US Open: Steve Palmer's 72-hole matches tips & TV details

Sky Sports Golf, 3pm Thursday

Jordan Spieth has got three more Major titles than Patrick Cantlay in his locker, but Cantlay is carrying something much more important when it comes to performing well in the US Open at Pebble Beach this week. Confidence.

Spieth remains fragile, winless since the 2017 Open Championship, and has dropped from second to 28th in the world rankings, losing much of his old swagger. His putting touch has returned in recent weeks, but his long game is still extremely ropey, and Cantlay looks a fantastic bet to beat him in a 10-11 your-choice 72-hole match.

Spieth is the first to admit that his least favourite putting surface is poa annua, so the putting improvement that has helped him lately could disappear at Pebble Beach. He has never tackled the course in US Open conditions and his recent waywardness makes it a frightening proposition for the 25-year-old Texan.

Cantlay, in contrast, is a Californian who grew up putting on poa annua. He was the world number one amateur for 55 weeks and has always been destined for greatness, so could have already claimed a Major title or two had some injury problems not sidelined him for two-and-a-half years. He has been making up for lost time in superb fashion, though.

Last time out, he won the Memorial with a clinic of ball-striking, a final-round 64 securing his second US Tour triumph. And it was a victory that had been coming – his form for a year has been ridiculously consistent – and he has been doing it in Majors as well as normal events. He was 12th in the Open last year, ninth in the Masters in April and third in the US PGA last month.

Cantlay has the complete game, he is a solid all-rounder, and US Opens set up well for him. He was the low amateur in the 2011 US Open and he looks ready to challenge for the trophy as a pro. The tougher the set-up at Pebble, the more successful Cantlay is likely to be.

Dustin Johnson to beat Brooks Koepka is another appealing match-bet option. Johnson took a three-shot lead into the final round of the last Major at Pebble Beach and he has twice been victorious in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Throw in other near-misses in the Pro-Am – fifth in 2012, second in 2014, fourth in 2015, third in 2017 and second in 2018 – and he has an incredible history of making birdies at this venue.

Neither Johnson or Koepka were particularly impressive in the Canadian Open last week, but Johnson beat his compatriot by five shots and will fancy his chances of winning the duel again at such a happy hunting ground.

Koepka does not have a great record in California. He has never won a tournament on the West Coast and he has never played a Major at Pebble Beach. Even after accounting for his recent dominance of Majors, Johnson seems the more likely US Open champion this week.

A final match wager to consider is Xander Schauffele to outscore Jason Day. Schauffele was fifth and sixth in his two previous US Opens and this cool, calm, measured character relishes tough assignments like this one. He warmed up well with 14th place in the Memorial and carded a 69 in his only previous competitive round at Pebble Beach.

Much has been made about Day having Steve Williams as caddie for the first time, but the experience of Tiger Woods's old bagman may not count for much. Day and Williams may work terribly together – it could be an uncomfortable clash of egos – and it is crazy to assume the new alliance will benefit the player.

Day missed the cut by four shots in the Memorial last time out and his fitness and form have been fleeting all season.

Recommendations
P Cantlay to beat J Spieth
3pts 10-11 Betway
D Johnson to beat B Koepka
3pts 10-11 Betway
X Schauffele to beat J Day
2pts 4-5 Betfair, Paddy Power

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