As you all know (I hope), the U.S. Open is this week at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington. Below, you’ll find some betting odds courtesy of Bovada.
I’m not a betting expert, but here are the five players I’d put my money on.
Jordan Spieth: How do you *not* pick Spieth? OK, well, I guess you’re not going to get great value out of him because of the odds, but you’re certainly not throwing away your money.
The Masters champion had very wise words in his press conference: “If you are going to talk negative about a place, you’re almost throwing yourself out to begin with, because golf is a mental game.”
Spieth is one of the few players who have played a competitive round at Chambers Bay — he notched a round during the 2010 U.S. Amateur, but the course is very different than it was five years ago, as it’s had some time to mature and grow into itself. More important, his caddie Michael Greller actually looped at Chambers Bay in 2011 and the pair met for the first time at the U.S. Am in 2010. Greller lives in nearby Gig Harbor and will be able to provide valuable local knowledge, or at the very least, the semblance of it.
Despite a T30 finish at the Byron Nelson Championship and a missed cut at The Players Championship, Spieth hasn’t finished outside T11 in stroke play tournaments since his Masters victory. He’s in form and has the right attitude to tackle the intriguing golf course.
Dustin Johnson: *Every* player/caddie/Chambers-Bay expert has said that bombers have an advantage here. The course is long and distance is always an advantage on any track. He’ll have shorter clubs into the firm greens and be able to control the ball better.
Chambers also reminds me a bit of Whistling Straits and DJ played well there at the 2010 PGA Championship (yep, the site of the bunker-not-a-bunker debacle).
Sure, he withdrew due to illness last week at the FedEx. St Jude Classic, but he’s likely over it now and perhaps he wanted a few extra days to prepare for the U.S. Open — who knows. Either way, I expect DJ to contend this week.
Jason Day: He’s a fierce competitor and a “different” challenge like Chambers Bay won’t get under his skin. He’s not one to whine or gripe about a course just because it’s not what he’s used to playing.
Day has played well in past U.S. Opens, finishing second in 2011 and 2013 and placing T4 last year at Pinehurst.
He ranks pretty high (12th) on the PGA Tour in approaches from 200-225 yards and they’ll be plenty of those shots he’ll need to hit this week.
“They’re going to be able to set the course up to where I think it’s very challenging but in a way that they’re going to try and find the best player that’s going to win around here,” said Day. “And I don’t have any problem with it. I keep saying to people, U.S. Open is all about controlling your attitude, controlling your emotional level and your stress levels out there because it can be a very frustrating week if you let it be.”
Jim Furyk: I know, I know, I said, you have to pick a bomber, and Furyk is pretty much the opposite of that, but he is an expert at plodding his way around the golf course, not to mention he has plenty of experience to go along with it. I can see Furyk perhaps not winning, but definitely hanging in there for a top finish.
Danny Willett: The Englishman is in good form, finishing T6 in his last start at the Irish Open (at the difficult links track, Royal County Down) and placing 3rd at the WGC-Match Play Championship. At 100/1, why not put a few quid on him?
*Update: Wouldn’t hurt to put a few bucks down on local favorites Ryan Moore and Michael Putnam, either. I’m a little wary on Moore just because I know he didn’t like the course in years prior, but sounds like he’s changed his tune. I also like Kevin Kisner as a dark horse since he’s been playing quite well.
