The first day of action is in the books at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, California, and several of the world’s top players, including Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Luke Donald, and Rory McIlroy, are well off the lead at the 112th U.S. Open. However, the pre-start favorite to win it all, Tiger Woods (6-1 odds), sits near the top of the leader board with a one under par 69. American Michael Thompson currently holds sole possession of first place after shooting a four under par 66 in the opening round. Updated 2012 U.S. Open Odds have Woods listed as a 2-1 favorite to capture his 15th major championship; the 27 year old Thompson, who was unlisted in the pre-tournament odds, remains under the Field - Any Other Player designation, which is now set at 10-1 odds.
Tiger Woods’ play at the Memorial Tournament two weekends ago prompted Jack Nicklaus to predict that Woods 15th major victory would come on Sunday at the Olympic Club. At least through one round of play Woods did nothing to quell Nicklaus’ bold assertion, shooting a one under par 69 that has him tied for second and just three shots off the lead.
Woods bogeyed the par 4 sixth and the par 4 14th, but he made up for those miscues by notching birdies on holes four, five, and 17. The former Stanford golfer sits in a five-way tie (Graeme McDowell, David Toms, Nick Watney, and Justin Rose) for second place as a result.
Thompson, who debuted on the PGA Tour in 2008, recorded bogeys on three of his first six holes, but he recovered in epic fashion. The Arizona native countered his front nine bogeys with birdies on holes two, seven, and nine and he blistered the back nine, scoring birdies on holes 11, 12, 14, and 18.
Eight players are knotted up at even par, including Matt Kuchar, Ian Poulter, and 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk. Kuchar drew 25-1 odds to win the U.S. Open prior to Thursday’s start while Furyk and Poulter were listed at 30-1 and 60-1 odds, respectively.
Among the days biggest disappointments were Woods' playing partners, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson. Mickelson (15-1 odds) closed out the day with a six over par 76 and Watson (40-1), the 2012 Masters champion, finished with a seven over 77. World No. 1 Luke Donald (12-1), who is seeking his first major championship, recorded a dismal nine over 79 while Rory McIlroy (10-1) shot a seven over 77.
Updated 2012 U.S. Open Odds:
TIGER WOODS 2/1
RORY McILROY 100/1
PHIL MICKELSON 100/1
LEE WESTWOOD 15/1
LUKE DONALD 200/1
ADAM SCOTT 200/1
HUNTER MAHAN 30/1
BUBBA WATSON 250/1
DUSTIN JOHNSON 100/1
MATT KUCHAR 12/1
JUSTIN ROSE 8/1
KEEGAN BRADLEY 80/1
JASON DAY 150/1
SERGIO GARCIA 50/1
NICK WATNEY 20/1
STEVE STRICKER 150/1
MARTIN KAYMER 100/1
CHARL SCHWARTZEL 80/1
JIM FURYK 15/1
GRAEME McDOWELL 15/1
LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN 200/1
WEBB SIMPSON 50/1
PADRAIG HARRINGTON 125/1
BO VAN PELT 300/1
BRANDT SNEDEKER WD
K.J. CHOI 125/1
IAN POULTER 25/1
PETER HANSON 300/1
GEOFF OGILVY 200/1
RICKIE FOWLER 30/1
BILL HAAS 250/1
AARON BADDELEY 250/1
ERNIE ELS 150/1
RETIEF GOOSEN 250/1
ZACH JOHNSON 300/1
KYLE STANLEY 200/1
FREDRIK JACOBSON 100/1
JASON DUFNER 25/1
GARY WOODLAND 200/1
PAUL CASEY WD
CHARLES HOWELL III 100/1
SEAN O'HAIR DNQ
FRANCESCO MOLINARI 40/1
DAVID TOMS 25/1
Y.E. YANG 250/1
ANGEL CABRERA 125/1
HENRIK STENSON DNQ
MATTEO MANASSERO 200/1
BEN CRANE 500/1
THOMAS BJORN 500/1
MARTIN LAIRD 500/1
JOHN SENDEN 100/1
ROBERT KARLSSON 50/1
MARK WILSON 500/1
RYAN MOORE DNQ
VIJAY SINGH 250/1
JOHNSON WAGNER DNQ
ANTHONY KIM DNQ
CAMILO VILLEGAS DNQ
SANG-MOON BAE 500/1
JONATHAN BYRD 40/1
KEVIN NA 200/1
LUCAS GLOVER 500/1
STEWART CINK 500/1
JEFF OVERTON DNQ
JOHN HUH DNQ
CARL PETTERSSON 200/1
TREVOR IMMELMAN 1000/1
MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ 1000/1
RYO ISHIKAWA 100/1
ALVARO QUIROS 300/1
TIM CLARK 500/1
BUD CAULEY DNQ
BRYCE MOLDER DNQ
ROBERT ALLENBY DNQ
PAUL LAWRIE WD
RYAN PALMER DNQ
SPENCER LEVIN 250/1
RICKY BARNES DNQ
KYUNG-TAE KIM 250/1
ROSS FISHER DNQ
RORY SABBATINI DNQ
J.B. HOLMES DNQ
ROBERT GARRIGUS 150/1
ROBERT ROCK 500/1
CHEZ REAVIE 1000/1
GREG CHALMERS DNQ
SEUNG-YUL NOH DNQ
ANDERS HANSEN 125/1
SIMON DYSON 300/1
EDOARDO MOLINARI DNQ
PATRICK CANTLAY 500/1
GONZALO FERNANDEZ-CASTANO 1000/1
NICOLAS COLSAERTS 100/1
DARREN CLARKE WD
KEVIN CHAPPELL 500/1
MICHAEL CAMPBELL 2000/1
OLIN BROWNE 2000/1
KELLY KRAFT DNQ
FIELD (all others) 10/1
Betting Dork: Lee Phelps, Host, The Punt, William Hill Football Podcast, on Euro 2012 & the 112th U.S. Open:
This one is fun. Skyping across the pond with Euro 2012 in full swing, Host Gill Alexander welcomes William Hill Football Podcast Host Lee Phelps to discuss an array of mutual curiosities, including why the British have such low expectations of England's prospects on the international football stage, and the many differences in the gambling cultures of England and the United States. Plus, in a week dominated by both Euro 2012 and U.S. Open Golf, where might the betting value currently lie in both events? Lee offers up his thoughts on both, including which nations might still be the most intriguing futures plays in the former, and which two European golfers ought to be on your radar on the latter. Plus, Premier League value and boxing thoughts, as well, on Monday's international Betting Dork (June 11, 2012).
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