Golf's Best Bet - U.S. Open Tournament Matchup Picks

Tee-off:  6/18/2009

The U.S. Open tees off this Thursday with the best golfers in the world taking to the links. 

BetUS will be offering wagering on almost every aspect of the U.S. Open.  In terms of odds, one of the best wagers for bettors to make money from is tournament matchups.

By betting the winner of a tournament matchup, gamblers can increase their chances of profit.  Finding the winner in any golf tournament is difficult, much less the U.S. Open.  Betting a single golfer to beat another golfer often times is a much better alternative bet.

Let’s take a look at some of the more intriguing matchups in the U.S. Open. 

1. Phil Mickelson +325 vs. Tiger Woods -450 - - Tiger was exceptional in his prep for the U.S. Open, The Memorial golf tournament two weeks ago.  Mickelson wasn’t very good in his prep, the St. Jude Classic, this past weekend, but what Mickelson did was out drive the average at the St. Jude by about 30 yards.  That sets him up well for the distance at Bethpage.  If his mind is right, then Phil has every shot at winning this matchup at much better odds than Woods.
   
   Pick:  Phil Mickelson
   
   

2. Luke Donald -130 vs. Nick Watney Ev - - Donald is the favorite in this matchup, but Watney actually has been better off the tee in terms of distance than Donald so far in 2009.  Because of that, Watney no doubt should be considered for a bet in this.  Bethpage is much longer than any course Donald has played on this year.  Watney should excel with the length of Bethpage
   
   Pick:  Nick Watney
   
   

3. Rory Sabbatini -110 vs. Justin Leonard -120 - - Leonard didn’t make the cut in the St. Jude Classic which means he would need to really turn things around to be a factor in the U.S. Open this week.  Sabbatini finished 34th in the Crowne Plaza Invitational and won the Byron Nelson the week before.  I see Sabbatini winning in this matchup.
   
   Pick:  Rory Sabbatini
   
   

4. Paul Casey +105 vs. Jim Furyk -135 - - Furyk is the favorite, but Casey is the one coming into this tournament with the better 2009 resume.  Furyk did have a fantastic Memorial Tournament in his last, finishing only a stroke off of Tiger Woods for second place. But Casey won the Shell Houston Open, has 3 top tens, and hasn’t missed the cut in 2009.
   
   Pick:  Paul Casey
   
   

5. Angel Cabrera Ev vs. Tim Clark -130 - - Cabrera hasn’t been that great since his Masters’ victory, failing to even make the cut in the Quail Hollow, but he did win the Masters.  So, he can be forgiven for it.  Clark has been off and on, posting a 13th place finish, followed by a 37th place finish, followed by a 9th place finish.  The off and on pattern could continue as Clark was off in his last tournament.  He’s a good bet to beat Cabrera in this.
   
   Pick:  Tim Clark
   
    

6. Jim Furyk -120 vs. Geoff Ogilvy -110 - - Furyk has been a steady guy so far this year, but he hasn’t won a tournament yet.  Ogilvy wrestled the top spot in the money list back after The Memorial where he finished 2nd.  Furyk should like the distance of Bethpage more than Ogilvy which means he should win in this matchup.
   
   Pick:  Jim Furyk at -120