Shane Bacon put Jon Rahm at No. 1, flipping him ahead of Scheffler because Rahm has consistently "shown up" in every marquee event lately – the four majors plus the Olympics. Bacon noted Rahm’s stronger Open finishes compared with Scheffler and stressed that the Spaniard contended deep into the PGA Championship. He believes Portrush suits Rahm’s power-plus-touch profile and that waiting until Augusta is too long for Rahm’s next major, making him a must-bet outright this week.

Shane Bacon’s No. 4 is Xander Schauffele, and he rolled out the research to back it up. Schauffele is −29 cumulatively in his Open career, second only to Jordan Spieth among active players. He also owns 25 top-20 finishes in his first 33 major starts – better than Arnold Palmer and just behind Billy Casper. Bacon argued that kind of reliability makes Schauffele a priority for outright and top-10 bets at Royal Portrush.

Shane Bacon made Viktor Hovland his No. 5 and is comfortable wagering on him despite the sometimes-shaky short game. Bacon noted Hovland has gained almost 24 strokes on approach over his last three starts (U.S. Open, Travelers, Scottish Open) – an absurd iron run. He compared the required Portrush formula to Shane Lowry’s 80 % GIR performance during his 2019 win and said Hovland is proving he can produce that level. If the Norwegian even putts average, Bacon thinks he can win and is worth an outright ticket.

Shane Bacon’s outright pick is Tommy Fleetwood. Bacon thinks the Englishman thrives when chasing, envisioning Fleetwood starting Sunday four shots back and firing a Shinnecock-style 65 to steal the title—much like his 2019 Open run. Expected wet, relatively calm conditions should eliminate fiery bounces and spotlight Fleetwood’s flush ball-striking. With many betting markets still pricing him behind the superstar tier, Bacon believes Fleetwood offers the best blend of form, course fit, and potential closing ability to win his first major.

Shane Bacon’s sleeper is Patrick Reed, whom he called simply “P.” Reed finished strongly at Port Rush in 2019 and faces massive incentive: a win would rocket him to roughly third in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings according to his analytics team. Bacon argued that competitive fire plus proven major pedigree make Reed a dangerous outright ticket at triple-digit odds. He also floated a potential Ryder Cup pairing with Bryson DeChambeau, underscoring the narrative juice—and added motivation—if Reed grabs the claret jug.

Shane Bacon said Ludvig Aberg is a stay-away at Port Rush because the Swede keeps shooting himself in the foot at the worst possible times. Bacon cited Saturday’s triple bogey in his most recent start: a wild iron OB, a fringe chip raced eight feet past, and a missed comebacker that turned a bogey into a snowman. He added that Aberg is constantly short-siding himself, three-putting, and chasing unattainable flags. The major résumé backs it up—outside of one good week at Pinehurst, Aberg has either missed the cut or finished well outside contention in every non-Masters major. Compared with Xander Schauffele’s steady early-career major record, Bacon argued Aberg’s trend is alarming and reason enough to bet against him lifting the claret jug.

Shane Bacon tabbed Jordan Spieth as the most under-priced sleeper on the board, noting that sportsbooks still have him in the 60-to-1 range despite a flawless Open record. Spieth has never missed a cut in this major, owns seven consecutive top-25 finishes, and ranks No. 1 in Open scoring average among players with at least 20 rounds. Bacon argued the wet forecast favors Spieth’s creative shot-making and short-game wizardry, the same toolkit that delivered his 2017 Claret Jug. He added that the Texan’s neck issue appears behind him and the recent birth of his child removes any lingering off-course distraction. Bacon recommended grabbing outright tickets before the market reacts, pairing them with top-10/20 props to capture value on Spieth’s remarkably high floor at links venues.

