Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Golfers are at Winged Foot Golf Club and ready to begin play in this week's U.S. Open from Thursday through Sunday in Mamaroneck, N.Y.
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson, who won the PGA Tour Championship earlier this month and was named Player of the Year on Monday, is the betting favorite to win the 2020 U.S. Open, but lots of popular veterans are attracting action at multiple sportsbooks.
At William Hill sportsbooks, more money has been placed on Tiger Woods to win at Winged Foot than any other player, while Phil Mickelson has drawn the largest bet. Last week, a bettor placed a $45,000 bet on Mickelson to win the event at 75-1 odds at a William Hill sportsbook in Nevada. The bettor would win about $3.4 million if Mickelson is victorious.
Johnson -- the favorite at 17-2 odds -- is followed by Jon Rahm (10-1), Xander Schauffele (14-1) and Justin Thomas (14-1). Woods is listed at 40-1 to win the U.S. Open.
Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler are the only big-name players who will miss the tournament. Koepka announced last week that he will skip the event due to injuries, while Scheffler -- the 2020 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year -- withdrew due to a positive COVID-19 test.
Course conditions
The United States Golf Association admitted that it might find spots to give players an occasional break in this year's tournament.
"We kept looking at ways [to] make the golf course a little bit easier because this is such a great test," USGA CEO Mike Davis said Wednesday. "It puts the premium on everything."
Despite that, the USGA doesn't plan to allow the low scores that have been seen since golf returned from a three-month shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"We're going to let Winged Foot be Winged Foot," said John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director and the individual tasked with setting up the course this week. "... When you think about some of the great U.S. Open players of all time -- Bob Jones, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods -- you never heard them complain.
"They accepted the challenge. They knew -- in fact, in some ways, they knew when others were complaining, it gave them an advantage. Part of the lore of a U.S. Open is it's a very tough golf course, hopefully set up in a fair but stern manner."
History at Winged Foot and prize money
The U.S. Open -- bumped from its traditional spot on Father's Day weekend by the COVID-19 outbreak -- will have no fans in attendance due to the virus. The last time the tournament was at Winged Foot came in 2006, when Geoff Ogilvy shot 5-over to outlast Mickelson and Colin Montgomerie for his lone major championship win.
In 1974 -- in what has been called "The Massacre at Winged Foot" -- Hale Irwin won with a 7-over 287 to capture the first of his three U.S. Open victories.
This year's U.S. Open will have $12.5 million in prize money on the line, with $2.16 million going to the winner.
How to watch (All times EST)
The 2020 U.S. Open marks the first time the PGA will air on NBC since 2014. The tournament also can be streamed on NBCSports.com and Peacock -- the network's streaming service.
In addition, the USGA will offer featured group and featured hole coverage at USOpen.com, the U.S. Open app and the U.S. Open streaming app.
First Round: Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Golf Channel; 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on NBC
Second Round: Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Golf Channel; 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on NBC
Third Round: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on NBC
Fourth Round: Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon on Golf Channel; noon to 6 p.m. on NBC
Notable Thursday tee times
7:56 a.m. EST: Hideki Matsuyama, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth, Webb Simpson, Sergio Garcia, Jason Day
8:07 a.m. EST: Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Justin Rose
1:05 p.m. EST: Gary Woodland, Shane Lowry, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Daniel Berger
1:16 p.m. EST: Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Tony Finau, Tommy Fleetwood
1:27 p.m. EST: Jon Rahm, Paul Casey, Phil Mickelson, Louis Oosthuizen, Zach Johnson
1:38 p.m. EST: Rickie Fowler, Matthew Wolff, Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele
Moments from Tiger Wood's career
Tiger Woods swings during the second round of the U.S. Open in Bethesda, Md., on June 13, 1997. The following April, Woods became
the youngest Masters Tournament winner. Photo by Jay Clark/UPI |
License Photo
Woods stretches during the third round of the Phoenix Open in Scottsdale, Ariz., on January 31, 1999. A couple years later, the Phoenix Open would have some excitement when
an orange was thrown on the green in front of Woods. Photo by Irwin R. Daugherty/UPI |
License Photo
Woods hoists the Wanamaker trophy after winning the
PGA Championship in Medinah, Ill., on August 15, 1999. Woods won with 11 under par. Photo by Ray Foli/UPI |
License Photo
Woods smiles after winning the AT&T National Pro-Am with a great come-from-behind victory to win his sixth straight PGA tournament in Pebble Beach, Calif., on February 7, 2000. That year, Woods
hosted the Tiger Jam III benefit concert. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI |
License Photo
Woods makes his second shot on the 18th fairway enroute to
winning the AT&T National Pro-Am with a great come-from-behind victory to win his sixth straight PGA tournament in Pebble Beach, Calif., on February 7, 2000. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI |
License Photo
Woods was named the youngest-ever Golfer of the Decade at the ESPY Awards in Las Vegas on February 14, 2000. Later that year, he was
named the top PGA player. Photo by Roger Williams/UPI |
License Photo
Woods putts on the seventh green during the third round of the
inaugural AT&T National in Potomac, Md., on July 7, 2007. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
License Photo
Woods lines up a putt on the seventh hole during the first round of the U.S. Open in Mamaroneck, N.Y., on June 15, 2006. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Woods throws his putter in the air after bogeying the 14th hole during the third round of the 135th British Open Championship in Hoylake, United Kingdom, on July 22, 2006. Woods
won the tournament the following day. Photo by STR/UPI |
License Photo
Woods hoists the Wannamaker Trophy after
winning the PGA Championship in Medinah, Ill., on August 20, 2006. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI |
License Photo
Woods participates in a practice round for the Ryder Cup in Straffan, Ireland, on September 21, 2006. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
Woods (R) lines up a putt on the third green while teammate Jim Furyk looks on during the first round of the Ryder Cup in Straffan, Ireland, on September 21, 2006. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Former President George H. W. Bush and Woods arrive at the first tee to start the inaugural
AT&T National Golf Tournament in Bethesda, Md., on July 4, 2007. The proceeds of the golf tournament will benefit the Tiger Woods Foundation and local charities. Photo by Mark Goldman/UPI |
