106th United States Open

[Illusion]

What are your thoughts about this tournament? Can Tiger win on Fathers Day? Remember, he hasn't played in nine weeks.

[Willie Bee]

I like Stuart Appleby and Davis Love III. Don't ask me why, I just do.

Another Aussie I'll be watching is Robert Allenby.

Tiger can certainly win it. The layoff might have been a good thing for his game, physically and mentally. But I still like Appleby and Love more this week.

[Illusion]

I like Furyk, Couples, Goosen and Els. If I had to pick one of those four I would have to choose Goosen.

[scottyy11]

the rough is suppose to be unreal hard to find let alone play, should be good one to watch so look for a guy who keeps it in the fairway

[bigboydan]

U.S. Open preview

This is a fact. The four Majors presents the best chance during the golf betting season to cash in.

If you are betting golf matchups like I specialize in, the U.S. Open and the Masters are smorgasbords for even the novice handicapper. The sportsbooks and linesmakers will get plenty of two-way action and will post a plethora of matchups for the casual fan to wager on and watch on TV. Let the feast begin. Back in April, I played nine matchups in the Masters and went 8-0-1.




Plain and simple, there are many more matchups to pick from during the Majors than at any time of the year. You'll find Phil Mickelson matched against 4,5 maybe 6 different golfers, but this week for the Barclays Classic most sportsbooks only have him vs. Adam Scott or Retief Goosen.


The 2006 U.S. Open is held at Winged Foot's West Course in Mamaroneck, NY.... playing to a par 70 at 7,264 yards and features the longest par four in U.S. Open history the 9th hole of 514 yards.


Note; there are no less than 8 holes which favor a draw (right to left) off the tee vs. only 3 holes that move left to right requiring a fade.


Your main handicapping focus should always be on current form, but next is the type of course and tournament facing the players that week. And as always the USGA has set up a very difficult Open track, but this year with a twist. "Graduated Rough" is the theme at Winged Foot this year. They have set up the fairways tight at 26-28 yards and then gradually increased the rough thickness the more off line and farther away from the fairway you have hit your tee shots. I think some of the bombers off the tee will be penalized more so than in the past. The USGA also cut down trees to make room for this rough and moved the spectator ropes back away from the rough.


Without any rain during the week, I believe Even par will be a good score to get into a playoff, otherwise the best players in the world will conquer any course and -7 under par could win. The last major held at Winged Foot was the famous "Rainbow Classic" when Davis Love III fired three rounds in the 60's and finished at -11 in the 1997 PGA Championship. I don't think we'll get to double digits in a U.S. Open anytime soon.


Short hitters have a legitimate chance this week. At 7,264 yards accurate ball strikers like Fred Funk may sneak up the leaderboard. I think hitting a 6 or 7 iron from the short grass will be better off than a wedge from deep rough. "Flog" may not apply.


I am going to concentrate more on straight hitting drivers than in the past and look to bet against the wild ones. You may have noticed on Tour there has been an influx of younger talent winning and producing solid consistent results. Next week we'll find them in matchups and exploit the linesmakers matchups.

[Tchocky]

Call me crazy but I don't think either Tiger or Phil is going to win. Jimmie Roberts likes Jim Furyk to do well.

[Illusion]

Phil looked alright today, but Tiger had his troubles.

[Tchocky]

Did anyone wager that Tiger wouldn't make the cut? Odds were +490.

[Illusion]

Did anyone wager that Tiger wouldn't make the cut? Odds were +490.

I wish would I have.

[Chuck Sims]

Did David Toms tee off in the 2nd rd? I had a VJ-Toms 2nd rd mtach-up that was graded a win.