Justin Rose’s heroics in Thursday’s 1st round of the 2019 US Open have given the Englishman an unexpected early lead.
Three straight closing birdies and a 65 put him one shot clear of a chasing group of four. It included Americans Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele and Aaron Wise and South African Louis Oosthuizen, the former British Open champion.
Rory McIlroy shot a solid 68, while among the large group on 69 were Spaniards Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia. Since winning the 2017 Masters Garcia has yet to make the cut in a major.
But getting back to Rose, the 2013 US Open winner, and reigning Olympic Champion. His 65 also put him top of the New Jersey sports bookmaker’s list of favorites at around +600 – and not surprisingly.
Justin Rose over-shadowed Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth
He played some truly remarkable golf, over-shadowing both playing partners Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth.
His 65 tied Tiger (in 2000) for the lowest first-round score ever shot in a US Open at Pebble Beach. And this after hitting only seven greens all day!
It mattered not for his putting was amazing. He needed only 22 for the 18 holes. His breathtaking accuracy constantly grew warm applause, even from the most hardened fans of Tiger Woods.
Woods, a 15-time major winner, and this year’s Masters’ champion shot a respectable 70. It was not, however, good enough to put him among the bookies top five. He’s currently at 14-1 with most of them.
Mcilroy Is The 2nd Favorite Of The New Jersey Sportsbooks
Mcllroy, the pre-tournament favorite of many, is the second favorite at +700 and World No 1 Brooks Koepke is just behind him. The odds on Koepke winning a 3rd straight US Open for the first time in a Century were +750.
Fowler, still seeking his first major, was also quoted at +750 by some, but mostly the odds on him were at around +900.
Also ahead of Tiger is the quietly dangerous Schauffle at odds of around +900. Oosthuizen is close behind at +2000.
New Jersey’s 14 sportsbooks are clearly using the current form to guide them. They must know, however, like their punters, that this major is not going to have any foregone conclusions. It’s going to be a grueling scrap all the way.
In these circumstances, Koepke, the games latest ‘Mr. Cool’ of the majors, might be the man.
He certainly has plenty to drive him. He has the chance of three straight US Open triumphs, a second successive major this year and a fifth in the last three.
This, of course, could also heighten the pressure on him, but then again, pressure is something he seems to thrive on.