***
US Open – Outright Winner
Rory McIlroy 7/1
Jordan Spieth 8/1
Dustin Johnson 18/1
Justin Rose 18/1
Phil Mickelson 18/1
Rickie Fowler 18/1
Henrik Stenson 25/1
Adam Scott 28/1
Bubba Watson 28/1
Hideki Matsuyama 33/1
Jason Day 33/1
Jim Furyk 33/1
Jimmy Walker 33/1
Sergio Garcia 33/1
Martin Kaymer 40/1
Matt Kuchar 40/1
Patrick Reed 40/1
Billy Horschel 50/1
Brandt Snedeker 50/1
Brooks Koepka 50/1
Tiger Woods 50/1
Byeong Hun An 66/1
Keegan Bradley 66/1
Lee Westwood 66/1
Paul Casey 66/1
Ryan Moore 66/1
Zach Johnson 66/1
Bill Haas 80/1
Chris Kirk 80/1
Graeme McDowell 80/1
Hunter Mahan 80/1
Ian Poulter 80/1
J.B. Holmes 80/1
Jason Dufner 80/1
Kevin Kisner 80/1
Kevin Na 80/1
Louis Oosthuizen 80/1
Luke Donald 80/1
Ryan Palmer 80/1
Webb Simpson 80/1
Danny Willett 100/1
Francesco Molinari 100/1
Gary Woodland 100/1
Jamie Donaldson 100/1
Marc Leishman 100/1
Shane Lowry 100/1
Brendon Todd 125/1
Charl Schwartzel 125/1
Charley Hoffman 125/1
Russell Henley 125/1
Alexander Noren 150/1
Ben Martin 150/1
Bernd Wiesberger 150/1
Branden Grace 150/1
Brian Harman 150/1
Ernie Els 150/1
George Mcneill 150/1
Robert Streb 150/1
Tommy Fleetwood 150/1
Tony Finau 150/1
Victor Dubuisson 150/1
Angel Cabrera 200/1
Bo Van Pelt 200/1
Cameron Tringale 200/1
David Hearn 200/1
Erik Compton 200/1
Geoff Ogilvy 200/1
John Senden 200/1
Joost Luiten 200/1
Marc Warren 200/1
Matt Every 200/1
Michael Putnam 200/1
Miguel Angel Jimenez 200/1
Alexander Levy 250/1
Danny Lee 250/1
George Coetzee 250/1
Lucas Glover 250/1
Morgan Hoffman 250/1
Retief Goosen 250/1
Stephen Gallacher 250/1
Thongchai Jaidee 250/1
Camilo Villegas 300/1
Daniel Summerhays 300/1
Marcel Siem 300/1
Ryo Ishikawa 300/1
Thomas Aiken 300/1
Anirban Lahiri 400/1
Andres Romero 500/1
Beau Hossler 500/1
Billy Hurley III 500/1
Blayne Barber 500/1
Brad Fritsch 500/1
Brandon Hagy 500/1
Bryson DeChambeau 500/1
Cameron Smith 500/1
Charlie Beljan 500/1
Cheng-Tsung Pan 500/1
Cody Gribble 500/1
Colin Montgomerie 500/1
D.A. Points 500/1
Darren Clarke 500/1
Garth Mulroy 500/1
Jamie Lovemark 500/1
John Parry 500/1
Lee Janzen 500/1
Lee McCoy 500/1
Lucas Bjerregaard 500/1
Marcus Fraser 500/1
Matthew NeSmith 500/1
Ollie Schniederjans 500/1
Richard Lee 500/1
Roberto Castro 500/1
Sam Horsfield 500/1
Sam Saunders 500/1
Tom Hoge 500/1
Wen-Chong Liang 500/1
Yong-Eun Yang 500/1
Andy Pope 1000/1
Brad Elder 1000/1
Bradley Neil 1000/1
Cole Hammer 1000/1
Davis Riley 1000/1
Denny McCarthy 1000/1
Hiroyuki Fujita 1000/1
Hyung-Sung Kim 1000/1
Jack Maguire 1000/1
Jake Knapp 1000/1
Jared Becher 1000/1
Jason Allred 1000/1
Jason Palmer 1000/1
Kevin Lucas 1000/1
Kurt Barnes 1000/1
Kyle Jones 1000/1
Mark Silvers 1000/1
Masahiro Kawamura 1000/1
Matt Mabrey 1000/1
Michael Campbell 1000/1
Michael Davan 1000/1
Nick Hardy 1000/1
Oliver Farr 1000/1
Patrick Wilson 1000/1
Rich Berberian Jr. 1000/1
Sebastian Cappelen 1000/1
Seuk-Hyun Baek 1000/1
Shiv Kapur 1000/1
Stephan Jaeger 1000/1
Timothy O’Neal 1000/1
