2022 U.S. Open Second Round PrizePicks Plays: Rory McIlroy Among 5 Friday Picks
(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Pictured: Rory McIlroy.
Adam Hadwin shot a 66 on Thursday and holds a one-stroke lead at 4-under following the first round of the U.S. Open. Now, we look forward to Friday's second round, which features plenty of prop angles to attack on PrizePicks.
Below, I give out my five PrizePicks flex plays for the second round of the 2022 U.S. Open. For those unfamiliar with flex plays in golf, different combinations of overs and unders generate different payouts.
Using the five plays below, getting five-of-five correct registers a 11x payout, four-of-five correct registers a 2x payout and three-of-five correct registers a 0.4x payout.
PrizePicks Plays
Rory McIlroy: Round 2 Over 70.5 Strokes
Rory McIlroy is T2 at 3-under par after shooting a 67 on Thursday. While McIlroy had a great first round, regression should be looming Friday as his putter saved him on multiple occasions Thursday.
His metrics back this up as McIlroy ranks third amongst the field in SG: Putting. However, the rest of his game struggled as he ranks just 131st in SG: Around-the-Green, 15th in SG: Approach-the-Green, 28th in SG: Off-the-Tee and 46th in SG: Tee-to-Green.
Add to the fact that McIlroy was struggling to find fairways at a course where staying out of the rough is essential and we should see some regression in his scoring on Friday.
I would not play this total any higher than 70.5.
Viktor Hovland: Round 2 Over 71.5 Strokes
Another golfer I am fading Friday is Viktor Hovland, who is T26 (even par) after shooting a 70 on Thursday.
Like McIlroy, Hovland's round was saved by his outstanding putting as he ranks 23rd in SG: Putting. However, the rest of his game struggled mightily as he ranks just 64th in SG: Around-the-Green, 41st in SG: Approach-the-Green, 102nd in SG: Off-the-Tee and 57th in SG: Tee-to-Green.
Hovland also struggled to find fairways in the first round as he ranked 99th in Driving Accuracy, which should further illustrate the likelihood of regression on Friday.
I would play this number up to 72.
Hideki Matsuyama: Round 2 Over 71.5 Strokes
The last golfer I am fading on Friday is Hideki Matsuyama, who shot an even-par 70 and is T26 after the opening round.
Matsuyama was outstanding with his iron game Thursday and he ranks fourth amongst the field in SG: Approach-the-Green and 12th in SG: Tee-to-Green. However, the rest of his game was fade worthy as he ranks just 104th in SG: Putting, 47th in SG: Around-the-Green and 116th in SG: Off-the-Tee.
Like McIlroy and Hovland, Matsuyama also struggled to find fairways as he ranks 73rd in Driving Accuracy.
I would not play this total any higher than 71.5.
Jon Rahm: Round 2 Under 70.5 Strokes
The first of two golfers I am backing in the second round is Jon Rahm. Currently, Rahm is T14 at 1-under par after shooting a 69 on Thursday.
While Rahm is in a good position, he should shoot even better Friday as his complete game — with the exception of his putting — was dialed in. If Rahm has a better day with his putter, he should shoot up the leaderboard as he ranks 54th in SG: Around-the-Green, 38th in SG: Approach-the-Green, first in SG: Off-the-Tee and 10th in SG: Tee-to-Green.
Coming off of a U.S. Open victory last season, Rahm should not struggle as this tournament goes deeper.
I would play this number down to 70.
Collin Morikawa: Round 2 Under 71 Strokes
The other golfer I am backing in the second round is Collin Morikawa. Currently, Morikawa is T14 at 1-under par after shooting a 69 on Thursday.
Like Rahm, Morikawa's entire game has been outstanding, except for one metric. Morikawa ranks just 88th in the field in SG: Approach-the-Green. However, the rest of his game has been excellent as Morikawa ranks 44th in SG: Putting, 13th in SG: Around-the-Green, 17th in SG: Off-the-Tee and 21st in SG: Tee-to-Green.
Additionally, Morikawa ranks 19th in Driving Accuracy.
I would play this total down to 70.5.
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