2015 US Open Field: Best Odds, Picks for Chambers Bay Sleepers and Favorites
The U.S. Open comes with the expectation of long rough, narrow fairways and undulating greens. Typically golf's most difficult scoring major, there are usually few mysteries about the complexion of the course, even if shooting a low score is much easier said than done.
However, the 2015 rendition is the first in the Pacific Northwest, as the Chambers Bay course should buck expectations. Built on sand and designed specifically to host this tournament from its construction in 2007, Chambers Bay is more of a links course with length that should challenge even the longest players off of the tee.
Which players should we watch for at this unusual U.S. Open? Taking a look at the odds, per Odds Shark, here are a few names whose odds appear particularly intriguing:
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
2015 U.S. Open Odds
| Rory McIlroy | 7-1 |
| Jordan Spieth | 8-1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 16-1 |
| Justin Rose | 18-1 |
| Dustin Johnson | 18-1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 18-1 |
| Henrik Stenson | 25-1 |
| Adam Scott | 28-1 |
| Bubba Watson | 28-1 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | 28-1 |
| Jason Day | 33-1 |
| Jim Furyk | 33-1 |
| Jimmy Walker | 33-1 |
| Sergio Garcia | 33-1 |
| Martin Kaymer | 40-1 |
| Matt Kuchar | 40-1 |
| Patrick Reed | 40-1 |
| Billy Horschel | 50-1 |
| Brandt Snedeker | 50-1 |
| Brooks Koepka | 50-1 |
| Tiger Woods | 50-1 |
| Ryan Moore | 50-1 |
| J.B. Holmes | 66-1 |
| Keegan Bradley | 66-1 |
| Lee Westwood | 66-1 |
| Paul Casey | 66-1 |
| Byeong-hun An | 66-1 |
| Zach Johnson | 66-1 |
Jordan Spieth (8-1)
Rory McIlroy is the favorite in every tournament he enters, but the reigning Masters champion has quickly emerged as the biggest adversary to the world's top-ranked player. Jordan Spieth is currently the hottest golfer on tour, having won three times in 2015. He has finished in the top five in seven of his past 12 events.
Though Spieth doesn't have much of a record on links courses, he is more familiar with the course than most. As ESPN.com's Jason Sobel notes, many are expecting Spieth to roll this weekend with Michael Greller on the bag, as Chambers Bay is his home course:
"Greller, now 37, started caddying at Chambers Bay during the summer months while on vacation from his job as a local sixth-grade teacher. He estimates he has logged some 40 rounds with a bag strapped to his shoulder and a yardage book in his hands. So goes the assumption: He has more course knowledge than any other caddie, and he works with one of the world's most talented players; therefore, they should own an advantage heading into this week's event.
"
Of course, Chambers Bay has undergone redesigns for the U.S. Open and doesn't exactly resemble the same course that Greller knew. But he'll still start off with a greater base of knowledge than the other caddies, and Spieth's combination of accuracy and putting should translate well to this specific tournament.
McIlroy is a slight betting favorite at 7-1, but in reality, he and Spieth have become co-favorites at virtually every major. Spieth won the first round at Augusta, and he might hold the early inside track at his caddy's course.
Justin Rose (18-1)
Among second-tier contenders, Englishman Justin Rose is the most interesting potential victor. Rose started the year horrendously, missing the cut in three of his first six PGA Tour starts, but he has since garnered a win and two runner-ups, one of which was at the Masters.
That kind of inconsistency has translated to Rose's U.S. Open showings. Though his only major win came at this event in 2013, he has also missed the cut four times. However, Rotoworld's Dave Tindall has labeled him a top international contender, noting his extra preparation time as a reason to believe:
"The magic recipe for Merion was doing his homework there a week in advance and then returning home to rest up before the tournament. He hasn’t been able to do that this year so, instead, turned up last Friday for his first look. That will give him plenty of time to do the necessary homework and the canny Rose also walked the course with designer Robert Trent Jones Jr. to pick up more tips. A runner-up in The Masters, second at Memorial on his last start and 12th in the All-Around ranking on the PGA Tour this year, the Englishman looks poised for another huge week.
"
Rose's versatility has allowed him to adapt to virtually any playing style, which should make the Chambers Bay transition easier on him than most golfers. Given his streak since April, Rose should be in contention this weekend at relatively favorable odds.
Hideki Matsuyama (28-1)
The field's top dark horse is 23-year-old Hideki Matsuyama. One of the tour's underrated rising young stars, Matsuyama has garnered eight top-10 finishes in 16 PGA Tour starts this season, the second-highest total behind only Spieth. Cory Bonini of USA Today also illustrates how Matsuyama's statistical tendencies translate well to Chambers Bay:
"He has no glaring weakness and will win a major championship sooner rather than later. Matsuyama has authored five straight top-20 results, with three being top-10s. Two of those were fifth-place finishes. He ranks second in strokes-gained: tee-to-green, ninth in greens in regulation (70.1%) and third in total driving (accuracy rating plus distance rating).
"
Though he hasn't received mainstream recognition as a constant major contender, he actually has three top-10 finishes dating back to the 2013 U.S. Open. As such, his odds have sharply dropped in recent weeks as handicappers, like Simon Mail, have labeled the Japanese golfer a strong value:
These odds are still probably a little too long, as it wouldn't be a stretch to assert that Matsuyama belongs in the aforementioned Rose tier based on his 2015 form. Matsuyama has been a beacon of consistency on tour this year, and it would be surprising to see him tank here.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