Tjaart Van Der Walt 1000/1
Troy Kelly 1000/1
Tyler Duncan 1000/1
US Open – 1st Round Leader
Rory McIlroy 10/1
Jordan Spieth 12/1
Dustin Johnson 20/1
Justin Rose 20/1
Phil Mickelson 20/1
Rickie Fowler 25/1
Henrik Stenson 28/1
Hideki Matsuyama 28/1
Adam Scott 33/1
Bubba Watson 33/1
Jim Furyk 33/1
Jimmy Walker 33/1
Sergio Garcia 33/1
Jason Day 40/1
Martin Kaymer 40/1
Patrick Reed 40/1
Billy Horschel 50/1
Brandt Snedeker 50/1
Brooks Koepka 50/1
Keegan Bradley 50/1
Lee Westwood 50/1
Matt Kuchar 50/1
Paul Casey 50/1
Ryan Moore 50/1
Tiger Woods 50/1
Webb Simpson 50/1
Zach Johnson 50/1
Bill Haas 66/1
Byeong Hun An 66/1
Chris Kirk 66/1
Francesco Molinari 66/1
Hunter Mahan 66/1
Ian Poulter 66/1
J.B. Holmes 66/1
Jason Dufner 66/1
Kevin Kisner 66/1
Kevin Na 66/1
Louis Oosthuizen 66/1
Luke Donald 66/1
Marc Leishman 66/1
Ryan Palmer 66/1
Brendon Todd 80/1
Charl Schwartzel 80/1
Charley Hoffman 80/1
Danny Willett 80/1
Gary Woodland 80/1
Graeme McDowell 80/1
Shane Lowry 80/1
Alexander Noren 100/1
Ben Martin 100/1
Bernd Wiesberger 100/1
Branden Grace 100/1
George Mcneill 100/1
Jamie Donaldson 100/1
John Senden 100/1
Joost Luiten 100/1
Michael Putnam 100/1
Robert Streb 100/1
Russell Henley 100/1
Tommy Fleetwood 100/1
Tony Finau 100/1
Alexander Levy 125/1
Angel Cabrera 125/1
Bo Van Pelt 125/1
Brian Harman 125/1
Cameron Tringale 125/1
Camilo Villegas 125/1
Danny Lee 125/1
David Hearn 125/1
Ernie Els 125/1
Geoff Ogilvy 125/1
George Coetzee 125/1
Marc Warren 125/1
Matt Every 125/1
Miguel Angel Jimenez 125/1
Retief Goosen 125/1
Stephen Gallacher 125/1
Thomas Aiken 125/1
Thongchai Jaidee 125/1
Victor Dubuisson 125/1
Billy Hurley III 150/1
Daniel Summerhays 150/1
Erik Compton 150/1
Lucas Glover 150/1
Morgan Hoffman 150/1
Anirban Lahiri 200/1
Blayne Barber 200/1
Bryson DeChambeau 200/1
Cameron Smith 200/1
Charlie Beljan 200/1
Colin Montgomerie 200/1
D.A. Points 200/1
Darren Clarke 200/1
Garth Mulroy 200/1
Hiroyuki Fujita 200/1
Jamie Lovemark 200/1
John Parry 200/1
Lucas Bjerregaard 200/1
Marcel Siem 200/1
Marcus Fraser 200/1
Masahiro Kawamura 200/1
Oliver Farr 200/1
Ryo Ishikawa 200/1
Seuk-Hyun Baek 200/1
Shiv Kapur 200/1
Tjaart Van Der Walt 200/1
Tom Hoge 200/1
Troy Kelly 200/1
Wen-Chong Liang 200/1
Yong-Eun Yang 200/1
Andres Romero 250/1
Beau Hossler 250/1
Brad Elder 250/1
Brad Fritsch 250/1
Bradley Neil 250/1
Brandon Hagy 250/1
Cody Gribble 250/1
Jack Maguire 250/1
Jared Becher 250/1
Jason Allred 250/1
Jason Palmer 250/1
Kevin Lucas 250/1
Kurt Barnes 250/1
Lee Janzen 250/1
Ollie Schniederjans 250/1
Richard Lee 250/1
Roberto Castro 250/1
Sam Horsfield 250/1
Sam Saunders 250/1
Sebastian Cappelen 250/1
Tyler Duncan 250/1
Andy Pope 300/1
Cheng-Tsung Pan 300/1
Cole Hammer 300/1
Davis Riley 300/1
Denny McCarthy 300/1
Jake Knapp 300/1
Kyle Jones 300/1
Lee McCoy 300/1
Mark Silvers 300/1
Matt Mabrey 300/1
Matthew NeSmith 300/1
Michael Davan 300/1
Nick Hardy 300/1
Patrick Wilson 300/1
Rich Berberian Jr. 300/1
