2016 U.S. Open Golf Odds and Betting Picks

Can Dustin Johnson overcome last year’s heartbreak at the U.S. Open? 

If you are a mediocre duffer like I am and enjoy watching the world’s best golfers get humbled by a course, then this week’s 116th U.S. Open golf tournament is for you. The U.S. Open is the toughest test in golf and this year’s tournament is played at perhaps the toughest course in the United States: Oakmont Country Club, which is located in a suburb of Pittsburgh.

You won’t see any water hazards this week, but plenty of bunkers and ankle deep rough.
No course has held this tournament more than Oakmont, which has done so eight times. And if you believe the players, no one will finish under par in the 2016 edition. World No. 1 Jason Day of Australia is the +641 favourite on U.S. Open golf odds.

The U.S. Open was last played at Oakmont in 2007 and won by Argentina’s Angel Cabrera at 5-over 285. He is the only South American to win this tournament. There were only eight rounds in the 60s that week and Cabrera had two of them, a 69 and in the first and final rounds. He beat out Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk by one shot. Furyk is playing this week and is a +7200 long shot. Woods still hasn’t played this year off back surgery and doesn’t appear close to doing so. Nine years ago, Tiger missed a birdie putt on the 72nd hole that would have taken Cabrera to a playoff.

Stephen Ames was the top Canadian in 2007 in 10th place at 11 over. There are no Canadian players in the field this year. David Hearn is highest-rated Canadian player on the world rankings at No. 128 and didn’t qualify. Graham DeLaet withdrew recently from the Memorial Tournament and didn’t attempt to play a U.S. Open qualifier because he’s dealing with the yips — “anxiety,” he says — in his short game.

116th U.S. Open Odds

One big story line this week will be American Phil Mickelson trying to complete the rare career Grand Slam. Lefty has finished runner-up in this tournament a record (and unbelievable) six times, last at another tough track in Pennsylvania, Merion Golf Club in 2013. Mickelson missed the cut in 2007 at Oakmont. Mickelson said recently that Oakmont’s setup this time makes “the hardest golf course we’ve ever played.” Sports Interaction’s golf odds have Mickelson at +1900 to win.

World No. 2 Jordan Spieth won last year’s U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, a links-style course near Seattle. He said this at a press conference at Oakmont on Monday: “I don’t see anyone finishing in red numbers.” Spieth is the +800 third-favourite. The last player to repeat as U.S. Open champion was Curtis Strange in 1988-89.

Day won the big-money Players Championship last month in Florida, his third victory of the season, and could be overdue for his first U.S. Open title with four Top-10 finishes in the past five years, including second-place results in 2014 & ’11.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, the third-ranked player in the world, is +726 to win his second U.S. Open. He took the 2011 event at Congressional outside Washington, D.C., with a tournament-record score of 16 under. McIlroy is paired the first two rounds at Oakmont with current Masters champion Danny Willett and Rickie Fowler.

Dustin Johnson is +1200 to win his first major title. He had last year’s U.S. Open in hand but choked it away on the 72nd hole. Johnson wound up tied for second with South African Louis Oosthuizen.

116th U.S. Open Odds And Prediction

I do believe an American wins and am backing Johnson — perhaps hedge it with him at +138 for a Top 10. Johnson has done everything but win this season with eight Top-10 finishes, including a fifth last week in Memphis. He also has been Top 5 the past two years at the U.S. Open. Johnson’s due a major title, and it would be a great story after so painfully kicking away last year’s tournament.