2010 US Open Betting Odds Show Tiger Woods As Runaway Favorite, Even Over Phil Mickelson
April 13th, 2010- By Bryan Cross
The first Major Championship is in the books, as the 2010 Masters produced some of the most exciting golf in recent memory with the return of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson’s triumph and celebration with his wife Amy undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
There were several story-lines that made the 2010 Masters a week to remember. The focus now however shifts to the second Major of the year in the U.S Open, which will be contested June 14-20 at Pebble Beach in California
Pebble Beach last held the U.S Open 10 years ago in 2000. There, Woods won in record fashion by 15 shots, finishing 12-under par, and was the only player in the field to break par by the end of the week.
Prior to the start of 2010, it had been predicted that this year of all years could be the one where Woods was to win the Grand Slam, as in the all four Major Championships within the same calender year. Woods has won four in a row before, but not in the same year. He won three majors in 2000 and then the 2001 Masters.
With Mickelson’s victory however, he is the only one capable of producing the Grand Slam. Mickelson collected his third green jacket and fourth career major title. He has never won the U.S open before, finishing in second place twice, in 1999 and in 2006.
The 2006 U.S Open for Mickelson was heartbreaking, as he controlled a one-shot lead heading into the 72nd hole. He proceeded to make a double-bogey and surrender the title to Geoff Ogilvy.
For the 2010 U.S Open, Pebble Beach has announced several changes and modifications to the golf course, that have been overseen by course designer Arnold Palmer.
Changes to holes 3,6,9,10 and 12 have placed several new bunkers, rearranged tee positions, and reworked greens in preparation for the 2010 U.S Open.
“I think it looks a lot better. I think it’s worthy of a U.S. Open,” Brad Faxon said in reference to the changes during the 2010 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am.
Holes 8, 9, and 10 have seen a shift in the fairways, that now are closer towards the cliffs that reside on the Pacific Ocean.
“You rarely ever saw players hitting their tee shots – or even thinking about it – into the ocean, but now the ocean has become very strategic,” remarked USGA Senior director of rules and competition Mike Davis. “It will make players really think and carefully choose their options. That’s the way Pebble Beach used to be.”
Mickelson offered his thoughts on the course changes as well.
“It will be a very defensive course off the tee with so many fairways being cut in and brought over towards the water,” he said. “No. 6 and 8 are good examples, No. 9, 10, 11 (too). These fairways now are so much tighter.”
Online Sportsbooks have formulated odds to win the 2010 U.S Open, with Woods the betting favorite despite Mickelson’s triumph at Augusta.
Top-Five 2010 U.S Open Odds Courtesy of Brobury Sports-
Tiger Woods- +350
Phil Mickelson- +900
Ernie Els- +1500
Lee Westwood- +2000
Padraig Harrington- +2000
Related posts:
- Phil Mickelson Thinks Masters Pairing With Tiger Would Be “Great”
- Oddsmakers Say Bettors Going Against Tiger Woods At Masters
- Final Round Betting On The Masters Triggers Head-To-Head Lines Between Tiger vs. Phil Among Others
- Tiger Woods’ Former Swing Coach Butch Harmon Weighs In On Controversy
- Alone At The Top, Mickelson Looking For (Major) Success
