2013 US Open (Golf)

The world's best golf players tee off in our national championship Thursday morning. Merion Golf Club in suburban Philadelphia will play host to the US Open for the fifth time. This will be the first time since 1981. I'm sure everyone is shocked to learn that Tiger Woods has been pegged the oddsmakers favorite at 4 to 1. This is a familiar spot for Woods. He has not delivered on the big stage in recent years, despite seemingly coming in as the favorite all the time. He did not play well his last time out, and that was at a course he owns. Tiger is the only player with better than 20 to 1 odds. Those coming in at 20 to 1 are Phil Mickleson, Graeme McDowell, and Matt Kuchar. Here are my top ten bets to take home the US Open title.

1. Tiger Woods - USA (4 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 1st

Best US Open Finish: Champion (2000, 2002, 2008)

Average 2013 Score: 69.86

2. Matt Kuchar - USA (20 to 1)

World Golf Ranking: 4th

Best US Open Finish: T6 (2010)

Average 2013 Score: 69.84

3. Brandt Snedeker - USA (25 to 1)
World Golf Ranking: 7th

Best US Open Finish: T8 (2010)

Average 2013 Score: 69.97

4. Sergio Garcia - Spain (50 to 1)
World Golf Ranking: 15th

Best US Open Finish: T3 (2005)

Average 2013 Score: 70.26

5. Lee Westwood - England (25 to 1)
World Golf Ranking: 11th

Best US Open Finish: T3 (2008, 2011)

Average 2013 Score: 70.81

6. Rory McIlroy - Northern Ireland (25 to 1)
World Golf Ranking: 2nd

Best US Open Finish: Champion (2011)

Average 2013 Score: 70.93

7. Ernie Els - South Africa (85 to 1)
World Golf Ranking: 21st

Best US Open Finish: Champion (1994, 1997)

Average 2013 Score: 71.50

8. Graeme McDowell - Northern Ireland (20 to 1)
World Golf Ranking: 8th

Best US Open Finish: Champion (2010)

Average 2013 Score: 70.77

9. Kevin Chappell - USA (80 to 1)
World Golf Ranking: 103rd

Best US Open Finish: T3 (2011)

Average 2013 Score: 70.91

10. Phil Mickleson - USA (20 to 1)
World Golf Ranking: 10th

Best US Open Finish: T2 (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009)

Average 2013 Score: 69.95

Prediction - Tiger Woods. For those of you who read my blog, it may seem like I pick Tiger to win every major. That is not the case, but he has certainly been my pick more than once over the last few years. He hasn't won a major since the 2008 US Open, which means every time I've picked him since then I've been wrong. I've got to be right one of these times. Tiger has been playing too well this season to get shutout from a major again. It's been five long years, but I think Tiger finally breaks through and wins his 15th major at Merion.