US Open Odds 2015: Breakdown and Analysis of Top Favorites' Chances
The U.S. Open is traditionally the most difficult and maddening tournament of the year for the top pros on the tour.
Every U.S. Open is designed to test the best players by punishing them for the slightest mistake and making life as difficult as possible for players who normally make it look easy. The 2015 U.S. Open could be among the most difficult in recent memory, because the links setup at Chambers Bay in Washington is something that none of the players are familiar with.
The course has never hosted a PGA event, and the state of Washington has never hosted the U.S. Open.
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As a result of the unfamiliarity with the track, it's difficult for the players to get a grip on the course, and it is also quite challenging to handicap. However, it's not a surprise the oddsmakers have made Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth the two favorites in the field.
According to Odds Shark, McIlroy, Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose have the best chance of coming away with the title.
In this piece, we analyze what each player will have to do to come away with America's national championship.
| Player | Odds | Best attributes | Skinny |
| Rory McIlroy | 7-1 | Confidence, swing, distance | No. 1 player in the world ready to roll |
| Jordan Spieth | 8-1 | All-around game, putting | Would prove superstardom by winning second major of the year |
| Phil Mickelson | 16-1 | Inventiveness, shot-making | Looking for career Grand Slam |
| Dustin Johnson | 18-1 | Power and distance | Has the tools, but needs to fine-tune his accuracy |
| Justin Rose | 18-1 | Versatility and putting stroke | Sharp, but must prove consistent over four rounds. |
| Rickie Fowler | 18-1 | Creativity and accuracy on approach shots | Players Championship win earned him respect |
Rory McIlroy (7-1)
The No. 1 player in the world looks quite comfortable as he prepares for the U.S. Open. He won this title in 2011 for his first major championship, and he certainly has the game to do it a second time.
McIlroy has a scoring average of 69.438 per round, and that ranks second on the tour. That means McIlroy knows he has a better chance of taming the Chambers Bay track than nearly anyone out there. In addition to his consistent scoring, McIlroy is a huge hitter who bashes the ball an average of 305.5 yards off of the tee.
Getting distance is vital at Chambers Bay because this is a lengthy course. McIlroy combines his strong driving with excellent iron play. He finds the green in regulation 70.45 percent of the time, and that ranks seventh on tour.
If he plays his average game, he is going to hit it long, and he is going to hit it straight and have touch on his approaches. The variable is his putting. If he is sharp with the flat stick, he should have the best chance of anyone in the field.
Jordan Spieth (8-1)
Spieth may be the American equivalent of McIlroy. Just like the No. 1 player in the world, Spieth has all of the tools needed to dominate, and that's just what he did at the Masters in April.
Spieth may not hit it quite as long as McIlroy, but his 291.1 yard average off of the tee should give him enough distance to handle Chambers Bay. Spieth is ranked first in scoring with an average of 69.124 per round, and he is also leading the FedEx Cup points standings.
Spieth is among the most inventive and best shot-makers on tour. He is gaining 1.615 shots tee-to-green, and that figure ranks third on the tour.
If he has any significant advantage on McIlroy, it is his putting. Spieth excels at reading greens and hitting his putts consistently, and he ranks 19th in strokes gained-putting. If he can get comfortable on this challenging course, he has an excellent chance to contend in the second major of the year.
Phil Mickelson (16-1)
Mickelson is the third choice among the bettors, and if he were to play his best at Chambers Bay and come away with the U.S. Open title, it would give him the career Grand Slam.
While he played the majority of his career as the No. 2 golfer in the United States to Tiger Woods, Lefty has had a brilliant career, and this is the tournament he wants to win more than any other.
He has had several close calls, but his inability to seal the deal has been the source of frustration. He hates to play it safe, and his go-for-it mentality makes him a crowd favorite, but it has led to regret as well.
Mickelson's experience and shot-making creativity are his best assets; however, he has not been at his best this year as he ranks 42nd in the FedEx Cup standings. His 70.469 scoring average ranks 31st on tour. However, Mickelson is averaging 4.31 birdies per round, and that ranks seventh.
Dustin Johnson (18-1)
Johnson always looks the part because he is a powerful athlete who can bomb the ball down the fairway as far as anybody on tour. The 6'4", 190-pound Johnson is the seventh-ranked golfer in the world, and he also ranks seventh in FedEx Cup points.
He leads the tour off of the tee as he is averaging a robust 317.6 yards. That could be a big difference-maker at Chambers Bay, where golfers will be asked to carry huge distances on many of the holes. That distance has allowed Johnson to gain 1.401 strokes tee-to-green, a figure that ranks 10th on tour.
Johnson is a high-risk type of player. While he will drive the ball a long way, he is not always accurate. He ranks 176th in driving accuracy, and that could be a problem. Additionally, he ranks 123rd in strokes gained-putting, so if he doesn't get close on his approach shots, he will have difficulty.
Justin Rose (18-1)
Rose is enjoying a stellar year, as he has already exceeded $3 million in earnings. He has won one tournament and finished second in two others.
Rose is the fifth-ranked golfer in the current world rankings, and he has the all-around game that should give him the opportunity to contend in the U.S. Open. He gets excellent distance with his driver, and his 297.0-yard average ranks 29th on tour.
Rose is an opportunist who will make more than his share of birdies. He is averaging 4.56 birdies per round, which ranks second on tour. His ability to finish off his birdie attempts at Chambers Bay should give him the opportunity to make a good run at Chambers Bay.
Rickie Fowler (18-1)
The fashionable and popular Fowler is drawing support from the bettors because he is having an excellent season that has seen him win more than $2.7 million and take The Players Championship in May.
He showed a steeliness that had previously been hidden in winning "the fifth major."
Fowler is a solid, all-around player, and his best asset may be his approach shots. He ranks fifth in accuracy on approaches from 75-100 yards, and that ability could help him put several good scoring rounds together at Chambers Bay.
Stats via PGATour.com.
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