Woods hoping for déjà vu at U.S. Open
The best golfers in the world converge on the Monterey peninsula this week for the 110th U.S. Open, the second of golf’s four official majors.
And Tiger Woods, who will lose his World No. 1-ranking if he doesn’t find his game soon, will be hoping the clock turns back about 10 years, to the last time the U.S. Open was held at Pebble Beach.
Woods dominated the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, winning by a record 15 strokes.
Woods is a just slight favorite this time around, at +550 in U.S. Open Odds at betED.com. Masters winner Phil Mickelson is right behind his arch-rival at +575, followed by Lee Westwood at +900 and Ernie Els at +1400. Padraig Harrington rounds out the top five at +1600.
Lucas Glover won the U.S. Open last year even though he closed with a three-over 73, hanging on for a two-stroke win over Mickelson, David Duval and Ricky Barnes.
Woods last won the U.S. Open two years ago, when he and Rocco Mediate went head-to-head in a Monday playoff at Torrey Pines. That was his last win at a major. He has just one top-10 finish – fourth at this year’s Masters – in four starts this year.
Mickelson, meanwhile, will be trying to snap a dubious streak – he has a record five runner-up finishes at the U.S. Open, including last year at Bethpage Black.
Westwood, who is the European No. 1 and No. 3 in the world, has never won a major but enters the U.S. Open on a roll. He won this weekend’s St. Jude Classic, his first on the PGA Tour in 12 years.
One player who is not a favorite but will treated like one is 60-year-old Tom Watson, who has been given a special exemption by the USGA to play in his first U.S. Open since 2003.
ESPN will carry the first two rounds and NBC picks up the action on Saturday and Sunday.
Check out PGA Golf Odds at betED.com for a full list of U.S. Open betting options.
