Professional golf runs four Major tournaments each year as the most coveted titles in the sport. A player’s career is often defined by how they performed in these four events over the years. Just one victory in a Major can be enough to establish oneself as an elite golfer.
Early April is highlighted by the Masters at Augusta National Golf Course in Georgia. This is the only Major that is contested as the same venue each year.
The PGA Championship in May is the signature tournament for the Professional Golfers Association. The Open Championship which is also known as the British Open is the premier event for golf in the UK.
Considered to be the toughest test for pro golfers each year, the US Open may be the most prestigious title on the line. Each year’s course is set up by the USGA to exacting standards. This comes with equally challenging conditions such as thick grass off the fairways and slicker than normal putting surfaces.
Only the “best of the best” golf courses in the country are considered as potential venues. Traditionally held over four round of play leading up to Father’s Day in June, this year’s US Open will be held at Torrey Pines outside of San Diego.
This will be the 121st edition of this time-honored tournament. It could also become the most heavily bet US Open to date.
The popularity of betting on pro golf has grown exponentially with the rapid expansion of legal sports betting across the United States. When one of the four Majors is on the board, the overall betting handle for that week’s action rivals the money coming in on NBA, MLB and NHL games.
As added fuel for this year’s US Open, a few subplots have also grabbed bettor’s attention.
Just last month at Kiawah Island in South Carolina, veteran golfer Phil Michelson become the oldest player to win a Major at age 50 with his victory in the 2021 PGA Championship.
The popular US sportsbook DraftKings has opened Michelson at longer +7000 odds to win this week with fans and bettors alike firmly on that bandwagon.
Spain’s Jon Rahm made headlines lately when he had to withdrawal from the Memorial Tournament with a six-shot lead after three rounds. He has been listed as a +1050 favorite to lead the board after all four rounds this week.
There is nothing like a good, old feud to add interest to a rivalry. Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau are two of the best and most popular golfers in the world right now. They have also taken their internal dislike for one another to the public stage.
DeChambeau has the edge this week at +1500 to win verse Koepka’s +1900 posted odds. However, in a head-to-head matchup to post the lowest score over four rounds, the betting odds are set at -110 for each player.
There are any number of ways to wager on this year’s US Open at legal US sportsbooks such as DraftKings. From picking the outright winner to wagering on a grocery list of prop bet options, Torrey Pines becomes the center of sports betting this week starting with the opening round on Thursday. June 17.