Stephan Jaeger 300/1
Timothy O’Neal 300/1
US Open – Top 5 Finish
Rory McIlroy 3/2
Jordan Spieth 7/4
Justin Rose 7/2
Phil Mickelson 7/2
Dustin Johnson 4/1
Rickie Fowler 4/1
Henrik Stenson 5/1
Adam Scott 6/1
Bubba Watson 6/1
Hideki Matsuyama 6/1
Jason Day 6/1
Jim Furyk 6/1
Sergio Garcia 6/1
Jimmy Walker 13/2
Billy Horschel 8/1
Brandt Snedeker 8/1
Matt Kuchar 8/1
Patrick Reed 8/1
Martin Kaymer 9/1
Brooks Koepka 10/1
Keegan Bradley 10/1
Paul Casey 10/1
Tiger Woods 10/1
Ryan Moore 11/1
Bill Haas 12/1
Byeong Hun An 12/1
Chris Kirk 12/1
Francesco Molinari 12/1
Ian Poulter 12/1
Kevin Kisner 12/1
Lee Westwood 12/1
Zach Johnson 12/1
J.B. Holmes 14/1
Jason Dufner 14/1
Kevin Na 14/1
Louis Oosthuizen 14/1
Luke Donald 14/1
Marc Leishman 14/1
Ryan Palmer 14/1
Webb Simpson 14/1
Branden Grace 16/1
Charley Hoffman 16/1
Danny Willett 16/1
Hunter Mahan 16/1
Alexander Noren 20/1
Bernd Wiesberger 20/1
Brendon Todd 20/1
Gary Woodland 20/1
Graeme McDowell 20/1
Jamie Donaldson 20/1
Russell Henley 20/1
Shane Lowry 20/1
Ben Martin 25/1
Charl Schwartzel 25/1
Robert Streb 25/1
Tony Finau 25/1
Ernie Els 28/1
George Mcneill 28/1
Miguel Angel Jimenez 28/1
Tommy Fleetwood 28/1
Victor Dubuisson 28/1
Alexander Levy 33/1
Angel Cabrera 33/1
Cameron Tringale 33/1
Geoff Ogilvy 33/1
Marc Warren 33/1
Bo Van Pelt 40/1
Brian Harman 40/1
Camilo Villegas 40/1
Danny Lee 40/1
David Hearn 40/1
Erik Compton 40/1
George Coetzee 40/1
John Senden 40/1
Joost Luiten 40/1
Michael Putnam 40/1
Thongchai Jaidee 40/1
Billy Hurley III 50/1
Daniel Summerhays 50/1
Lucas Glover 50/1
Matt Every 50/1
Morgan Hoffman 50/1
Retief Goosen 50/1
Ryo Ishikawa 50/1
Stephen Gallacher 50/1
Thomas Aiken 50/1
Anirban Lahiri 66/1
Blayne Barber 66/1
Cameron Smith 66/1
Cheng-Tsung Pan 66/1
Bryson DeChambeau 80/1
Darren Clarke 80/1
Jamie Lovemark 80/1
Marcel Siem 80/1
Marcus Fraser 80/1
Wen-Chong Liang 80/1
Andres Romero 100/1
Beau Hossler 100/1
Brad Fritsch 100/1
Brandon Hagy 100/1
Charlie Beljan 100/1
Cody Gribble 100/1
Colin Montgomerie 100/1
D.A. Points 100/1
Garth Mulroy 100/1
John Parry 100/1
Lucas Bjerregaard 100/1
Ollie Schniederjans 100/1
Richard Lee 100/1
Roberto Castro 100/1
Tjaart Van Der Walt 100/1
Tom Hoge 100/1
Sam Saunders 125/1
Hiroyuki Fujita 150/1
Jason Palmer 150/1
Kevin Lucas 150/1
Lee Janzen 150/1
Matthew NeSmith 150/1
Oliver Farr 150/1
Rich Berberian Jr. 150/1
Sam Horsfield 150/1
Sebastian Cappelen 150/1
Seuk-Hyun Baek 150/1
Shiv Kapur 150/1
Andy Pope 200/1
Brad Elder 200/1
Bradley Neil 200/1
Cole Hammer 200/1
Davis Riley 200/1
Denny McCarthy 200/1
Jack Maguire 200/1
Jake Knapp 200/1
Jared Becher 200/1
Jason Allred 200/1
Masahiro Kawamura 200/1
Matt Mabrey 200/1
Michael Davan 200/1
Nick Hardy 200/1
Stephan Jaeger 200/1
Troy Kelly 200/1
Tyler Duncan 200/1
Kurt Barnes 250/1
Kyle Jones 250/1
Lee McCoy 250/1
Mark Silvers 250/1
Patrick Wilson 250/1
Timothy O’Neal 250/1
****
Here are more odds and prop bets via @golfodds:
UNDER 71 -120
(Photo via USGA)