Tiger Woods Still Betting Favorite at US Open, Despite Ten-Year Gap Since Last Major

Posted on: June 13, 2018, 04:00h. 

Last updated on: June 13, 2018, 02:34h.

Tiger Woods’ last major victory came a decade ago at the US Open. It was a historic victory that included a dramatic 72nd-hole 12-foot birdie putt at Torrey Pines to force a playoff that he would win the next day over Rocco Mediate.

Tiger Woods US Open golf odds
There’s plenty of belief among sports bettors that Tiger Woods is once again ready to roar at the US Open, as he did in 2008 (red shirt). (Image: Julie Jacobson/AP)

Few could have ever imaged that Woods’ epic win would be the beginning of a 10-year major drought.

Five months after the US Open at Torrey Pines, Woods’ infidelity scandal broke. Along with crashing his SUV into a fire hydrant, his golf game went up in flames.

When Woods tees off tomorrow at Shinnecock Golf Club on Long Island, it will be 3,651 days since his last major title. Sports bettors apparently don’t care.

Despite his major troubles, the Westgate SuperBook says Woods has attracted the third most money this week. The sportsbook also reports that only Rickie Fowler has printed more tickets.

Golf is always frustrating,” Woods told reporters this week. “There’s always something. Hopefully this is one of those weeks where I put it all together and even it out. We’ll see.”

The SuperBook confirmed it took a $1,200 bet on Woods at 20/1. The wager would net $24,000 should Tiger win. Caesars Palace revealed it printed a $3,000 bet on Fowler that would return $42,000.

Westgate says it also took $3,000 on Phil Mickelson at 30/1 odds that would pay $48,000 should Lefty cap off the career grand slam.

Odds Are…

As for updated odds, world No. 1 Dustin Johnson remains the favorite, though his line has been lengthened from 8/1 to currently 9/1.

A fair amount of money on Justin Rose has shortened his odds from 14/1 to 12/1. The 2013 US Open winner has his game in form with a win at the Fort Worth Invitational late last month and a T6 Memorial finish last week.

Fowler, Rory McIlroy, and Justin Thomas round out the top five at 14/1. Jason Day is at 16/1, and then it’s Jordan Spieth and Jon Rahm (18/1), and then Woods at 20/1. Last year’s US Open winner Brook Koepka follows at 25/1.

Shinnecock will play to a par 70 at 7,445 yards. Players will need to be long, but not necessarily pinpoint accurate off the tee. Putting is, of course, also crucial to success at not just the US Open, but any golf tournament, as is a cool and even-tempered mind.

Fowler and Rose certainly satisfy all of those requirements, which is why many are rushing to print slips on the two players.

Open for Prop Bets

Las Vegas oddsmakers are hoping to follow up a record-setting Masters handle with similar success at the US Open. To do that, sportsbooks are offering a smorgasbord of propositions.

A few notables:

  • Winning score over/under 275.5 (-110)
  • Lowest round of the week: over 65.5 (+250), under 65.5 (-310)
  • Will there be an ace? Yes -105, No -115

Bettors can also take groups of favorites to win the US Open. Odds on a victory by Woods, Thomas, DJ, McIlroy, or Spieth is going for +250.

As for Tiger making the cut, the SuperBook thinks it’s likely at Yes -400, No +300.