Woodland Leads U.S. Open By 2 Shots Into Weekend, But McIlroy And Rose Are Betting Favorites

My latest U.S. Open update at Forbes with Gary Woodland chasing his first major championship.

Woodland is 9-under par with Justin Rose (-7), Louis Oosthuizen (-6) and Rory McIlroy (-5) the leading contenders as past major champions. Other major champions still within striking distance are Henrik Stenson (-3), Adam Scott (-3), Zach Johnson (-3), Graeme McDowell (-3), Sergio Garcia (-3), Dustin Johnson (-2), Jim Furyk (-2), Francesco Molinari (-2), Jordan Spieth (-1) and Phil Mickelson (-1). Also, Tiger Woods is even par.

There are a record 31 players under par through two rounds, and both Woodland on Friday and Rose on Thursday shot 6-under 65 to tie Tiger Woods record from 2000 as lowest-ever round in a U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Gary Woodland’s favorite golf gambling story: $32K riding on the final hole at Pebble Beach

A Woodland win would be the first time since 2010 that a U.S. Open winner had odds of 50-1 or greater at the start of the tournament. Graeme McDowell won at Pebble Beach in 2010 at near 80-1 odds, and Woodland was 80-1 at the start of the U.S. Open at the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas. Woodland’s odds dropped to 40-1 after an opening round 68 and adjusted to 5-1 with a 2-stroke lead as the 36-hold leader (-9).

Updated odds to win the U.S. Open through 36 holes:

U.S. Open updated

R McIlroy 4/1
J Rose 9/2
G Woodland 5/1
B Koepka 7/1
L Oosthuizen 12/1
D Johnson 20/1
X Schauffele 25/1
M Kuchar 25/1
J Rahm 30/1
A Scott 30/1
A Wise 30/1
M Wallace 40/1
H Stenson 50/1
S Garcia 50/1
T Woods 50/1
F Molinari 50/1
J Spieth 60/1
P Mickelson 60/1

— Jeff Sherman (@golfodds) June 15, 2019