Is there a US Open Favourite?

I don't think any smart money would have gone on Woods even if he were playing. He had a decent Masters, but even that revealed how much he has lost rather than how close he is to being in anything close to top form, in my opinion.

I don't think there are any strong favorites that stand out at all. Luke Donald may be top ranked but he's never converted in a major, and he's never finished in the top 10 at the US Open. I like Dustin Johnson to shake off his past and grab a major, and I expect him to win one at some point; not a terrible pick. Mickelson would be a sentimental pick for me. Five times a runner-up and the clock is ticking for him to finally win this tournament. He still has the game to do it.

I think you have a dozen or so guys that could win it and it wouldn't be a shock, but not one of them stands out as being a better bet than the rest.

I gotta be honest, I really am starting to think Matt Kuchar is going win this tournament. He is arguably the best all around ball-striker on tour. He ranks 2nd in the "all around" category on tour and I really like what he did with his putting last week at the Memorial (Dave Stockton had him switch to a longer putter, and completely deloft the 7 degrees on it by pushing his hands way forward)

I'd like to say Luke Donald or Lee Westwood, but those Englishmen can't close out big tournaments! Donald is a top 10 machine, but he only has 7 career wins worldwide which is amazing considering how talented he is. Donald was quoted as saying the thick rough at Murifield Village was causing him problems. If the thick rough at Murifield is causing him problems I really don't know how he'll win the US Open. And he's had difficulty driving the ball. For someone who is such a great iron player his accuracy off the tee isn't very good and I think it could cost him at the Open. And Lee Westwood is long overdue for a major. But again, it seems like he finds ways to lose BIG tournaments. Look at the BMW Championship last weekend. He had a 2 shot lead with 3 holes to go, and 17 and 18 were 5 pars. He finished bogey, par, par and lost in a playoff to Donald. I just think it's Kuchars time. He's playing so well.

I gather the wagering line may not divert too much from the top ten players....it is wide open, and would have been - anyway - if Woods would have been hacking up the course.