Dustin Johnson might not have held onto the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Rankings, but he is the top choice to win the US Open next week. Sportsbooks have updated their odds, and Johnson, who is now at No. 2 of the OWGR, is the solid 9/1 pick to win the second major championship of the year.
When the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook first posted its odds for the June 14-18 US Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Course in New York, Johnson was joined by Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy at 10/1. Johnson captured the nation’s championship in 2016, Spieth in 2015, and McIlroy in 2011.
While Johnson is the favorite at one internet betting site, the Westgate updated its odds and has him with McIlroy at 12/1. Spieth and Justin Thomas are next at 14/1.
Johnson is playing this week at the Fed Ex St. Jude Classic, but McIlroy headed to Long Island to prepare for the US Open. The Irishman finished tied for eighth at the Memorial, and was looking forward to next week.
“I’m happy enough with that and feel like I’ve seen a lot of good stuff over the last couple of days to give me encouragement heading into the U.S. Open,” McIlroy said. “I feel like I still need to drive the ball a little bit better,” McIlroy said. “As long as I can keep the ball in play at Shinnecock, I feel like I’ll have a good chance.”
Johnson Playing with Purpose
The former No. 1 golfer is hoping to come back from a freak back injury he suffered the night before the Masters last year. Johnson had won three consecutive events and was a big favorite to win the first major of the year before he was forced to withdraw.
He came to the US Open again as the favorite, but missed the cut. He did win later in 2017, but came into 2018 feeling like he had something to prove. He won the season opening Tournament of Champions, and finished second at his next event, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Other than getting knocked out early at the Match Play, Johnson hasn’t had a finish lower than 17th in six events.
Still he lost his No. 1 ranking to Thomas, and after finishing tied for 10th at this year’s Masters, wants to claim the top spot and could do so by winning next week.
“Yeah, definitely I want to get back to it,” Johnson said. “It’s something that is going to motivate me to work harder and get my game back into the form that I think it should be in. I think we’re headed in the right direction. The golf game feels really good right now and obviously got a few big weeks coming up here.
Woods Getting Close
After flirting with the lead at last week’s Memorial before ultimately finishing tied for 23rd, Tiger Woods said he is ready for the second major of the year. He is listed at 16/1. At the Masters, he was 10/1 and finished tied for 32nd.
“Overall, my game is where it needs to be heading into the US Open, and that’s something that’s very positive,” Woods wrote on his Twitter account Sunday.