Shane Bacon slotted Tommy Fleetwood fifth in his personal power rankings and said the Englishman is ‘very, very high on my list this week.’ Bacon’s confidence comes from Fleetwood’s sterling Open resume—runner-up in 2019 at Portrush, another serious run at St. Andrews in 2022, and a string of other top-20 finishes that prove he thrives in links conditions. Bacon noted Fleetwood’s near-miss at the Travelers showed the form is still there, while his ability to flight irons in coastal wind is tailor-made for Portrush’s exposed back nine. Because of that track record and current ball-striking, Bacon views Fleetwood as a live outright and a must-consider Top-10/Top-20 ticket rather than a boom-or-bust long shot.

Shane Bacon reminded listeners that Scottie Scheffler’s floor is ridiculous heading into Portrush. Scheffler was statistically the WORST putter inside 10 feet among everyone who made the cut at the Scottish, yet he still grinded out another top-10. Bacon’s takeaway: if Scottie posts anything close to average on the greens this week, his baseline ball-striking is already good enough to put him in the outright conversation. Bettors looking at Scheffler props should treat last week’s ugly putting numbers as a buy-low signal rather than a red flag, especially with benign Poa/Bent surfaces at Royal Portrush historically playing easier than Oakmont-style killers.

Shane Bacon said Justin Rose deserves serious betting consideration at Royal Portrush. Bacon pointed out that Rose shook off three months of mediocrity with a bogey-free 63 on Sunday at the Scottish Open, his first truly explosive round since April. Rose briefly led the 2018 Open and has finished runner-up in two of the last five championships, so Portrush clearly fits his eye. Bacon added that Rose has now gone T2 and T4 in his last two Open starts where he’s entered with any form at all, and that his final-round 63 moved him comfortably inside the FedExCup top 70, removing any extra pressure about status. Given his Open pedigree, links experience, and fresh evidence the swing is dialed in, Bacon framed Rose as an ideal long-shot or Top-10 wager this week.

Shane Bacon planted his flag on Robert “Bobby Mac” MacIntyre, stating flatly, “I think Bobby Mack’s going to win the Open.” Bacon slotted the left-handed Scot fourth in his rankings but called him his preferred outright. He and Patrick McDonald cited two supporting data points: MacIntyre’s strong showing at last year’s Open despite what McDonald called a “hangover,” and his history of playing well at Royal Portrush. McDonald even noted MacIntyre "might go back-to-back this week," underscoring how hot the form is. For Bacon, the recent surge plus proven Portrush comfort make MacIntyre a must-sprinkle long-shot ticket in the outright market.

Shane Bacon slotted Scottie Scheffler second, arguing his statistical profile screams Open success. Bacon rattled off the tools: top-tier driving, elite irons, and "incredible" pitching. He emphasized that putting is “probably the least important part of Open weeks,” removing Scheffler’s one relative weakness. Bacon and McDonald added that Scheffler’s creativity around the green routinely yields tap-in pars, a critical separator on a windy Portrush setup. Bacon expects Scheffler’s links learning curve to flatten quickly and sees him as a rock-solid top-5 bet with every-right-to-win upside, noting “that record at the Open is going to change soon, if not next week.”

Shane Bacon kept Collin Morikawa at No. 5 and said he’s still leaning hard into the Californian for outright and placement bets. Bacon’s rationale was straightforward: Morikawa has played "great golf this year" and has "played well at Opens in the past," a nod to his comfort on fast, firm links surfaces. Bacon added that Morikawa “feels like he needs it,” implying extra motivation to add a second Claret Jug. The combination of current form and proven Open success makes Morikawa one of Bacon’s favorite bets to contend at Royal Portrush.

Shane Bacon labeled Justin Thomas a live outright option despite recent volatility. He noted it would be ‘very Justin Thomas-like’ to win the week before the Open and then implode at the major, a pattern the two-time PGA champion has shown. The segment reviewed Thomas’s rocky links résumé—T62 here last year after opening 62-72, followed by 68-78 at St. Andrews, plus scattered 81s and 77s in other majors—yet highlighted his ability to fire sporadic 66s when everything clicks. Bacon views that ceiling as worth chasing in outright markets or large-field DFS contests, accepting the accompanying risk.

