This market is headed by Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia, and deservedly so. Both have solid records in this event without winning it. Garcia has twice made the top four and arrives here with plenty of confidence after winning the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. This week’s track is a different test altogether, with narrow fairways, penal rough and lightning-fast greens, but his tee-to-green brilliance should ensure he’s in the mix come the weekend, and he’s a worthy favourite at 5/1 (Boylesports) for a market he topped in 2002, 2004 and 2005.
After the Spaniard, Harrington is very much the best European hope. Now a major winner, Pod can count on four previous US Open top-10’s, and there was a lot to like about his play at last week’s St Jude Classic, where he finished tied 4th (with Garcia). That must have been a relief for him after some poor recent efforts, including missing the cut in the Wales Open, for which he was one of the favourites. He’ll no doubt have his supporters at 11/2 (William Hill), but I’d prefer to look elsewhere for value.
Next in the betting are a trio of Englishmen - Luke Donald (7/1 Stan James), Justin Rose (8/1 William Hill) and Lee Westwood - and all three are major runners. Donald, in particular, has a great Torrey Pines record (runner-up twice in the Buick Invitational) and has played well in the US Open before, without being in serious contention. However, I have to wonder whether all the value has gone out of backing him, and Rose for that matter. On the other hand, Westwood looks over-priced at 16/1 with Ladbrokes. True, he hasn’t done much in a US Open since finishing fifth at Pebble Beach in 2000, but it’s only in the past year that he has returned to something like his best and, as a superb driver of the ball, he could be set to make a big impact this week.
Of the rest, I’ve got plenty of respect for Paul Casey (20/1 BetDirect), whose brute strength will be a big asset on this course, although whether his driving accuracy will hold up remains to be seen. Robert Karlsson (16/1 Totesport) is the form man having done just about everything but win in the last few weeks, but now he has to reproduce it on the other side of the pond and up in class.
Recommended Bet:
Lee Westwood 2pts each way @ 16/1 Ladbrokes