U.S. Open Odds 2015: Favorites to Win the U.S. Open Championship Trophy
Father's Day is coming up quickly, and that means one thing for golf fans: It's U.S. Open time.
In just a few days, the best golfers in the world are going to tee off at Chambers Bay to see who will take home the trophy for the second major of the year.
Last year's surprise winner, Martin Kaymer, will do his best to repeat, but a who's-who of golf's superstars—rising, falling and holding strong—will be trying to dethrone him.
According to OddsShark, here are the favorites to win the 2015 U.S. Open.
Adam Scott
1 of 8
Odds to Win: 28-1
Best U.S. Open Finish: Tied for 9th (2014)
Season Highlights
The Aussie started off well during the winter in Australia, notching three top-fives in a row: a tie for second at the BetEasy Masters, a fifth-place finish at the Australian Open and a tie for second at the Australian PGA Championship. He moved to the States for his fourth straight top-five, a tie for fourth at the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
However, since that event in March, Scott hasn't finished in the top 20, and he's missed two cuts.
Why He'll Win
There's no hiding the fact that Scott has been without his swagger over the past few months, but with his talent and work ethic, great results have to be just around the corner.
He's clearly serious about this U.S. Open, too—Scott just lured his former caddie, Steve Williams, out of retirement to work with him at the next three majors. Williams and Scott won the Masters together, and Williams caddied for Tiger Woods for 13 of the legend's 14 majors, so this is a big-time move.
Henrik Stenson
2 of 8
Odds to Win: 25-1
Best U.S. Open Finish: Tied for fourth (2014)
Season Highlights
It's been a steady season for Henrik Stenson, which is fitting for the unassuming Swede. He was a runner-up at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, fourth at the Valspar Championship and tied for fourth at the WGC-Cadillac Championship.
Other than that, Stenson has six top-20 finishes and only one missed cut in 2015. His last victory came at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November.
Why He'll Win
Stenson is certainly one of the best players out there without a major, and with four top-five finishes in the last seven majors, he's knocking on the door.
Stenson battled illnesses for a couple of months this season, which slowed him down. However, coming into the U.S. Open, he's finally feeling healthy and fit and therefore is a threat.
Phil Mickelson
3 of 8
Odds to Win: 18-1
Best U.S. Open Finish: Tied for second/second (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2013)
Season Highlights
Phil Mickelson finished tied for second at the Masters this year, nearly nabbing another green jacket to add to his impressive collection. He also finished tied for fourth at the Wells Fargo Championship and got third at the FedEx St. Jude Classic.
Besides those three top-fives in the last four events, he has three missed cuts and has no other top-15 finishes in 2015.
Why He'll Win
Lefty can't really finish his career without a U.S. Open win, can he? Well, he's certainly got a shot to put that possibility to rest this year.
While Mickelson hasn't been consistent late in his career, he has been turning on the heat recently, and his best results are coming on the biggest stages. He's been a runner-up at the last two majors.
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Rickie Fowler
4 of 8
Odds to Win: 18-1
Best U.S. Open Finish: Tied for second (2014)
Season Highlights
Rickie Fowler hasn't had too many highlights on the course in 2015, but the one he does have is a big one: Fowler won the Players Championship last month in a dramatic playoff for the biggest win of his young career.
Why He'll Win
Fowler made it clear earlier this year that he was not amused at this notion that he was "overrated." He has a complete golf game and rises to the occasion on the big stages.
With top-five finishes in all four majors last year, including second-place tallies at the U.S. Open and Open Championship, and his Players Championship win in May, considering Fowler anything less than one of the favorites at Chambers Bay would be an insult to the 26-year-old.
Dustin Johnson
5 of 8
Odds to Win: 18-1
Best U.S. Open Finish: Tied for fourth (2014)
Season Highlights
Since missing the second half of last season, as Golf.com reported, due to a six-month suspension from the PGA Tour due to testing positive for cocaine, which the golfer has denied—Dustin Johnson hasn't wasted any time becoming a contender again.
Johnson has six top-10 finishes and a victory at the WGC-Cadillac Championship already on his 2015 resume. He finished tied for sixth at the Masters.
Why He'll Win
Johnson withdrew from the St. Jude Classic this week after nine holes, but it sounds like just a precautionary decision to keep a bug from getting worse.
The 30-year-old is one of the longest drivers on tour, and with the consistent way he has been playing lately, he looks poised to exorcise his U.S. Open demons and finally win his first major.
Justin Rose
6 of 8
Odds to Win: 18-1
Best U.S. Open Finish: Winner (2013)
Season Highlights
It's been a great season for Justin Rose. The Englishman finished tied for second at the Masters, second at the Memorial Tournament earlier this month and first at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Why He'll Win
Justin Rose is the first player on this list who has actually won the U.S. Open before, so we know he's capable of playing well in difficult conditions that require patience.
Plus, Rose has been playing spectacularly lately, so his confidence should be high.
"I like Justin Rose, I think he's going to be in the mix there come Sunday," Greg Norman said on Fox Sports (via the Australian Associated Press and SBS.com).
Jordan Spieth
7 of 8
Odds to Win: 8-1
Best U.S. Open Finish: Tied for 17th (2014)
Season Highlights
Where to begin? If last year was Jordan Spieth's breakout season, then 2015 has been his coronation. The 21-year-old nabbed his first major in April at the Masters, but that's not all. He also won the Valspar Championship and the Hero World Challenge and has 10 top-10s on the year, including eight top-fives.
Why He'll Win
We're only just beginning to see what this kid is capable of. Spieth is in the zone this year, and now that he's proved he can win with authority at a major, the floodgates might be open.
Plus, heading to Chambers Bay, a course unfamiliar to most PGA pros, Spieth is feeling confident.
"Spieth does have an ace up his sleeve—his caddie, Michael Greller, worked at Chambers Bay before carrying Spieth's bag on the PGA Tour," Greg Heakes of the AFP (h/t Yahoo) reported.
Rory McIlroy
8 of 8
Odds to Win: 7-1
Best U.S. Open Finish: Winner (2011)
Season Highlights
Despite the fact that Rory McIlroy didn't win the Masters in April—he merely finished fourth— he has been on a roll in 2015. The Northern Irishman has victories at the Wells Fargo Championship, the WGC-Cadillac Match Play and the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Why He'll Win
Different year, same story: Rory McIlroy is the favorite headed into a major championship. The fact that Chambers Bay will play similarly to a British Open course will work in McIlroy's favor, considering he just won that title last year. Plus, he's feeling good, which is dangerous news for the rest of the players.
"Gearing up for the second major of the year, and my game is feeling in really great shape and I feel like I can have another summer not too dissimilar to last year," McIlroy said, as reported by Allan Kelly of the AFP (h/t Business Insider).
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