7 Biggest Longshots In Golf Betting History To Win The U.S. Open
The U.S. Open had been the second golf major of the calendar year for decades until the PGA Championship moved to May in 2019. The Father’s Day weekend sports tradition now sits third before The Open Championship in the United Kingdom in July. Traditionally, U.S. Open odds have not produced many longshots with the USGA making each course as difficult as possible. Nevertheless, there have been some exceptions that cashed tickets among U.S. Open longshots. Let’s dive into seven biggest underdogs to win the U.S. Open since 1985, as far back as we can reach with sports betting records.
If only we had the best sports betting sites back in 1893 to know what amateur Francis Ouimet’s golf odds would have been in his stunning playoff victory over British golf legends Harry Vardon and Ted Ray.
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7 Biggest US Open Longshots To Win Since 1985
No one has more major golf titles all-time than Jack Nicklaus. The Golden Bear is also tied atop the board with Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones and Ben Hogan, emerging victorious on four occasions at the USGA’s signature event. But none of them were considered U.S. Open longshots.
For the sake of consistency, let’s set the barometer at +4000 or longer (excluding five-time major winner Brooks Koepka). Over the last two decades, there are eight winners who fit this mold.
The U.S. Open is considered by many the most difficult of the four Majors.
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7. Martin Kaymer (2014): +4000
Thanks to a record-setting 10-under par through 36 holes after back-to-back 65s, Kaymer notched an eight-shot U.S. Open victory. His final tally of 271 (-9) is tied for the second-lowest total in U.S. Open history behind Rory McIlroy (268) at Congressional Country Club in 2011. A grand total of 15 players broke par during the opening round, which lined up similarly with the first-round scoring in each of the previous two U.S. Open championships played at Pinehurst. Not bad, considering Kaymer shot over par on the weekend.
It was his second major championship win. He has not won since that crowning achievement.
6. Webb Simpson (2012): +5000
While many of the sport’s stars faltered, the 26-year-old Wake Forest graduate manufactured a Major win in just his fourth professional season. He shot 68 in the final round and ran down 2003 U.S. Open champ Jim Furyk in the process.
5. Graeme McDowell (2010): +6600
Just like Simpson, McDowell was a first-time Major winner, recording a 74 in the final round. He also received some assistance from Dustin Johnson, who led by three strokes going into Sunday. But a triple bogey on the second hole and a double bogey on the third hole doomed the soon-to-be two-time Major champion.
T3. Gary Woodland (2019): +8000
With a round of two-under 69 and a closing birdie on 72nd hole, the Kansas native finally succeeded in a Major, remaining ahead of Brooks Koepka by three strokes. Koepka was seeking a third-consecutive U.S. Open title that year at Pebble Beach.
T3. Geoff Ogilvy (2006): +8000
On a rather obscure Sunday, five golfers held a share of the lead or better at different junctures. One of them was Ogilvy, who conquered the likes of Phil Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie to rack up a shocking victory.
2. Angel Cabrera (2007): +10000
Staged at the infamously difficult Oakmont Country Club, Cabrera claimed his first of two major titles. He displayed incredible shot making in the final round, generating five birdies that allowed him to still bogey two of the final three holes. He wound up winning by one stroke over Tiger Woods and the aforementioned Furyk.
1. Lucas Glover (2009): +15000
Amid a rainy four-day stretch at Bethpage Black, Glover overcame a double-bogey on the opening hole en route to defeating Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Ricky Barnes by two strokes. The weather-delayed event wrapped up on Monday.
(AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Honorable Mention: Michael Campbell (2005) +600 Field Bet
Not even listed on some odds board, the New Zealand-born Campbell emerged as the first Challenge Tour graduate to win a golf major. He accomplished that feat staving off Tiger Woods at Pinehurst, accruing four birdies and three bogeys in the final round to finish with a one-under-par 69 on Sunday. If he was listed on most odds boards at the time, he surely would have been deep into the triple digits.
How To Find The Best Golf Longshots Every Week
Each week at TheLines.com, golf writer John Haslbauer posts which sleepers and longshots he thinks will perform the best after assembling his model with the stats that matter most for the course that week, regardless of whether it’s U.S. Open longshots or any other week on the PGA TOUR schedule.
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Source: Sports Odds History
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