Shane Bacon picked Matt Fitzpatrick to win at Renaissance, calling the Scot-ish Open the perfect spot for him. Bacon said Fitzpatrick 'needs the links' and is coming off a solid run of form, making this week an obvious breakout opportunity. The host added that both he and Patrick McDonald separately chose Fitzpatrick, creating the show’s first true "consensus play of the year" and boosting Bacon’s confidence that Fitzpatrick’s all-around links skill set will translate to a victory.

Shane Bacon advised bettors to steer clear of Jason Day in outright markets this week. Bacon placed Day on his "can’t-win" list because the former world No. 1 has logged very few competitive rounds in 2025, withdrew from The Players, and appears more focused on launching a YouTube channel than sharpening tournament reps. Bacon added that while Day’s talent could surface at a major like The Open, the low-scoring birdie fest in Illinois is an unlikely spot for a breakthrough. He recommends fading Day in all win and placement wagers.

Shane Bacon called Matt McCarty his favorite long-shot at the John Deere Classic, noting the rookie sits around +8000 in betting markets. Bacon said TPC Deere Run rewards fairway finders and precise wedge play, two areas where McCarty excels. He highlighted McCarty’s season-long consistency—multiple top-10 finishes, a win on the Korn Ferry Tour last fall, and a solid showing at the Masters—as proof the moment will not be too big. Bacon believes McCarty’s combination of fairway accuracy, tidy short game, and recent form make him worth sprinkling in outright and top-10 tickets.

Bacon penciled Scottie Scheffler second, arguing his 2025 campaign resembles past dominant stretches (hinting at Tiger-like 2000-01 and 2007 spurts). Since the Players, Scheffler’s worst finish is T8 at the Heritage and he’s racked up three wins. Bacon docked him slightly for a modest Open résumé but said Scheffler’s week-in, week-out ball-striking floor makes him nearly matchup-proof and still a justifiable outright at short odds.

Shane Bacon matched Mcdonald by posting Fleetwood at No. 5, emphasizing Fleetwood’s habitual success on coastal setups and his overall Open consistency. Bacon acknowledged Fleetwood’s inability to seal victories but noted that the combination of ball-striking reliability and comfort in heavy winds justifies a top-five power-ranking slot, making him a tempting DFS core play or conservative each-way wager.

Bacon planted Xander Schauffele at No. 4, arguing that links layouts magnify Schauffele’s fairway-finding and all-around game. While Schauffele limped to a T61 last week, Bacon took comfort in the fact that the American’s consecutive-cut streak remains alive, illustrating a rock-steady floor. Bacon believes Schauffele’s low-ball flight and elite scrambling translate to Portrush, making him a viable outright longshot and a dependable top-20 ticket.

Shane Bacon identified Davis Riley as his ‘sleeper’ because Riley’s ball-striking caught fire at the Memorial where he gained 7.4 strokes tee-to-green. Bacon likes targeting Riley on second-shot courses that require wedge proximity and notes Riley is 5th in the field in birdies per round over his last 12. Available at 80-1 or longer, Bacon thinks Riley is a strong top-20 or small outright play.

Shane Bacon completed his fade trifecta with Patrick Cantlay, pointing out that Cantlay rarely plays "gen-pop" events and may treat Detroit as a tune-up. Bacon added that Cantlay has struggled to convert birdie looks lately—ranking 60th on Tour in putting from 10-15 feet—and that 22-under has been the winning score four of the last five years, a pace he doubts Cantlay matches right now.

Shane Bacon cautioned bettors against chasing Collin Morikawa at single-digit odds, arguing the Rocket Mortgage typically turns into a putting contest and Morikawa ranks outside the top-80 in this field in strokes-gained putting over the last 12 rounds. With no win since 2023 and a likely eye on the Open Championship, Bacon sees poor value in the price.

