2 matchup bets for Round 2 of the U.S. Open

If you didn't catch the first round of the 2023 U.S. Open, well, you missed a lot.

Two players — Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele — broke the record for the lowest single-round score in U.S. Open history with a pair of 8-under 62s, 37 players finished under par for the day, and the scoring average of 71.34 marked the lowest for an opening round in U.S. Open history. What happened to the toughest test in golf?

The USGA will surely have some tricks up its sleeve to thwart the early scoring barrage at Los Angeles Country Club, but that sure was an entertaining Day 1. Not only did the low scores make for some enthralling television, they also created some valuable bets for the second round at LACC.

Here are two matchup bets I'm firing for the second round of the U.S. Open.

Max Homa > Rickie Fowler (-120 DK)

Look, I love Rickie Fowler. His record-setting 62 in Round 1 was a joy to watch, and I'll be rooting for him to grab that long-awaited first major this week. But there's no way he replicates that performance on Friday.

Fowler gained 4.71 strokes on the field on the greens alone, while no one else gained more than 3.44. He still struck the ball well, but he made nearly every birdie putt he looked at Thursday. That won't happen in Round 2. Max Homa gained strokes across the board during his 2-under 68, and he's more suited to score in what should be difficult, firm conditions on Friday afternoon.

Tommy Fleetwood > Tyrrell Hatton (-110 DK)

Tommy Fleetwood is in danger of missing the cut after shooting a 3-over 73 in Round 1. Unlike Fowler, he couldn't buy a putt all day. The Englishman lost 3.21 strokes on the greens, which ranked 152nd in the field of 156. Yikes.

Fleetwood has been putting well leading into the U.S. Open, so I think he bounces back with the flat stick in Round 2. As for Tyrrell Hatton, he doesn't have the patience or the temperament to succeed at a U.S. Open. I didn't like his body language today, and I think he scores similarly to his 4-over 74 in Round 1.