2011 US Open - Weekend (Golf)

Rory McIlroy has played immaculate golf through the first 2 rounds of the 2011 US Open. He holds a 6-stroke lead over YE Yang, and is at least 9 strokes better than everyone else remaining in the field at this point. He is looking to become the second consecutive player from Northern Ireland to take home our national championship. I showed some improvement with my predictions over The Masters. this time around 7 of my 10 favorites made the cut, and 2 of them (including my winner Matt Kuchar) reside in the top 10 as weekend play begins. Despite sitting in 3rd, Kuchar is 9 strokes back of McIlroy. McIlroy's lead is too large for me not to go with him heading into the weekend. Here is a look at how my top 10 favorites have fared to this point as well as the new odds and my new pick to win the 2011 US Open.

Pre-Tournament Favorites:

Matt Kuchar - USA
Current Standing: -2, T3

Phil Mickleson - USA
Current Standing: +1, T25

Robert Karlsson - Sweden
Current Standing: +4, T56

Brandt Snedeker - USA
Current Standing: -2, T3

Luke Donald - England
Current Standing: +4, T56

Geoff Ogilvy - Australia
Current Standing: +9, Missed Cut

Jason Day - Australia
Current Standing: +1, T25

Nick Watney - USA
Current Standing: +6, Missed Cut

Jim Furyk - USA
Current Standing: +7, Missed Cut

Graeme McDowell - N Ireland
Current Standing: +2, T32

New Weekend Favorites:

1. Rory McIlroy - N Ireland (1 to 4)
Current Standing: -11, 1

2. Matt Kuchar - USA (20 to 1)
Current Standing: -2, T3

3. Brandt Snedeker - USA (40 to 1)
Current Standing: -2, T3

4. Phil Mickleson - USA (40 to 1)
Current Standing: +1, T25

5. YE Yang - Korea (8 to 1)
Current Standing: -5, 2

Weekend Prediction - Normally I would love where I'm at with my pre-tournament pick, Matt Kuchar, sitting in 3rd place heading into the weekend - unfortunately he is 9 strokes back however. What Rory McIlroy has done to the Congressional course over the first 2 days is remarkable. The young Irishmen had the lowest score to par at any point in a US Open ever, when he reached -13 at one point on Thursday. His odds to win aren't the best from a bettor's standpoint - only getting $1 for every $4 that you put down - but it would take a monumental collapse for him not to win this thing. He collapsed at Augusta when holding a 54-hole lead, but I think he learned from this experience. I still believe that Kuchar is McIlroy's biggest threat, but in McIlroy I think we have found golf's surefire next big thing. Rory McIlroy will not collapse this time.