It was a case of de ja vu for Rory McIlroy followin ght e first round of the 2011 US Open at the Congressional Country Club on Thursday. The young Northern Irishman found himself leading one of the golfing majors for the third time in twelve months following his superb round of 65 to leave him three shots clear of the field on six under par in Washington D.C. McIlroy has led both the Open Championship and US Masters following the first days play in the last year and will be looking to learn from the mistakes which saw him miss out on both of those occassions. McIlroy is best price 5/2 to win the US Open this week with bookmaker Bet365, who seem happy to lay him with three rounds to go.
McIlroy led for three rounds in the seasons first major of the year in Augusta earlier this year before blowing up on the back nine on Sunday. Before that, the Northern Irishman had led the 2010 British Open at St Andrews following a course record first round score, before the wind blew up and he carded a disastrous second round 80. Time will tell if McIlroy can hold on to the lead this week, but he's likely to have a blip at some point and the likes of Bet365 are willing to take him on.
The course couldn't actually have played any easier on Thursday, which takes nothing away from McIlroy's score, as he was one of only 21 players to shoot under par. If conditions change over the next three days, Congressional will really show it's teeth and at least McIlroy has some shots in the bag, with Stan James going odds of 4/6 that he'll still be leading at the halfway stage.
The two players tied for second place on three under par have been there and done it, former PGA Champion Y.E. Yang from South Korea and recent Masters winner Charl Schwartzel from South Africa. Schwartzel has shown little form since his first major win in April, but is now second favourite with Bet365 with odds of 12/1 here, whilst Yang, who became the first Asian golfer to win a major can be backed at odds of 18/1.
Another former major winner and the current incumbent of the title US Open Champion Graeme McDowell is next in the betting at 25/1. McDowell sits five shots off the lead on one under par, whilst Sergio Garcia continued his good recent form to shoot a tow under par round of 69, to be also 25/1 with Bet 365.
Further down the betting is last year's Open Championship winner at St Andrews Louis Oosthuizen who is on two under par and a 28/1 chance. Joining him on that score are the relatively unknown trio of Alexandre Rocha (125), Scott Hend (100) and K.T. Kim (50) of South Korea.
The likes of world number one, two and three had a tough first round, with pre-tournament favourite Lee Westwood slipping out to odds of 40/1 follwing his first round 75, whilst Luke Donald could only muster one shot less and is now best price 40/1 for his first major championship. Martin Kaymer, also on +3 following Thursday's first round is now an 80/1 chance to follow up on his PGA win last summer.
5/2 Rory McIlroy (-6)
12/1 Charl Schwartzel (-3)
18/1 Y.E. Yang (-3)
25/1 Graeme McDowell (-1)
25/1 Sergio Garcia (-2)
28/1 Louis Oosthuizen (-2)
28/1 Matt Kuchar (+1)
28/1 Brandt Snedeker (-1)
33/1 Jason Day (E)
33/1 Bubba Watson (E)
33/1 Phil Mickelson (+3)
Selected Others
40/1 Luke Donald (+3)
40/1 Lee Westwood (+4)
50/1 Padraig Harrington (E)
80/1 Hunter Mahan (+3)
80/1 Martin Kaymer (+3)
100/1 Paul Casey (+2)
150/1 Ian Poulter (+4)
Odds supplied by Bet365.com, offering live betting in-running throughout the remaining three days play.
Posted: Friday, 17th June 2011
Author: Russell Lloyd
Tags: us open, rory mcilroy, charl schwartzel, ye yang, bet365,
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