US Open / Paul Krishnamurty / 16 June 2009 /

Four US Open bets all trading at [100.0] or over. If you fancy a long-odds bet, Paul Krishnamurty has the tips to get you on your way...

Despite ultimately coming up painfully short, last year's US Open was one of this column's best weeks. All four selections made the top-20 and had a chance of sorts going into Sunday, with Lee Westwood coming closest in third place, one shot outside the play-off.

In truth, this event does represent one of the best betting opportunities of the year, and not just because its major status ensures I get four picks rather than the usual one. Whatever the course, the US Open always places great emphasis on certain specific skills, and its not impossible to whittle the field down to a shortlist that prosper under those conditions.

Hitting a high percentage of greens in regulation is imperative, as a missed fairway usually results in par at best, and further severe penalties await players missing the greens. That must bode well for Robert Allenby, who ranks second amongst this field for greens in regulation. Allenby has underperformed in majors, arguably more so than any other player. Considering he's won 20 international titles, it seems amazing that this experienced top-class performer has never even made the top-5 in a major.

If that record is ever to be improved upon, the US Open is probably his best bet because of that emphasis on long game accuracy. Allenby finished a respectable 12th at Bethpage Black in 2002, and has confirmed his suitability for this major by making three further top-20s since. Recent form is good too, after sharing fourth place at Southwind on Sunday.

Another player who has become a consistent challenger at the highest level is Ian Poulter, whose case is discussed in greater detail here. Odds of [100.0] about Poulter are a bit of an insult, after he finished fifth and second in consecutive weeks against elite fields at Quail Hollow and Sawgrass. Furthermore, I've always rated Poulter as one of the best 'finishers' in the game. Before he became a PGA Tour regular; a period during which he has markedly improved; Poulter could boast an impressive strike rate of nine tournament victories in nine seasons from 1999 to 2007.

Ben Curtis has yet to achieve anything in this major, but his record in all the other three suggests he is no forlorn hope at [130.0]. Nearly all his best results in 2008 were in prestigious events on tough courses; second and seventth in the Open and PGA respectively, and outside the majors, Curtis also finished second, fourth and fifth at testing, championship venues Quail Hollow, Westchester and East Lake. Consecutive top-10s in competitive European Tour events last month also show that the former Open champion is in good form.

Finally, a much more speculative selection at the huge odds of [350.0]. He may not be a household name yet, but John Merrick's sixth place in last year's US Open was no fluke. We know this because he repeated the trick on his Masters debut in April. On those tough courses, Merrick's ability to drive long and straight paid dividends, and again offer a considerable advantage around the long, narrow layout of Bethpage Black. Merrick must rate the unluckiest loser of 2009, having finished second in the Bob Hope Classic despite finishing on 30 under par. Wouldn't it be nice if he were to earn a belated reward this week, stunning the world and the market in the process?

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