Outrights:
Sergio Garcia(35/1) e.w.
- - I've been tracking Sergio for this spot as much or more than I've been tracking any player for any major this season, and what he's said and done in the 23 weeks or so of 2014, and what I've seen and heard about Pinehurst over the same period, has been of a piece with my thinking . . . I won't be abandoning my commitment.
Geoff Ogilvy(250/1) e.w.
- - It's been a while since his heyday, but back when, the first concern with Ogilvy IMO was always what might happen when he strayed with his less than elite accuracy off the tee, when he would aim down the center, and have a fairly equal propensity for missing right or left. I don't know the state of his game or what he's working on these days, but the driving equation here and the big moment staging and the somewhat Royal Melbourne like short game demands this week are all up his street when at his best, and I swear there's been a little flicker there this season . . . Simply put, taking a flyer on a value loser.
Jason Day(28/1) e.w.
- - Lightly raced is my concern, otherwise he's a must, knowing what I think I know about what it will take to seriously threaten here.
Phil Mickelson(18/1) e.w.
- - Hard to believe that since 2002 I've at least broke even with my e.w. wagers on Lefty in the U.S. Open, but he's kept carrying my cash and he's been that good (the only time I think I held my nose and made the play anyway was in 2008 at Torrey Pines, when he was paired with Tiger (not what I wanted) and he decided a driver was an unnecessary luxury, the dipshit). This year there is too much focus given he's not hit his stride all season, and at best I think he's 1/2 on the right track (visualization/imagination) and 1/2 on the wrong track (the claw) with his putting game plan, and it's looking like the bad Phil off the tee (talking about how he's driving it well and will be going after it hard and aggressive off the tee (this is not Augusta and it is SO HARD to execute that game plan under the gun of a U.S, Open grind)), so I don't know how or why it happens, but count me on board.
Victor Dubuisson(90/1) e.w.
Jonas Blixt(80/1) e.w.
Stephen Gallacher(140/1) e.w.
- - They sort of possess what I'm looking for.
Lucas Glover(500/1) e.w.
- - Ugh.
Jim Furyk(40/1) e.w.
Luke Donald(40/1) e.w.
- - Adding one more. Turned out to be two more.
David Gossett(400/1) e.w. First Round Leader
- - Absolutely my favorite specialty market EVER (Masters debutante is my next favorite), and while I have a few success stories in the first round at The Open and The Masters, I've never landed anything with this true favorite of mine . . . Since I don't feel I have a good read on anything less speculative, I'll take a real leap off the cliff instead.
GL