Shane Bacon put Keegan Bradley on his “cannot win” list even though books make him one of the three favorites. Bacon’s fade hinges on fatigue after an emotional Travelers victory, the difficulty of winning in consecutive starts, and Bradley’s mediocre putting splits on bent-poa where he loses nearly half a stroke per round over his career. Bacon would rather sell than buy at a sub-15-1 number.

Shane Bacon lumped Rickie Fowler with Finau as a worthwhile outright dart. The logic: Fowler sits far longer than usual on betting boards despite positive signs – he gained over four strokes putting last week and historically gains more than a stroke per round on bent-poa blends like Detroit’s greens. Bacon likes the narrative that a veteran crowd favorite could surge in a week missing many of the Tour’s elite and thinks Rickie’s past top-15 at this venue shows course comfort. Anything north of 60-1 is actionable in his view.

Shane Bacon included Tony Finau on his short outright card, pointing out that Finau seldom tees it up in non-signature events unless he feels his game trending. Bacon reminded listeners that Detroit Golf Club is where Finau posted a T-4 in 2020 and that he ranks top-5 in the field in strokes-gained approach over the last eight measured rounds. With Ryder Cup chatter heating up, Bacon thinks the motivation angle is real and expects Finau’s elite par-5 scoring (second on Tour this season) to translate into birdie streaks on the gettable Rocket layout.

Shane Bacon said Luke Clanton is his favorite off-the-board outright for Detroit. Bacon noted that the Rocket field is extremely top-heavy this year – Cantlay, Morikawa and Keegan are soaking up the shortest odds – which lets a red-hot collegiate star like Clanton slip into triple-digit pricing at most books. Bacon’s angle is that Clanton already owns two top-25 finishes in limited PGA starts, is gaining strokes tee-to-green in every appearance, and ‘is itching to get that first victory on a week where the big names may be exhaling after two signature events and a major.’ Bacon feels Clanton’s elite ball-striking and fearless driver make him a perfect fit for Detroit Golf Club’s wide corridors and soft greens and thinks anything 80-1 or longer is worth betting.

Although Scheffler famously cleans up in post-major events (wins at Heritage and 2023 Travelers), Bacon insists this week is different. Scottie looked frustrated with his swing all week at Pinehurst, especially with irons—an area he normally leads. Add the emotional drain of battling a legal situation earlier this year and becoming a new father, and Bacon thinks the energy tank is finally on E. He expects Scheffler to play, cash a check, but not lift the trophy, making him a contrarian fade in outrights and a spot to attack with head-to-head matchups.

Bacon put Rory McIlroy on his "can’t win" list, saying the U.S. Open collapse left a scar that won’t heal in four days. The Travelers demands aggressive birdie making, and Bacon worries Rory’s putter—ranked 108th in SG:Putting over his last 20 rounds—will not keep pace. He doubts McIlroy will contend again in 2025 unless he gets extended time away, making Rory a fade in outright, DFS, and matchup markets this week.

Bacon keeps Keegan Bradley on his "can win" list every year, asserting that the native New Englander treats the Travelers like a major. Bradley grew up a short drive from TPC River Highlands and historically spikes on familiar Northeast tracks (defended the 2023 title here with a TOUR-record 23-under). The hometown adrenaline plus a layout that lets him lean on irons rather than driver makes Bacon confident Bradley remains an auto-bet for outrights and top-10 markets despite shaky form elsewhere.

Bacon labeled Xander Schauffele his outright pick, noting that everything about Xander’s form screams "win incoming." Schauffele keeps stacking top-10 finishes and has gained strokes tee-to-green in nine straight starts, but the victory hasn’t popped yet. River Highlands sets up for a birdie-fest—something Schauffele excels at with his 4.45 birdies per round (6th on TOUR). Bacon also mentioned Xander’s knack for post-major bounce-backs; he won this event in 2022 the week after the U.S. Open. With no course-fit questions and a stat profile that matches prior winners (elite iron play, safe off the tee), Bacon believes Xander is the most logical bet on the board.

