US Open Odds 2015: PGA Stars You Should Pick for Thursday Bets
If you can pick the winner of a legitimate PGA Tour event, you are doing well. Unlike team sports, you have to come up with an individual who is able to dominate. It's not good enough to come close, either.
It's not about second place or getting to a playoff. You have to win it to collect the cash.
If it's difficult in a regular tour event, it's much harder in the U.S. Open because the tournament is open to every golfer who can qualify. While we expect stars like Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth or Dustin Johnson to come out on top, there's nothing to prevent a player like Byeong-hun An from stringing four good rounds together at 66-1, according to Odds Shark, and walking away with the big prize.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
That scenario is unlikely, but the unfamiliarity all of the players have with the links course at Chambers Bay should make this a wide-open tournament. Chambers Bay has never hosted a PGA tournament.
For those interested in making wagers on the U.S. Open, why not consider the best golfers? In this piece, we will give you the stars who have the most ability and the best chance to bring home the second major tournament of the year.
While McIlroy (7-1) and Spieth (8-1) are the two favorites in the field, we are not going to give you both of them.
If you want to pick one of the favorites, that's fine; however, picking both would not provide the best return on your investment.
We are picking McIlroy to have a better chance at dominating the field than Spieth. McIlroy is the longer hitter, and he is the No. 1 golfer in the world. He won his first major when he overpowered the field and won the 2011 U.S. Open, and he is more likely to settle down and play his game for four rounds than Spieth.
While Spieth is a brilliant shot-maker and is excellent with his irons and the putter, there will be a lot of pressure on him after winning the Masters. He certainly has a chance to handle that pressure and play superbly, but it could also work on the young phenom's nerves.
McIlroy averages 305.5 yards off of the tee, and he gains 2.001 strokes from tee to green; that's a difficult combination to beat, and that's why we recommend him as your top play.
Phil Mickelson (16-1), Dustin Johnson (18-1), Justin Rose (18-1) and Rickie Fowler (18-1) are all highly thought of by the oddsmakers, but they are not going to get our recommendation.
Here's a rundown of the odds as well as some analysis on other golfers who stand out as top choices.
| Golfer | Odds |
| Rory McIlroy | 7-1 |
| Jordan Spieth | 8-1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 16-1 |
| Dustin Johnson | 18-1 |
| Justin Rose | 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 |
Henrik Stenson (25-1)
Henrik Stenson is a proven commodity in big tournaments and is the sixth-ranked golfer in the world. He comes at a more than fair price, and his accuracy is a huge factor in this tournament.
Stenson hits 72.22 percent of his greens in regulation, which ranks second on tour. He also gains .535 strokes while putting, which can result in the Swede reeling off a string of birdies that could allow him to take command in the tournament.
Stenson was at his best when he won the Deutsche Bank Classic and the Tour Championship at the end of the 2013 season, and he has a chance to repeat that success here.
Adam Scott (28-1)
Adam Scott may have the best swing in professional golf, and that means he always has a chance to win. If he can get the job done with his putter, he could become the favorite to get the win. Consistency with the putter has been the biggest issue for Scott throughout his career.
Scott won the 2013 Masters, and he has a great deal of respect from his peers. He is averaging 304.5 yards off of the tee, which ranks ninth on tour.
He has not had a great season as he has earned slightly more than $692,000; however, he ranks sixth in ball-striking, and that should give him a solid opportunity to contend at Chambers Bay.
Jason Day (33-1)
Jason Day has been a golfer who has gotten close in a number of big tournaments, but he has never sealed the deal in a major. His three tour victories have come at the Farmers Open this year, the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in 2014 and the 2010 HP Byron Nelson Championship.
When he is on his game, he can string birdies together and get into contention quickly. He is averaging 4.61 birdies per round—the best figure on tour.
Combine that with the great distance he gets off of the tee, and he's a legitimate contender. Day is averaging 306.7 yards per drive, ranking sixth in that category.
Stats via PGATour.com.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