License Photo
Woods chips out of the bunker onto the second green during the final round of the
BMW Championship in Lemont, Ill., on September 9, 2007. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI |
License Photo
Woods lines up a putt on the ninth hole during the fourth round of the Presidents Cup in Montreal on September 29, 2007. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
U.S. President Barack Obama greets Woods in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 20, 2009. Woods
appeared in an Inaugural Celebration for Obama earlier that year. White House Photo by Pete Souza |
License Photo
Woods poses after
winning the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club in Potomac, Md., on July 5, 2009. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
License Photo
Woods drives the ball on the 10th tee on the first day of the 138th British Open Championship in Turnberry, Scotland, on July 16, 2009. Woods was
eliminated from the tournament the following day. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI |
License Photo
Woods arrives to offer an apology for
"irresponsible and selfish behavior" during his first public statement to a small gathering of reporters and friends at the headquarters of the U.S. PGA Tour in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on February 19, 2010. Pool Photo by Eric Gay/UPI |
License Photo
Woods waits to hit off of the 11th tee during the first round of the
Quail Hollow Tournament in Charlotte, N.C., on April 29, 2010. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
License Photo
Woods swings during the first round of The Players Championship PGA golf tournament in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on May 6, 2010. Woods
withdrew from the tournament after a neck injury. Photo by Mark Wallheiser/UPI |
License Photo
Woods watches his hit on the ninth fairway during the first round of the
U.S. Open in Pebble Beach, Calif., on June 17, 2010. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
License Photo
Woods watches his drive off of the 17th tee during the second round of the U.S. Open in Pebble Beach, Calif., on June 18, 2010. Woods ended in a fourth-place tie with Phil Mickelson. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Woods does a push up over his ball on the 14th fairway on the first day of the
British Open championship in St. Andrews, Scotland, on July 15, 2010. Woods finished the round at 5-under 67. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI |
License Photo
Woods watches his chip shot land on the green on the third hole during the second round of the
PGA Championship in Kohler, Wisc., on August 13, 2010. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI |
License Photo
Woods lines up a putt in the
U.S. Open in San Francisco on June 14, 2012. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
License Photo
Woods tees off on the fourth hole in the fourth round of the U.S. Open in San Francisco on June 17, 2012. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
U.S. Ryder Cup teammates Davis Love III, Woods and Keegan Bradley smile at the
Ryder Cup in Medinah, Ill., on September 25, 2012. Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI |
License Photo
Woods hits off of the 15th tee during the
second round of the Masters at Augusta National in Augusta, Ga., on April 12, 2013. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
License Photo
Woods and girlfriend Lindsey Vonn arrive on the red carpet at the
Costume Institute Benefit for the "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, 2013. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
License Photo
Woods hits a tee shot on the fourth hole in the third round at the
U.S. Open in Ardmore, Pa., on June 15, 2013. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
License Photo
Woods hits out of the bunker on the fourth hole on the third day of the
British Open Championship in Muirfield, Scotland, on July 20, 2013. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI |
License Photo
Woods signs autographs as he walks off the practice range before to the start of the Quicken Loans National, at Congressional Golf Course in Potomac, Md., on June 24, 2014. The tournament
benefits his foundation. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
License Photo
Woods tees off on the seventh hole during the first round of the Quicken Loans National at Congressional Golf Course in Potomac, Md., on June 26, 2014. Photo by Molly Riley/UPI | License Photo
Woods walks to the sixth green during a practice round before the
Masters Tournament at Augusta National in Augusta, Ga., on April 7, 2015. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
License Photo
Lindsey Vonn walks Woods and his children Sam (L) and Charlie on the ninth green during the Par 3 contest at
the Masters Tournament at Augusta National in Augusta, Ga., on April 8, 2015. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
License Photo
Fred Couples (L) and Woods prepare to hit on the fourth tee during a practice round prior to the Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club, in Augusta, Ga., on April 4, 2018. Woods
finished tied for 32nd. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
License Photo
Woods reacts before hitting his approach shot to the 11th green in the second round of the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 6, 2018. Woods
finished tied for 32nd. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
License Photo
Woods catches a ball from his caddy on the 14th hole during final round play of the Quicken Loans National golf tournament in Potomac, Md., on July 1, 2018. Photo by Pete Marovich/UPI | License Photo
Woods lines up a putt during the final round in the
British Open Championships in Carnoustie, Scotland, on July 22, 2018. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI |
License Photo
Woods places his ball on the tee at the sixth hole during the fourth round of the
PGA Championship in Town and Country, Mo., on August 12, 2018. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI |
License Photo
Woods hits from a bunker to the second hole
in the first round at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 11, 2019. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
License Photo
Woods touches the hand of a patron as he walks to the 8th tee box in
the second round at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 12, 2019. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
License Photo
Woods hits off of the second tee during
the third round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 13, 2019. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
License Photo
Woods celebrates his
career comeback win with a score of 13 under par on the 18th green in the final round at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 14, 2019. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI |
License Photo
Woods is
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 6, 2019. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
License Photo
Woods hits off of the 14th tee during a practice round before the
U.S. Open in Pebble Beach, Calif., on June 12, 2019. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
License Photo
