Keegan Bradley vs. Jon Rahm Predictions: Would the Defending Champion be Able to Defend its Title?

The first three rounds of the 2022 U.S. Open are already complete. The fourth round of the Masters is due to begin on Sunday morning from The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. At 4-under par, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Will Zalatoris lead the 2022 U.S. Open leaderboard, while Jon Rahm (-3), Scottie Scheffler (-2) and Rory McIlroy (-1) are just a few of the other major names still in contention.

Keegan Bradley – Home Ground Advantage

Bradley, 36, is a New England native who finished his senior year of high school in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. So, there will be a lot of fans pulling for Bradley to win his second career major championship this weekend, and his first since winning the PGA Championship in 2011.

Bradley has never finished higher than fourth in the US Open, and he missed the cut every year from 2018 through 2021 before bowing out. But he's been playing well recently, finishing in the top eight four times in the last three months.

Bradley will be under pressure to perform well in front of his home crowd, but don't be shocked if he rises to the situation, at least early in the tournament. Bradley had some great opening round scores in 2022.

Jon Rahm – The Defending Champion

Last year, Jon Rahm won his first career major win at the US Open. He hasn't won another major since, but he now has the chance to win this tournament in consecutive years, a feat previously accomplished by Brooks Koepka in 2017 and 2018.

Rahm has an excellent chance of getting out to a fast start. In seven of the 11 events he's played in 2022, he's shooting a 69 or better. He didn't start as well in either of the first two majors, but he still had respectable results.

Will Rahm win the US Open one more? It'll be difficult, especially given how well some of the best players have been playing.

Expert Betting Tips

While Keegan Bradley has home ground advantage, Jon Rahm is in a better position to win this round. If reigning champion Jon Rahm has a great week off the tee and puts himself in the fairway, I think he has a good chance of repeating. This is the ideal opportunity for Rahm to get back on track following a season that has been somewhat of a letdown after last year's best-in-class showing.

• Jon Rahm to win for 1.632
• W Jon Rahm (2 Way) for 1.552
• Match draw for 8.5