On Thursday, the best golfers in the world will head to Shinnecock Hills to face off in the U.S. Open.
Shinnecock Hills is a notoriously difficult course, even for the notoriously difficult tournament – the last time the U.S. Open was held there in 2004, just two players finished their four rounds under par. With wind a potential factor, there’s plenty of room for a bit of chaos on the leaderboard, which can be a boon for bettors.
There’s a ton of ways to bet golf, but the easiest way to put a bit of money down is to bet on four or five golfers to win and hope that at least one or two of them are within striking distance on Sunday. Below we’ve pulled together a list of golfers with medium to long odds to win this weekend, for anyone looking to add a little intrigue to the tournament.
All odds come courtesy of The Action Network.
Louis Oosthuizen
Current odds: 55/1
World ranking: No. 33
Best U.S. Open finish: T2 - 2015
One thing to know: Louis Oosthuizen is always one to contend at the top of the leaderboard of a major, having won the Open Championship and notched a second or better finish at all three other majors. At 55/1, he's a good bet for anyone hoping to have long shot to cheer for on Sunday.
Marc Leishman
Current odds: 50/1
World ranking: No. 14
Best U.S. Open finish: T18 - 2016
One thing to know: As The Action Network notes in their preview of the U.S. Open, Leishman is a player who excels in windy conditions with the help of his powerful, low-flying strikes. If conditions prove a nightmare for other players, it could be just the right setting for him to take home his first major.
Tommy Fleetwood
Current odds: 40/1
World ranking: No. 12
Best U.S. Open finish: 4th - 2017
One thing to know: With his massive swing and a fourth-place finish at last year's tournament, Fleetwood might be the best value bet in the field for bettors looking to bet a little and win big. His third round 6-under at the Masters showed he can put up a huge number even against a treacherous course, and if he can string together a few solid rounds, it would not shock anybody to see him in contention on Sunday.
Bryson DeChambeau
Current odds: 40/1
World ranking: No. 22
Best U.S. Open finish:T15 - 2016
One thing to know: DeChambeau has three top-five finishes this year and has solid tee-to-green stats that indicate he should play well for this particular course. That said, he's just 24 years old, and the U.S. Open has rewarded experience in recent years.
Henrik Stenson
Current odds: 33/1
World ranking: No. 17
Best U.S. Open finish:T4 - 2014
One thing to know: Stenson doesn't have the length on his drive that other top picks for the tournament have, but he's about as reliable a pro as you'll find on the PGA Tour, and at 33/1, presents solid value to bettors should he be within striking distance on Sunday.
Brooks Koepka
Current odds: 20/1
World ranking: No. 9
Best U.S. Open finish: Win - 2017
One thing to know: He's the reigning U.S. Open champion and available at 20/1, so right off the bat it's easy to at least throw a small bet in his direction. Koepka hasn't played much this season due to a wrist injury, but he's said he's back and ready to go. "The only reason I'm here is to win. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't have signed up," Koepka told reporters ahead of the tournament.
Rickie Fowler
Current odds: 18/1
World ranking: No. 7
Best U.S. Open finish: T2 - 2014
One thing to know: Admittedly, Rickie Fowler might not be a typical "sleeper," but he's been teasing taking home a major for so long and he feels due for it. His strong swing and casual approach to daunting putts should treat him well at Shinnecock Hills. I'd take him over most of the favorites in a heartbeat.
Tiger Woods
Current odds: 16/1
World ranking: No. 80
Best U.S. Open finish:Win - 2000, 2002, 2008
One thing to know: Again, it's difficult to call Tiger a "sleeper pick" for a tournament that he's won three times, and his odds are likely shorter than they should be. But with the magic that Tiger has brought back to golf, it's tough to imagine not betting on him just in case he pulls off the win. If anything, make a small bet and frame it when he takes home the trophy.
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