US Open Favorites 2014: Updated Betting Odds for Golf's Top Stars

Another major tournament without Tiger Woods will commence on June 12 when the U.S. Open begins.

In Woods' absence, we're left to thumb through the names of secondary stars to find the favorites and golfers to watch at Pinehurst.

While Bubba Watson and Jordan Spieth's duel at The Masters was intriguing, there's no doubt the interest level has been lower this year without Tiger.

Per Farrell Evans of ESPN.com, five-time PGA Tour winner Hunter Mahan talked about the impact of a Tiger-less major.

"

Tiger changed the landscape of golf and how people viewed it. He's an important part of this game and you feel it when you're out there. He's a force. At Augusta, it looked different, felt different from when he is there. I just didn't see as many fans.

"

While fans might not know who to follow, Las Vegas has seemingly pinpointed Rory McIlroy as Woods' replacement as the favorite to win majors.

Despite his recent struggles to win the big ones, McIlroy is the favorite to take first in the U.S. Open, per VegasInsider.com, at 10-1 odds.

Seeing him entrenched as the man to beat isn't shocking. It isn't as if McIlroy has been playing poorly over the last two months. Before finishing 15th at the Memorial, he had strung together four straight top-10 finishes. 

That said, McIlroy's implosions have to make bettors nervous at the prospect of putting their trust in him.

Looking for other options amongst the game's biggest stars? Here's two others who might sit better with you as targets for betting.

Adam Scott, 15-1

The 33-year-old Australian finished a disappointing 14th at The Masters, but he has proven he's capable of performing on the grandest of stages.

He won a playoff at the 2013 Masters to capture his first and only major tournament. And he has three more wins on the PGA Tour since then.

On the downside, he has not performed well in past U.S. Opens. 

Last year he was tied for 45th. In 2012, he tied for 15th. In 2010-11, he failed to make the cut. Back in 2005, which is the last time the tournament was held at Pinehurst, Scott finished tied for 26th.

Despite the less than stellar history in the tournament and on the course, Scott is a threat.

He's a better player now than he was nine—even two—years ago. He's certainly one to watch.

Jordan Spieth, 20-1

The 20-year-old from Texas seems ready to become the star the sport needs with Woods moving into the downside of his career.

He also seems to understand what it means to be an ambassador for the game. Per Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune, Spieth talked about the attention he gets as a young phenom and his responsibility:

"

'I don't necessarily enjoy the attention,' he says. 'But it's good for my brand if people know who I am. It's how you create outreach and fans.

'Ultimately, I'd like to win a lot of golf tournaments and majors, but I also want to help inspire and draw a lot of people to the game of golf. I'm not going to do that by sitting in my hotel room all night.'

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There's nothing Spieth could do to better improve his brand than winning the U.S. Open. He has been flirting with something big all year long.

He tied for second at The Masters and fourth at The Players. Could this be the spot for his breakthrough? It just might be, and at 20-1 odds, it could pay off huge for believers.