Go Low - U.S. Open Preview, Scottie vs. Rory Showdown?, Best Bets & Mailbag

The U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills is shaping up to be a brutal test of mental toughness, with wind and tough course conditions expected to separate the elite from the pretenders. Host John Middlecoff argues that this year’s setup favors ball-strikers who can control their trajectory—especially low, penetrating shots—over pure power players. He makes a bold case that Rory McIlroy, not Scottie Scheffler, is the favorite to win, citing McIlroy’s recent transformation in shot shaping and mental resilience, particularly in windy conditions. While Scheffler’s career Grand Slam pursuit adds drama, Middlecoff questions whether his emotional volatility under pressure could derail him. The episode also dives into the fallout from the Liv Golf collapse, with Middlecoff predicting that players like Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm will face steep penalties and likely won’t return to the PGA Tour. He calls the Liv experiment a failure driven by oil money, not belief in the product. Meanwhile, he praises Xander Schauffele’s calm demeanor and Tommy Fleetwood’s international grit as key factors in surviving the U.S. Open’s chaos. The most provocative take? Watching Bryson DeChambeau struggle is better TV than watching him win—his emotional outbursts and meltdowns make for must-see content.