Shane Bacon said Max Homa can absolutely win at TPC River Highlands. Bacon highlighted that Homa is coming in unusually rested after missing the U.S. Open when an ugly three-putt knocked him out during sectional qualifying. That week off followed a brutal seven-day stretch—second-round surge at the PGA, first-round 67 at Muirfield Village, then back-to-back 69s and a missed cut in Canada—so the reset should help. Bacon views Homa’s recent volatility as a sign he’s close; once Homa "gets a sniff" he’s one of the tour’s best closers. With extra motivation to salvage a season that’s felt lost, plus an easy, birdie-friendly course that rewards his wedge game, Bacon believes Homa is a live outright bet and a strong DFS pivot off the bigger names.

Shane Bacon argued that the betting board is daring gamblers to take Xander Schauffele outright at 20-1 instead of swallowing Scottie Scheffler at a skinny +200. Bacon said the numbers alone make Schauffele the sharper play: a decade-long U.S. Open resume featuring eight consecutive top-15s, the championship’s best career scoring average behind only Scheffler, and recent ball-striking gains after a week of driver tweaking with coach Chris Como. He noted Schauffele sits second in strokes-gained tee-to-green over the last six months and has posted two separate 62s in majors, proof the ceiling matches Scheffler’s at a fraction of the price. Because Oakmont demands precise driving and lag-putting—two Schauffele strengths—Bacon recommended sprinkling outright tickets, coupling them with top-10 props, and fading Scheffler in win-only markets due to the prohibitive odds.

Calling him his official sleeper, Shane Bacon said Cameron Young could “win by three” if his powerful driver gets in rhythm. Bacon reasoned that a rain-softened Oakmont will reward raw ball speed while reducing rollout into the church-pew rough, a perfect recipe for Young’s 315-yard carry distance and towering fade. He also noted that Young’s temperament—unflappable and quick-playing—mirrors past Oakmont champions who embraced the grind rather than complained about it. With sportsbooks pricing Young around 45-1 and DFS ownership projected under 10 %, Bacon encourages outright sprinkles, first-round leader bets, and large-field GPP exposure, insisting the course fits his game “for absolutely no reason it wouldn’t.”

Shane Bacon called Xander Schauffele the easiest bet on the board, arguing that any sportsbook still hanging plus money for a top-10 finish is begging to be taken. Bacon rattled off Schauffele’s absurd U.S. Open record—eight starts, eight top-15s, never worse than T14, and two separate 62s in major championships—to illustrate a floor as high as any non-Scheffler player in the field. He added that Schauffele has been working with swing coach Chris Como all week specifically on tightening driver dispersion; if the tweak sticks, the Californian’s tee-to-green profile checks every Oakmont box. At 20-1 outright and +110 top-10, Bacon believes Schauffele is the superior value to Scheffler’s 2-1 odds. He advised loading Xander into DFS lineups, hammering top-10 props, and sprinkling smaller outrights, labeling it a classic “high-floor, still-has-ceiling” portfolio play.

Shane Bacon advised bettors to leave Rory McIlroy off outright and top-5 tickets, arguing the Northern Irishman’s current downward trend makes a surprise spike week unlikely. Bacon called McIlroy the ultimate momentum player—dominant only when his form is already peaking—and pointed to the post-Augusta driver issues and an 80 at the Canadian Open as proof the arrow is pointing south. Unlike Tiger Woods, who could win on pure talent during a slump, Bacon believes Rory needs confidence and recent results to fuel his best golf. With Oakmont demanding both accuracy and touch, he recommends fading McIlroy in betting markets and using him only as a contrarian sprinkle in large-field DFS tournaments.

