Oddsmakers see Tigers Woods and Phil Mickelson as 2008 US Open favorites

The story getting all the attention at Torrey Pines on the eve of the U.S. Open is the pairing of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. The sportsbooks are interested in the pairing also. That was obvious when online wagering leader Sportsbook.com installed the Tiger and Mickelson as the pair to beat. Tiger Woods is the odds-on favorite at 5-2 while Mickelson is right there at 5-1. Woods and Mickelson are the only players in the field with single-digit odds. At 15-1 Sergio Garcia has the third best odds. Jim Furyk and Geoff Ogilvy round out the top five at 25-1. 

“The pairing of Tiger and Mickelson will bring lots of excitement to the gallery and the players as well,” said Point-Spreads.com Golf handicapper Reno Gold. “These two professionals will undoubtedly drive each other and that’s not good for the rest of the field.” 

[pictured: Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are paired together for the U.S. Open that begins on Thursday] 

One would think this is Mickelson’s tournament to lose having grown up around the links at Torrey Pines. Mickelson practices here frequently and has won here twice in the Buick Invitational. 

The problem is, Tiger has won here even more than Mickelson. Woods has won the Buick Invitational played at Torre Pines five of the last six years. 

When the pair have competed in the Buick Invitational, Woods finished higher than Mickelson eight times. 

U.S. Open Betting Odds (Sportsbook.com) 

Aaron Baddeley 60-1

Adam Scott 30-1

Andres Romero 60-1

Angel Cabrera 60-1

Ben Curtis 200-1

Boo Weekley 40-1

Brandt Snedeker 75-1

Bubba Watson 150-1

Chad Campbell 150-1

Charles Howell III 100-1

Colin Montgomerie 100-1

David Toms 100-1

Ernie Els 40-1

Geoff Ogilvy 25-1

Henrik Stenson 80-1

Hunter Mahan 150-1

Ian Poulter 100-1

Jerry Kelly 100-1

Jim Furyk 25-1

Justin Leonard 30-1

Justin Rose 30-1

K.J. Choi 60-1

Lee Westwood 100-1

Luke Donald 40-1

Martin Kaymer 150-1

Michael Campbell 200-1

Mike Weir 40-1

Niclas Fasth 150-1

Padraig Harrington 25-1

Paul Casey 75-1

Phil Mickelson 5-1

Retief Goosen 30-1

Robert Allenby 40-1

Rory Sabbatini 60-1

Scott Verplank 100-1

Sean O’Hair 100-1

Sergio Garcia 15-1

Stephen Ames 50-1

Steve Flesch 200-1

Steve Stricker 100-1

Stewart Cink 30-1

Stuart Appleby 60-1

Tiger Woods 5-2

Tim Clark 60-1

Trevor Immelman 30-1

Vijay Singh 25-1

Woody Austin 200-1

Zacy Johnson 80-1

Field (any other golfers) 5-1