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Rose Zhang. John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Three players to watch at the U.S. Women's Open

By Max Rego | Last updated 7/5/23

The U.S. Women’s Open is always the most anticipated event on the LPGA calendar. Throw Pebble Beach Golf Links into the equation, and the hype is in overdrive.

Less than two weeks after the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship wrapped up, proceedings on the Monterey Peninsula in California will begin Thursday morning. With its picturesque views and history of crowning elite champions, Pebble Beach is sure to be the site for a classic.

But who will take the title at the 78th edition of women’s golf’s oldest major? Here are three players to watch, with odds via the DraftKings Sportsbook.

Rose Zhang (+1000)

We start with the consensus favorite. Before discussing her chances of winning, let’s just take a second to acknowledge how absurd it is that Zhang is even in this position.

With just two professional starts under her belt, and less than two months removed from concluding her Stanford career, the 20-year-old heads into Thursday as the top pick.

While this may seem like too much, too early, what Zhang has done in those two starts justifies this stature. In her pro debut, she won in a playoff against Solheim Cup participant Jennifer Kupcho at the Mizuho Americas Open.

In her major championship debut, she gave herself a legitimate chance at victory on Sunday at the KPMG Women’s PGA with a final-round 67 that resulted in a tie for eighth.

Plus, she holds the women’s course record at Pebble Beach, via her 63 at the Carmel Cup last fall — while she was still competing for Stanford, mind you. All this put together, and her status as the pre-tournament front-runner adds up.

Stuffing a wedge in close AND having the tee flip into your back pocket. Just @rosezhang things pic.twitter.com/AqfwBx1UDK
— Callaway Golf (@CallawayGolf) July 4, 2023

Zhang’s game sets up perfectly for Pebble Beach. She is long and accurate off the tee, her irons are precise and she can fill it up on the greens. Could this be the week the Zhang era begins?

Minjee Lee (+2500)

Is it possible for the 27-year-old defending champion to fly under the radar? That's seemingly the case for Lee, who boat raced the field en route to a four-shot victory at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club last year. Despite being the No. 6 player in the Rolex Rankings, the Aussie is ninth on the odds sheet.

The reason for that is likely her (relative) struggles this season. Lee has yet to win on tour in 2023, with her runner-up at the Cognizant Founders Cup in May serving as her lone top-10 on the year.

But Pebble Beach could be exactly what the two-time major winner needs to get back on track. With its tiny greens, the iconic layout puts a premium on iron play. Given that she is sixth on tour in greens hit in regulation (74%), that bodes well for Lee.

Lee should not be rattled by the wind in the forecast. “I’ve always played in wind, so it doesn’t really feel all that different for me,” she told the New York Times in the spring.

Brooke Henderson (+3500)

She is another premium ball-striker who is looking to win her third major. Since turning pro in 2014, Henderson has won 13 times on the LPGA Tour, which already is tied for 23rd all time.

But, much like Lee, the past few months have not been up to par for the Canadian. Henderson does not have a top-10 since her win at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, and failed to contend at the first two majors of the year — the Chevron Championship and KPMG Women’s PGA.

Yet you cannot fade her for too long. Henderson is 29th on tour in driving distance and 26th in greens in regulation. If she can hit just a few more fairways than her usual (Henderson is 76th on tour in driving accuracy), she could pick Pebble Beach apart, particularly on the gettable stretch from holes one through seven.

Considering her pedigree and history at this event, with three top-10s and another tie for 13th in 2017, Henderson at these odds is worth a serious look.

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