Jordan Spieth makes for an intriguing bet at the 2017 U.S. Open. (Getty)
The 2017 U.S. Open is here, which means it’s time to evaluate the betting odds and gameplan how to fill out your DraftKings lineups. Part of that plan could very well include one of the best golfers in the world in Jordan Spieth, as his odds aren’t far off from making him the favorite. This year, the home of the Open will be at Erin Hills, which means there’ll be plenty of tough holes and challenges for this group of elite golfers.
Dustin Johnson comes in as the reigning champion for the event, finishing at four under in last year’s U.S. Open, three strokes ahead of Jim Furyk, Shane Lowry and Scott Piercy. While Johnson looks to repeat as U.S. Open champion, he’s going to have his work cut out for him against some extremely tough competition.
Spieth will likely wind up in the top group of biggest competitors for Johnson, and he enters as one of the top favorites in terms of betting odds for the event on Odds Shark. Let’s take a look at how Spieth stacks up against the field both in terms of his odds and his current fantasy stock.
Jordan Spieth 2017 U.S. Open Odds
The odds seem to favor Jordan Spieth at the U.S. Open. (Getty)
While Johnson has the early edge in terms of odds, Spieth comes in ranked third and may wind up being one of the best bets on the board. Let’s take a look at the full odds for the top 20 players ahead of the 2017 U.S. Open.
Dustin Johnson: +600
Rory McIlroy: +900
Jordan Spieth: +1000
Jason Day: +1100
Jon Rahm: +1600
Hideki Matsuyama: +2000
Justin Rose: +2000
Sergio Garcia: +2200
Rickie Fowler: +2200
Henrik Stenson: +2500
Adam Scott: +2800
Brooks Koepka: +3300
Justin Thomas: +3300
Thomas Pieters: +3300
Branden Grace: +4500
Alexander Noren: +5000
Paul Casey: +5000
Louis Oosthuizen: +5500
Matt Kuchar: +5500
Patrick Reed: +5500
While Spieth has remained as a top favorite, the odds aren’t bad if you’re looking to bet on him to win the U.S. Open. It’s unlikely that the odds will move much ahead of the event unless a large amount of money gets wagered on one or two of the top players.
His previous success at the event is interesting to evaluate, as he won it back in 2015 with a score of five under par. He’s also missed the cut just once since 2012 when he first played the event, and that came back in 2013. But there is some reason for concern when it comes to Spieth at the Open. Aside from his victory in 2015, Spieth’s highest finish at this event was 17th, which doesn’t necessarily bode well in terms of making him a hot betting option, nor a great option for daily fantasy players.
Overall, the odds are pretty appealing and if Spieth can play at the level he’s proven capable of, he could be worth a bet. Even still, there seem to be better options on the board based on odds and previous success.
Jordan Spieth’s Fantasy Stock
Jordan Spieth’s fantasy stock has been tough to gauge as of late. (Getty)
When evaluating Spieth’s 2017 campaign alone, it’s easy to assume that he’d be a safe daily fantasy choice for the U.S. Open. But, he’s struggled as of late to some extent and may be a bit riskier than you’d think. His last four events have included two missed cuts, a T13 and a T2. Obviously, the second-place finish would be great from a fantasy perspective, but he’s dealt with inconsistencies this season.
Another reason to potentially consider fading Spieth is his price tag on DraftKings. He comes in as the second-most expensive player for the 2017 U.S. Open at $11,500, behind only Johnson. While he’s totaled 82 and 100 fantasy points, respectively, in the past two events, he registered 29.5 and 24 in the two before that. His average fantasy points per game this season are 81.3, which place him fourth most out of the seven players who have price tags of $10,000 or higher.
Spieth is likely not going to have a very high ownership at this event, but that may wind up making him an excellent GPP play. He does come with a bit of risk, and while it’s expected that he’ll make the cut, he remains a wild card. He’s not a player to avoid, but there are seemingly better options who are less expensive.