Shane Bacon placed Collin Morikawa third in his Oakmont ranking, arguing the Californian’s fairway-finding skill is the sneaky archetype that always lurks here. Morikawa sits second on TOUR in driving accuracy and eighth in GIR from the fairway, stats Bacon believes will translate directly to flatter lies on Oakmont’s famously unlevel fairways. Bacon referenced past leaderboards where non-bombers—think Jim Furyk and Zach Johnson—hovered near the top despite the bomber winners, and pointed to Morikawa’s two-major pedigree and gains of 1.2 strokes per round tee-to-green since the PGA as proof the iron play is peaking. He recommends top-5 wagers and balanced DFS exposure, especially if the course firms up late in the week.

Shane Bacon slotted Jon Rahm fourth on his board and said he’d be ‘shocked’ if Rahm plays poorly at Oakmont. The Spaniard’s U.S. Open resume—win at Torrey, runner-up at Brookline, five straight top-20s—pairs with an active 20-event top-10 streak on LIV, underscoring his floor. Bacon downplayed concerns that half those LIV results were distant finishes, pointing instead to Rahm’s elite driving plus top-5 major strokes-gained approach rate since 2020. Oakmont’s thick rough and tiered greens, he argued, reward Rahm’s combination of carry distance and touchy lag putting. While the odds are short, Bacon still recommends Rahm in DFS cash builds and top-10 bets given the predictably high baseline.

Shane Bacon slotted Shane Lowry fifth in his Oakmont power rankings and called him a must-use in top-20 and DFS markets. Lowry opened 2016 at Oakmont with 68-70-65 before stumbling on Sunday, proof he can handle the layout. Bacon cited Lowry’s two straight U.S. Open top-20s, strong approach play since the Masters, and a comfort level in ‘muddy and gross’ weather reminiscent of 2016’s soaked conditions. With the Irishman gaining strokes off the tee in six of his last seven worldwide starts and ranking top-15 on TOUR in proximity from 175-200 yards, Bacon believes Lowry’s patience and short-game imagination make him the premier mid-tier option if the course turns into a slog.

Shane Bacon said the incoming rain makes him bullish on Bryson DeChambeau at Oakmont. Bacon argued the soft, wet setup neutralizes the course’s trademark firmness and amplifies raw ball-speed. With every tee shot demanding driver, Bryson’s combination of distance and improved accuracy becomes a tangible edge. Bacon added that soft fairways will keep balls from trundling into Oakmont’s sloped church-pew rough, but even when DeChambeau does miss, his superior strength should let him gouge wedges onto the Augusta-style greens. The host conceded the week could still go sideways if Bryson starts spraying drivers, yet in these conditions he sees far more ceiling than floor and plans to sprinkle outright and DFS exposure despite the single-digit number.

Shane Bacon placed Ludvig Aberg on his "can’t-win" list, emphasizing that the Swede has lost momentum since his Torrey Pines victory. Outside a back-door top-20 at the Memorial—fueled by a closing 66—Aberg has gained strokes approach in just one of his last five measured starts, and his normally trusty driver has slipped to barely field average during that span. Bacon dismissed last Sunday’s round as "not a sign" of a turnaround and argued that TPC Toronto’s penal rough will punish any errant tee shot. Given his recent shakiness and short outright number among the betting favorites, Bacon recommends fading Aberg in outright markets and anchoring match-ups against him.

Shane Bacon made Sam Burns one of his three outright selections, pointing out that Burns has quietly stacked four top-20 finishes in five starts since Augusta, capped by a T12 at Muirfield Village where the rough measured almost identical to TPC Toronto’s four inches. Burns gained 5.1 strokes putting on bentgrass-dominant greens last week, and the North Course will likewise feature quick, pure surfaces. Bacon also highlighted Burns’ balanced profile—top-35 this season in both SG: Approach and SG: Putting—which typically plays up on vanilla TPC designs that do not force specialists into uncomfortable shots. With the favorite tier dominated by Scheffler and McIlroy, Bacon thinks the LSU product provides mid-tier value in both outright tickets and DFS lineups.

