Up to Golf Props

in Golf Props

U. S. Open Futures - No Surprise that Tiger is Favored

Bookmark and Share by D.S. Williamson

Tiger sure looked like a winner of this past week’s PGA Tour Event, the Quail Hollow Championship, after last Thursday’s first round.

Tiger shot a -7 last Thursday and had a 2 stroke lead.  On Saturday he was tied for the lead at -11 but Woods couldn’t keep it going on Sunday and ended up finishing 4th.  That’s not a problem at all as most golfers are using tournaments like the Quail Hollow for the run up to the U.S. Open at Bethpage in New York in June.

Let’s take a look at some of the golfers that will be fighting for U. S. Open glory.

U.S. Open Futurebook

  1. Tiger Woods +275 - - The odds on Tiger are actually very good since El Tigre is obviously starting to dominate again and the last time the U. S. Open was at Bethpage, he won it.  He’s the bet so far at close to 3 to 1 odds.
  1. Phil Mickelson +800 - - He’s always played well at Bethpage and a U.S. Open victory this season would be terrific for Lefty, but he hasn’t been that great since his run in the Masters and would need to really step it up in the U.S. Open.  At the odds, he might be worth a bet, but Phil needs to show more between now and the Open in June.
  1. Sergio Garcia +3000 - - The last time the U.S. Open was at Bethpage, Garcia started the day only 4 strokes behind Tiger.  Of course, he couldn’t make up any ground but that was way back in 2002.  It was around this time last year when Sergio started to really step it up.  At the odds, Garcia is an intriguing bet.
  1. Padraig Harrington +1400 - - Harrington would love to put a U. S. Open victory with his British Open and PGA Championship trophies.  Harrington could very easily do it, but he still needs to strengthen his game before hitting the links at Bethpage.
  1. Kenny Perry +4000 - - Perry’s implosion at Augusta might be one of the reasons he hasn’t been playing as well in subsequent events.  He’d better straighten that out before the U.S. Open because he actually has a shot…if his head is on straight and he’s striking the ball like he was before he choked at the Masters.
  1. Geoff Ogilvy +1500 - - Ogilvy doesn’t have a stellar record at Bethpage, but he’s still having the best year of his career and could be in line for a fantastic run in a Major.  If he can keep putting the way he has been since January, then he has a shot to win the U. S. Open.
  1. Paul Casey +3000 - - The young golfer made a decent Masters’ run after his Shell Houston Open victory but has been quiet lately.  He should be considered a serious long shot to win the U. S. Open because he’s just about to go back up in form and should be primed to be playing his best golf once the Open comes around. 
  1. Angel Cabrera +3500 - - He’s been terrible at Bethpage in his career, but that shouldn’t bother gamblers because Cabrera obviously likes to save his bullets for the Majors.  If he approaches the U.S. Open the way he did the Masters, then he has a shot.  Then again, he could just decide to throw in the towel early like he’s done before at Bethpage.
  1. Sean O’Hair +3000 - - O’Hair just took home the Quail Hollow trophy this past Sunday.  He’s been playing very well this year and has to be considered a serious long shot in the U. S. Open if he continues to play well.  He and Casey are in the same boat as young golfers that will need to be very focused at Bethpage.
  1. Vijay Singh +5000 - - Vijay usually does well at Bethpage and this year should be no exception.  Singh ended up winning the FedEx Cup last year so towards the end of the year is when he really gets his game going.  I expect him to at least put in a good effort at Bethpage in June.  Who knows?  Like Tiger, once Vijay feels that he can win, he usually turns the screws on his opponents.