US Open Golf 2012: 5 Players Who Can Continue Losing Sequence of Favorites

It has been four years since a pre-tournament favorite last won one of golf's majors. To be exact, it was the US Open in 2008, when Tiger Woods won at Torrey Pines.

In the 15 majors since Woods' last success, the odds compilers have got it wrong on every occasion.

Woods is the favorite to win at the Olympic Club in San Francisco this week, but given the record of favorites in recent majors, here are five bigger-priced alternatives who can make their presence felt in the 2012 US Open.

Bubba Watson – 50/1

Nobody in the world believed that Bubba Watson could win a US Masters, but he proved everybody wrong by taking the green jacket at Augusta in April.

The same doubters are in unison again, claiming that the big-hitter from Florida cannot win this week—but why not?

Apart from the Memorial a couple of weeks back where he missed the cut, Watson has not finished outside of the Top 20 in any tournament he has played this year.

With that confidence in addition to the confidence gained from his Masters win, he has every chance of having a big four days.

Rickie Fowler – 35/1

Many golf commentators quite rightly predicted that Rory McIlroy would win a major early in his career, and those same commentators predicted that Fowler would do likewise.

Having broken his maiden with a first tour win at the Wells Fargo Championship in early May, the 23-year-old followed that up with a tied second finish in the Players Championship and then tied for fifth place in the Crowne Plaza Invitational.

He is now up to No. 20 in the world rankings, and although he struggled to come to terms with the course at the Memorial a fortnight ago, he should have the game to play well at the Olympic Club this week.

Charl Schwartzel – 55/1

The 2011 US Masters Champion has been consistent lately without winning and played well for a long time at the Memorial Tournament.

He certainly has the game to get around the challenges of the Olympic Golf Club's Lake Course, and he enjoys playing the big events.

He tied ninth in this tournament 12 months ago and could follow compatriots Ernie Else and Retief Goosen into the US Open winners' enclosure.

Sergio Garcia: 45/1

Once thought to be the man who would challenge Tiger Woods for top spot in the world, Sergio Garcia, despite 17 Top 10 finishes in the big events, has still yet to win his first major.

However, the same pressure is no longer on him to win now, but he knows (as do most followers of golf) that he still has the game to go close if not win, and he has shown exactly the right sort of form that should see him put in a strong challenge this week.

He has yet to miss a cut this year, and his putting appeared to be back to its best last week when he tied third in the Nordea Masters.

Phil Mickelson – 20/1

The four-time major winner would not be a surprise winner, as he is arguably one of the greatest players ever to have played the game.

However, most believe his chance of a first-time US Open win had come and gone, but his form, while not spectacular, suggests otherwise.

He looked in great form at the Masters, where he tied third, and before that he was in a tie for fourth place in the Shell Houston.

He won the AT&T at Pebble Beach in March and was tied seventh in his most recent event the HP Byron Nelson back in May.

He was forced to withdraw at the Memorial, so he comes into US Open fresh and ready for one last big challenge at a tournament where he has enjoyed nine Top 10 finishes, which includes five runner-up medals.

Going one better in San Francisco this week cannot be ruled out!