Reed leads US Open after Round 2, but oddsmakers not sold on Captain America

The last time Winged Foot hosted the US Open (2006), the winning score was +5. So it was quite the surprise when the 2020 edition opened with Justin Thomas firing a five-under 65 to grab the solo lead, followed closely by three others at -4.

Normalcy returned in Round 2. Only three players shot under par for the day and the cut line – which would have been +2 after Round 1 – settled at +6.

The lead after 36 holes belongs to Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, who sits at -4 (66, 70). He’s followed closely by the belle of the PGA’s return-to-play ball, Bryson Dechambeau, at -3 (69, 68). There is a three-way tie for third between Thomas, Rafael Cabrera Bello, and Harris English at -2, while Jason Kokrak (-1) rounds out the paltry six players who are still under par.

Patrick Reed

Looking at the live US Open odds, it’s clear that pedigree carries a lot of weight with oddsmakers heading into the weekend at one of the toughest courses on Earth.

Despite holding the lead, Reed finds himself tied at the top of the odds board with DeChambeau and Thomas at +460.

The two other players at -2 – English (+1400) and Cabrera Bello (+3100) – barely register among the favorites, particularly the Spaniard, who isn’t even in the top ten. Oddsmakers give the likes of Xander Schauffele (+1000, even par), Hideki Matsuyama (+1800, even par), and Jon Rahm at +1 (+1200, +1) a better chance to lift the trophy.

Jon Rahm

Even Dustin Johnson, who is seven shots off the lead, is given a fighting chance at +2250.

It’s likely that the odds after Round 3 will look significantly different. The course played much tougher on Friday and will claim more victims on Saturday.