Of the four Major Championships in the PGA, the US Open has the biggest purse ($17.5 million in 2022)—and it’s for good reason. This annual open national championship challenges the best players in the world with its notoriously difficult courses that change location every year. Even the top players in the world have a tough time breaking par here, with many wins over the years coming from just two or three under par. There have been a few incredible exceptions along the way.
In 2000, the golf world was blown away when Tiger Woods won the US Open by 15 strokes at Pebble Beach Golf Links in what Sports Illustrated described as “the greatest performance in golf history.” The American broke or tied nine tournament records, which included biggest margin of victory—one that still stands today. He finished 12 strokes better than the closest competition, which was a tie between Spanish golfer Miguel Angel Jimenez and South African golfer Ernie Els. Woods went on to win again in 2002 and 2008, but has since only come as close as fourth (2010).
In 2011, Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy made a name for himself when he broke the record for most strokes under par at the US Open. He shot 16 under after being cut the year before. It was the only time McIlroy managed a victory at the US Open.
Accurate driving is a must in the challenging conditions of the US Open. Unkind pin placements and dramatic bunkering can add to the misery of even the most seasoned golfers. No other Major tests players in such a wide variety of ways, and as a result, betting on this event is always a gamble. Be sure to mark your calendar because the US Open takes place every June; it sits between the USPGA and The Open, and typically, the final rounds take place on Father’s Day. We’ll provide a primer on how to bet on the US Open golf odds, but first, we’ll take a look at the history of this significant Major tournament.
Brief History of US Open
The US Open dates back to 1895, with the first one taking place at Newport Country Club on Rhode Island. Back then, it was a 36-hole competition that was played over one day. The inaugural event attracted a field of 10 competitors and included one amateur player and nine professional golfers. 21-year-old Englishman, Horace Rawlins won the first tournament, earning a $150 cash prize and a gold medal.
Rawlins returned to play again in the second US Open, but finished as a runner up behind Scottish golfer James Foulis. For the following 13 years, gold and silver went to either British or Scottish golfers. Then in 1910, American-born John McDermott would arrive on the scene to shake things up, finishing second that year. McDermott won the next two US Opens, cementing himself as the first American golfer to win this tournament. At the tender age of 19, he also set the record for youngest US Open champion, one that remains unmatched to this day.
With 86 wins in 122 editions, American golfers have dominated the US Open ever since McDermott’s era. Part time golfer, Bobby Jones won four times, between 1923 and 1930, as did Ben Hogan (1948, 1950, 1951 and 1953), who competed not long after the four-year hiatus that happened during WWII. Jack Nicklaus also won four times, although his victories were spread out from 1962 to 1980.
In more recent times, a six-year streak of back-to-back American victories was broken up in 2021, when Spanish golfer Jon Rahm won his first US Open; he was followed by Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, who won as a +2000 long shot entering the 2022 tournament.
How to Bet on Golf’s US Open
Betting on the US Open golf, the masters odds or any Major Championship on the PGA tour, often starts in the futures market, where you can pick a winner from a massive list. All of the players are listed with their odds to win US Open, which are displayed in the American odds format, but can be switched to fractional or decimal easily by using the toggle.
The American odds are convenient, as they show you the dollar value of each pick. Positive odds tell you how much money you’d win off of a $100 bet. For example, if a golfer has +1400 odds for US Open, a $100 bet would result in a $1,400 payout. Note: payouts scale up and down with the size of the bet.
Head-to-head matchups add another element of intrigue to the betting experience. These bets pit two golfers against each other for the entire tournament, or just a single round. Both players have odds posted beside their names, and in this situation, you’ll likely see negative odds listed for the favourite. Negative odds show how much you’d need to bet to win $100. For example, if a player is -125 to win a head-to-head, a $125 bet will pay $100.
FAQ About US Open golf odds
What happens if a player doesn’t end up competing in the tournament?
This depends on the type of bet. A futures bet has action regardless of whether the player competes or not; that’s part of the risk in the futures market. But outright wagers and head-to-head wagers are void (with bets refunded) when a player does not tee off.
What happens when two players in a head-to-head bet tie?
When both players in a head-to-head bet tie, bets are void and money is returned.
What is the “field” option in golf betting?
In some instances, you will see two betting options for a tournament: a specific golfer and the field. Betting on the field means you are betting on anyone but the designated golfer winning the tournament.
