US Open 2012 – Golf Betting (June 14 – 17)

In-form Westwood given a final chance to strike a Major blow

Sports Betting

Rory McIlroy won his first Major at the US Open last year and will be in a better frame of mind for the defence of his title at the Olympic Club in San Francisco this week after coming back to form in the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis, despite a late collapse.

The Northern Irishman was tying for the lead going to the final hole but hooked his drive into a lake and ended up finishing seventh after a double-bogey six. However, that was a massive improvement on his three previous touraments in which he failed to make the cut. McIlroy is a best 15/1 with Betfred and totesport to repeat his 2011 victory in the US Open but all the money has been for Tiger Woods. The former world number one has finished in the top six in five of the last six US Opens and knows the Olympic Club course well from his early years. Already a winner twice on the US PGA Tour this year, it would be no great surprise if Tiger came out on top but he must know that the clock is ticking on his bid to surpass the great Jack Nicklaus’ record number of Major wins and the feeling persists that the once-reliable Woods’ swing is a bit suspect nowadays when surrounded by the world’s best players. Blue Square and 888sport‘s 15/2 just looks too short again considering the quality of opposition.

No-one would begrudge either Luke Donald (a general 14/1) a first Major win, nor Lee Westwood. Donald recently mounted a successful defence of his BMW PGA Championship title at Wentworth and arrives in great heart. But how often have we said that in the past! His record in the US Open is poor considering his ability and Westwood makes much more appeal at Paddy Power‘s 13/1 bearing in mind that three of his four top-10 finishes in the tournament have come on the west coast. San Francisco promises to suit his game and the Worksop pro, who comes here off the back of another impressive tournament win in Sweden, can finally his long wait for a grand slam event.

Longer-priced challengers worthy of consideration include Keegan Bradley at Stan James66/1 , while Masters‘ champion Bubba Watson is a general 50/1. Rickie Fowler (widely available at 35/1) will need to improve on a pretty poor record in the US Open if he’s to get involved however. Brandt Snedeker is a favourite of mine and has always looked capable of breaking into the big time. At 125/1, he also looks too big with William Hill.