IT'S been an exciting US Open so far even if half the drama takes places overnight if you live in Europe.
That's a shame because the golf's been brilliant on a course that's really testing stars to the limit and making them think every shot much more than usual.
It's amazing how similar it looks to a Scottish links and to be fair that's what designer Robert Trent Jones Jnr was after – and he's done a fine job.
I hate watching US Tour stars playing target golf week in week out and despite the greens making my local municipal (Royal Dalmuir) look like Augusta the set-up is superb.
Augusta's night and day from Chambers Bay but we have the same half way leader – Jordan Spieth. The young American is 9-4 at sportingbet to remain in front and become just the fifth person to win The Masters and US Open in the same season.
The last six majors have all been by the halfway leader and that's an incredible stat which makes me want to keep Spieth on side but of course you've missed the price having been offered 9-1 pre-tournament.
Spieth shares the lead on -5 with Patrick Reed and is one in front of Dustin Johnson and Branden Grace and I believe the winner will come from those four as it's such a tough course to make a charge on. Reed and Johnson both reached seven under yesterday but were always coming back to the field.
Johnson was one of Ace Venturer's tips and is 5-1 with firms such as BetVictor and Paddy Power. Reed is 6-1 at Coral and South African Grace offers the eachway value at 14-1 with Ladbrokes – that's just under 3-1 for a top-four finish.
Fifth favourite is Henrik Stenson – another of Ace's picks – and he still has a chance of finishing top six for a place. Back him now though at 25-1 with Paddy Power and you need him to come tip four.
There are 16 players under par and I can't see anyone more than five back getting involved. That includes the likes of Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, Justin Rose and Lee Westwood.
In match betting take Stenson to beat Alexander Levy and add Webb Simpson to see off Colin Montgomerie in the first match out. Monty's done well to make the cut at 51 as has young Scot Jimmy Gunn who may struggle to outscore Camilio Villegas.
Recommended Bets
Grace ew
(14-1, Ladbrokes)
Match Betting Treble
Simpson to beat Montgomerie (4.14pm)
Villegas to beat Gunn (4.58pm)
Stenson to beat Levy (9.33pm)
(3-1, bet365)
Match Betting Single
Na to beat Warren (7.54pm)
(10-11, Paddy Power)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
