the weekend.

Odds: $126

Adam Scott

Age: 42

World Ranking: 37

U.S. Opens Played: 21

Best finish at the U.S. Open: T4 (2015)

Best Major result: Win (2013 Masters)

Why he can win: Scott’s game is trending in the right direction. With three top-10s in his last five starts, it is just a matter of stringing four good rounds together for Scott. Ranked 14th in driving distance on Tour this year, at 42 Scott is still moving the ball out there. However, the stat that should excite punters the most is he sits 32nd on Tour for strokes gained putting. Scott is also inside the top-20 for sand saves. If all these stats come together, he could also easily add another major title to his resume at a course that will suit him well, with the Queenslander owning a strong record in California.

Odds: $67

Cam Davis

Age: 28

World Ranking: 68

U.S. Opens Played: Debut

Best finish at the U.S. Open: N/A

Best Major result: T4 (2023 PGA Championship)

Why he can win: Fresh off a career-best major championship finish at Oak Hill, Davis will carry plenty of confidence into his second major appearance of the year. Plenty long off the tee, there will be more of a focus on his short game and iron play this week. If he putts his best and thinks his way around the Los Angeles layout efficiently, he is more than capable of featuring on the first page of the leaderboard.

Odds: $151

Lucas Herbert

Age: 27

World Ranking: 55

U.S. Opens Played: Three

Best finish at the U.S. Open: T31 (2020)

Best Major result: T13 (2022 PGA Championship)

Why he can win: Herbert has already tasted victory this season on the DP World Tour and he was also solid at the PGA Championship (T40) after a tough run of finishes on the PGA Tour. Has a knack of decent finishes at the majors (T15 at last year's Open and T13 at the PGA) showing his skill for contending at big events, and a different layout tailored towards creative players could be precisely what he is after.

Odds: $326

Karl Vilips (a)

Age: 21

World Ranking: Unranked

U.S. Opens Played: Debut

Best finish at the U.S. Open: N/A

Best Major result: N/A

Why he can win: ‘Koala Karl’ is taking a break from college golf at Stanford University to play in the U.S. Open. Although winning seems unlikely, never say never. Vilips won a gold medal at the Youth Olympics and was a five-time American Junior Golf Association All-American to go alongside his two appearances at the Junior Presidents Cup. Vilips is no stranger to a big occasion; he has no scar tissue and nothing to lose. Could we witness history?

Odds: $1,001