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Dark Horse Candidates for 2010 US Open
2021-06-18
Over the years, the U.S. Open has shown us that for every Tiger Woods victory, there is an under-the-radar player capable of winning America’s championship. Players like Steve Jones, Michael Campbell, and even last year’s winner Lucas Glover have revealed that picking a winner is far from an exact science. With that in mind, here are some players who might surprise at this year’s edition and make some people in golf betting very happy.
- Jim Furyk- It’s very rare for the fifth-ranked player in the world to go relatively unnoticed, but such is the case for Furyk at 28/1 odds. He is not flashy like Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson but has already won two PGA Tour events this year and has the ability to catch people by surprise. He is the consummate U.S. Open player: very accurate, an excellent putter, and perhaps most importantly, is a very gritty player who has an excellent mental outlook and won’t be deterred by the inevitable U.S. Open mistakes. He has a proven pedigree in this event and seems to always be in contention. His victory in the 2003 Open shows that he knows how to win on golf’s grandest stage. He has plenty of motivation after losing this event by a single stroke in both 2006 and 2007. Another major championship would also likely place him in the Hall of Fame.
- Luke Donald- Donald is a player that has been tantalizing the golf world for a long time with his amazing talent. He has not won as often as expected but has the makeup of a potential major champion. Like Furyk, his skills fit the mold of a U.S. Open player: a very straight hitter with an excellent short game. When his putter gets hot, he is very dangerous. He has contended in majors before and likely won’t be daunted by the pressure. Perhaps most importantly, he is entering the tournament with significant momentum, having just won the highly acclaimed Madrid Masters of the European Tour. In a year where the emergence of English golfers has been a big topic in golf, Donald has largely been left out of the discussion, an omission that has likely provided motivation. A major championship would surely put him squarely in the center of the conversation. And have the golf betting community excited.
- Zach Johnson- The surprise 2007 Masters winner has backed up that victory with very solid play, winning five times in the last three years and showing an ability to close the deal when in contention. Following Johnson’s breakthrough win, many predicted that his best chance for future success in major championships would come at the U.S. Open, especially considering that his Green Jacket came in very difficult scoring conditions that more closely resembled a U.S. Open. Although a rather short hitter, he is usually able to stay in the fairway and is an outstanding putter. He is very stoic as well, a favorable trait in the roller coaster that is the U.S. Open. Johnson, too, comes into Pebble Beach in good form. After a slow start to his 2010 season, he made one clutch putt after another two weeks ago at Colonial to seize control and win. If Johnson is in contention come Sunday, watch out.
- Ricky Barnes- Barnes has shown a penchant for delivering clutch performances in the biggest tournaments. He led for much of last year’s U.S. Open and eventually finished tied for second, despite having never posted a top ten finish before. Those who thought he would be a flash in the pan have been proven wrong with his play so far this year. He backed up his performance at last year’s Open with a tie for tenth at The Masters and is tied for the PGA Tour lead with five top ten finishes, including a tie for third at last week’s prestigious Memorial Tournament. Don’t be surprised to see his torrid play continue.
- Ben Crane- If there were a most improved player award for the 2010 PGA Tour season to date, Crane would be the runaway winner. Already enjoying a solid career, he has emerged this year as one of the world’s top players, winning once and coming close on multiple other occasions. It’s important to note that his victory this January came at Torrey Pines, the U.S. Open venue a mere two years ago. He has clearly become a new player and should begin to contend in the biggest events. An accurate driver and deadly putter, the logical start would be at a U.S. Open.
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Masters vs. US Open
2021-06-18
Although many would argue that the Masters and U.S. Open are the two greatest golf events in the world and have tremendous history, which is about where the similarities end.
The Masters has always been marked by an elitist, private attitude. The idea that The Masters is able to do whatever it wants stems from Augusta National’s origins as an exclusive private club for wealthy businessmen. Perhaps the most prominent example of this is the all-male membership, something that has become increasingly controversial over the years and threatened to overshadow the 2003 tournament amidst protests. The club’s exclusivity extends to the tournament itself, which has the most demanding qualification requirements of any tournament in the world. While most tournaments have 144 players in the field, The Masters is always under 100, with no open qualifying.
This is in stark contrast to the U.S. Open, which truly lives up to its title of “open”. Anyone can attempt to qualify provided they have a handicap index of 1.4 or less. This has repeatedly led to unknowns making their mark in America’s tournament, at least temporarily. Since the USGA leaves a lot of slots open to these qualifiers, a high premium is placed on them; the requirements for automatically qualifying are similar to those of the Masters. Thus, many highly accomplished touring pros must go through the same process as everyone else. Numerous winners, including Lucas Glover last year, have had to go this route.
The public/private dichotomy extends to the courses as well. Part of The Masters mystique is that it is played on the same course every year and every golf fan gains a more intimate knowledge of it with each passing year. Nevertheless, it is a private enclave and the vast majority of people will never get to play it for themselves, if they even get to attend the tournament at all. The Masters is considered by many to be “the toughest ticket in sports,” and Augusta National has tight rein over who receives tickets. On the other hand, the U.S. Open venue changes by the year and is determined by the USGA, which has made a concerted effort in recent years to bring the event to public courses to make it more relatable. The 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black was a watershed event in this regard as it was the first time America’s championship was held on a truly municipal golf course, as opposed to a private or resort course. The Open’s presence at Torrey Pines in 2008 and return to Bethpage Black in 2009 reaffirmed this promise, which has proven to be very popular. The USGA also provides many more tickets than Augusta National and the prices are much more affordable, much to the joy of golf fans and golf betting alike.
There are many differences in the way the tournaments are played as well. Augusta National is a long course with very little rough so the long-hitters are considered to be at a distinct advantage. It’s a classic risk-reward golf course that is set up for making birdies but also potential disasters as well. Although par is considered a good score in The Masters, the winner needs to make birdies and usually winds up being double digits under par. Although the US Open changes venues, the USGA has a pretty consistent setup each year. U.S. Open courses are marked by long rough and very fast greens. Like The Masters, it requires stellar putting to win. However, accuracy off the tee is an absolute premium as there is very little margin for error. Since players are bound to make mistakes, par is generally a very good score. It is not uncommon for the winning score to be around even par. Since the Open can be such a grind, it requires players who have superb mental capabilities and can recover from making a mistake which golf betting loves.
One aspect that makes the Masters superior is the universal symbolism of the Green Jacket. It is the most hallowed award in sports and just another part of the rich Augusta National lore. The U.S. Open winner receives a trophy that hasn’t attained such prestige. There is no real name for it and in an odd tradition; the winner has to get it engraved themselves. Nevertheless, this doesn’t put a damper on America’s championship. Whoever holds the trophy aloft this year will know they have just completed the most exacting test in golf.
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