We handicap the Olympic Course with US Open odds to win, first round and full tournament matchups
Matt Kuchar’s best finish at the US Open is a tie for 6th in 2010 but after finishing third at the Masters, this could be the opportunity he’s been waiting for
Tiger Woods holds a record for the largest margin of victory in US Open history (15 stokes) and this week’s PGA odds list Tiger as a small favorite over Lee Westwood but no one is calling for a double-digit victory at the Olympic Course.
Tough tee shots, challenging greens and a longer course than the 1998 US Open have humbled players during practice rounds and the only real consensus is that mistakes will cost golfers dearly.
Betting Woods to win at Pinnacle pays back at +729 and Westwood is +1088. Westwood is still looking for his first major and he’ll be paired with defending champion Rory McIlroy (+1839) Thursday along with Luke Donald (+1303).
McIlroy broke into the top 10 for driving distance last week and his season average sits at 303.5 yards but it won’t be pure power that wins at this track and that’s what makes betting Tiger Woods so intriguing. 10 of Tiger’s 14 majors were won on courses with four par 5’s and the added distance at Olympic puts more emphasis on club selection and ability to manage risk-reward.
Tournament Matchup: Take Tiger Woods over McIlroy at -135
Donald is worth consideration to win and further down the list is Matt Kuchar at +2516. Kuchar tied for 14th in 1998 as an amateur and is making his 10th US Open appearance. Kuchar’s best Major finishes are a tie for 3rd at this year’s Masters, a tie for 6th at the US Open (2010), a tie for 27th at the Open Championship (2010) and a tie for 10th at the PGA Championship (2010).
Being in a contention at a Major this year provides a big mental boost for Kuchar and he’s hitting 68.31-percent Greens in Regulation (GIR). (Zolpidem) He can drive accurately and if he manages his game accordingly, the US Open could be a good fit for him.
EveryEdge Picks to Win: Tiger Woods (+729), Luke Donald (+1303) and Matt Kuchar (+2516)
Tiger looks to join four of golf’s all-time greats as the only players ever to win the US Open four times
US OPEN BETTING – ALL-TIME LEADERS FOR WINS
4 – Willie Anderson (1901, 1903, 1904, 1905)
4 – Bobby Jones (1923, 1926, 1929, 1930)
4 – Ben Hogan (1948, 1950, 1951, 1953)
4 – Jack Nicklaus (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980)
3 – Tiger Woods (2000, 2002, 2008)
FIRST ROUND MATCHUP
The “return” of Tiger Woods and the groupings this year has made Thursday one of the more highly anticipated first rounds in years. To get into the golf betting action early, we have one first round selection courtesy of Greg Dempson.
Pick: Take Ernie Els (-113) over Geoff Ogilvy in the first round