Shane Bacon said Rory McIlroy remains a clear "can–win" this week because the Northern Irishman has reset his season-long objectives around stacking national-open trophies after falling short at Augusta. Bacon noted that McIlroy already owns Canadian, Scottish, and Irish Open titles and is openly targeting a run that would echo Lee Trevino or Tiger Woods in 2000. The motivation angle is paired with the fact that McIlroy "always plays well in Canada," where he has two wins and a runner-up in his last three starts. With TPC Toronto’s North Course expected to reward distance on its par-5 finishing hole and a potentially drivable 15th, Bacon believes McIlroy’s elite driving gives him a built-in scoring edge. Add the four-inch rough that mirrors last week’s Muirfield set-up—something Rory handled just fine—and Bacon is buying the favorite rather than fading him at a pre-major tune-up.

Shane Bacon highlighted Rickie Fowler at roughly +8,900 as his preferred dart throw. Bacon noted Fowler "gave himself a chance last week," showing flashes of the form that helped him contend in 2023. At a near-90-to-1 outright price, Bacon believes the market is undervaluing Fowler’s upside and views him as an attractive sprinkle for outright or top-10 wagers.

Shane Bacon put Collin Morikawa on his "can’t win" list. Although Bacon admitted Muirfield Village "screams" Morikawa’s name, he pointed out the two-time major champion has "had some chances" here "plenty of times" and failed to close each opportunity. Bacon therefore advises bettors to stay away from Morikawa outright tickets this week.

Shane Bacon named Xander Schauffele as his primary outright selection, predicting the Olympic gold medalist will win at Muirfield Village and kick-start hype for the upcoming U.S. Open. Bacon cited Schauffele’s ultra-consistent recent form and well-rounded skill set as perfect fits for Jack’s course, arguing that a victory here would be the natural next step before Pinehurst.

Bacon crowned Scottie Scheffler the clear-cut No. 1 and predicted he will win at Oakmont, moving within one leg of the Grand Slam. He referenced Scheffler’s PGA win, season-best strokes-gained metrics, and tee-to-green dominance that mirrors Dustin Johnson’s 2016 clinic at this same venue. Bacon is willing to eat the chalk on an outright and suggests anchoring DFS lineups around Scheffler despite the elevated salary because his probability of finishing outside the top five is minuscule right now.

Shane Bacon pushed DeChambeau all the way to No. 2, saying his ability to ‘carry a lot of the trouble’ at Oakmont differentiates him from everyone but Scheffler. Bacon views Bryson’s current driving as the single biggest advantage in the field and thinks his worst-case scenario is a back-door top-10. That makes DeChambeau a strong outright or each-way bet and a staple for DFS single-entry tournaments.

Although Shane Bacon still slotted Rory third, he voiced concern about McIlroy’s head-space. Bacon noted Rory’s five straight mediocre major rounds, the no-media stance, and the driver-testing saga at the PGA. That odd buildup kept Rory from contending at a track he normally torches. Even so, Bacon admits McIlroy has arguably been the best overall player of 2025 and has developed a chip-on-the-shoulder mentality for the U.S. Open. He recommends cautious exposure—top-10 bets or DFS tournament leverage rather than an outright hammer.

Shane Bacon echoed the Rahm love at No. 4, saying majors are simply ‘better’ when Rahm is hunting. He pointed to Rahm’s intimidation factor and the way his green-side genius resurfaced late Sunday at Valhalla. Bacon thinks Rahm shook off the rust of being absent from leaderboards since the 2024 Masters win and will arrive at Oakmont with sharper feels. Bettors looking for an alternative to Scheffler’s short number should keep Rahm on their outright card and lock him into DFS GPP pools.