Almost all of golf’s biggest names are bypassing Las Vegas this week. Rickie Fowler is making the stop, however, and that makes him the favorite.
Betting
If majors continue to slip from his grasp, Dustin Johnson will be stuck with the label of a career underachiever. The critics will say he squandered his immense talent, that he never could win the big one.
Matchups, props posted at Westgate Las Vegas:
Professional handicapper Wes Reynolds (@WesReynolds1 on Twitter) is using a mythical bankroll of $200 to bet the PGA Championship futures board at the Westgate Las Vegas:
Obviously, it’s cool to be hip and trending. Most people would prefer that as opposed to being hated and vilified. But there is a danger in becoming too popular, and Bubba Watson is walking that proverbial tightrope this week.
It was funny for a while — and some of his critics might never stop laughing — but now it’s just a bad joke. Tiger Woods‘ struggles on the golf course are getting old.
I rarely back one of the shorter favorites, but D.J. appeals to me here. We all saw his untimely three-putt on 18 in the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay last month. He has not played in any events since that cruel Sunday, but I feel that gave him time to lick his wounds and come back focused.
If there is a dark side to Jordan Spieth, it has not been revealed yet. The new face of golf is a 21-year-old who looks like he never needs to shave and is as polite as a waiter.
Jordan Spieth is the 7-4 favorite on the adjusted odds board at the Westgate Las Vegas sports book to win the U.S. Open. Dustin Johnson is the 5-2 second choice, followed by Jason Day (4-1) and Branden Grace (6-1). The four are tied for the lead entering Sunday’s final round.
Phil Mickelson has six runner-up finishes in the U.S. Open, the only major he has not won. But he is playing well, and bettors are showing faith in him. More tickets are being written on Mickelson than on any other player at the Westgate Las Vegas sports book, where his odds are 15-1 after opening at 25-1. Rory McIlroy is the 7-1 favorite, with Jordan Spieth at 8-1.
Jordan Spieth, 16 under par and holding a four-shot lead after three rounds of the Masters, is a minus-240 favorite against the field, according to adjusted odds at the Westgate Las Vegas sports book.
If golf tournaments ended after 18 holes, this would be a popular result. Jordan Spieth, the betting public’s pick to win the Masters, threatened to run away from the pack during Thursday’s first round and walked into the Augusta National clubhouse with a three-stroke lead.
Rain is in the forecast for the Masters, and that could make the Augusta National course play longer, which gives defending champion Bubba Watson, favorite Rory McIlroy and young star Jordan Spieth an added boost. Jason Day also should be a major factor this week.
As the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world, Rory McIlroy is the favorite to win the Masters at 6-1. A victory would complete a career Grand Slam (he has won the U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship), joining Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in accomplishing the feat.
Under normal circumstances, Rory McIlroy would be the top story. He’s the No. 1 player in the world, he won the past two majors and he’s the favorite in the Masters. But for the first time in two months, Tiger Woods is playing, and guess who is getting all the attention?
