US Open Free Bets: Can Scottie Scheffler do what Tiger didn’t?

US Open Free Bets: Can Scottie Scheffler do what Tiger didn’t?

As the golfing circus pitches its tent at Oakmont for this year’s US Open, there’s one name looming larger than the bunkers on the back nine — Scottie Scheffler. The world number one is being priced up by the bookies like he’s about to walk it in flip-flops, and if the odds are to be believed, we’re witnessing the strongest favourite since a certain Tiger Woods swaggered onto the scene back in 2009.

At 11/4, Scheffler’s odds are tighter than your nan’s purse on Christmas Eve. It’s a price that has punters rushing for their betting slips — or, more likely these days, their phones — and it’s brought with it the sort of buzz that’s usually reserved for a Royal baby or a new Greggs opening. But history, as it often does, may have a thing or two to say about it.

The Favourite’s Curse: A Tradition as Old as Missed Four-Footers

Let’s go back to 2009. Tiger Woods, reigning champion and already halfway to being bronzed for a statue, went off at 7/4 at Bethpage. Pundits were nodding wisely, bookmakers were sweating lightly, and punters were chucking money at him like he was handing out Rolexes. In the end, he finished tied sixth, which in golf terms is somewhere between “nice try” and “unlucky mate.”

Fast-forward to today, and Scottie Scheffler’s name has been scribbled onto every second betting slip. Last year, he went off at 29/10. This time? Even shorter. The man’s price has shrunk faster than England’s batting line-up on a sunny afternoon.

He’s currently being offered at around 3/1 with some firms, including one particularly eager operator. But if you’re in the mood for a flutter and haven’t opened an account yet, remember William Hill are offering “Bet £10, Get £30 in free bets” for new customers. Might just be the right moment to cash in on Scheffler’s purple patch — or at least soften the blow if he ends up flinging his putter into the nearest pond.

From Rory to DJ: Favourites in the Rear-View Mirror

It’s not just Scheffler who’s had a love-hate relationship with US Open odds. Have a glance back over the years and you’ll see a trail of big names priced short and leaving empty-handed. Rory McIlroy, for instance, was the bookmakers’ darling in 2022 and 2015 — both times at generous odds, both times ultimately flattering to deceive.

Dustin Johnson, meanwhile, kept bookies entertained between 2017 and 2020, regularly heading the market at prices ranging from 7/1 to 10/1. And let’s not forget the days when Jason Day and Lee Westwood were also in the running, mainly as a reminder that golf odds, like milk, can turn quickly.

In fact, you have to go all the way back to 2008 to find a pre-tournament favourite actually going on to win the thing. That, of course, was Tiger. Since then, the US Open has gleefully crushed the dreams of favourites and made a mockery of form guides and spreadsheets alike.

Bookies Bracing for a Scottie Storm

Despite history being about as kind to favourites as a Scottish summer, Scheffler still commands respect from both punters and layers. He’s won three of his last four starts, and there’s a certain air of inevitability to the way he glides around the course — like a man who’s misplaced his emotional register but found every fairway on the planet.

UK bookmakers have responded with the sort of caution usually reserved for high-stakes political bets. They’ve priced Scheffler like a golfer in his own dimension, and for those considering a punt, free bet bonuses are being dangled like carrots before a donkey. Just in case he pulls a Tiger and takes it all the way, they’re hedging harder than a royal gardener.

Rory’s Gone Missing and the Public’s Gone Quiet

While Scheffler steals the limelight, one name has notably drifted into the background — Rory McIlroy. Once the darling of major championship betting, he’s currently languishing as the eighth most popular selection. You’d have better luck finding support for marmite on pizza than for Rory lifting the trophy this week.

It seems the British betting public have fallen out of love with him — or at least decided to spend their hard-earned tenner elsewhere. Maybe even on a cheeky punt using that William Hill “Bet £10, Get £30” offer — after all, free bets soften the blow better than a consolatory cup of tea when your pick three-putts on the 18th.

Final Thoughts: Tempting Odds, Troublesome History

Scottie Scheffler may be the shortest-priced US Open favourite in over a decade, but with the curse of the betting favourite looming large, there’s plenty to consider before going all-in. Whether he channels his inner Tiger or joins the long list of “nearly men” remains to be seen. Either way, with Oakmont promising drama, tension, and the odd miracle flop shot, punters are gearing up — and the bookies are battening down the hatches.

So go on, place your bets — but don’t say you weren’t warned if history repeats itself. And maybe grab a free bet or two while you’re at it. You might just need them.

From a Betting Perspective

As the golfing world sharpens its irons and polishes its putters for the 2025 US Open, the odds are in, and Scottie Scheffler sits comfortably at the summit — a man priced so short he may as well be teeing off with a head start. But while the bookies are treating him like he’s already popped the champagne, there’s a queue of big-hitters and hopefuls just behind him, each quietly fancying their chances of spoiling the Scheffler show.

So, grab your notepad, your brew, and perhaps a cheeky free bet bonus, because we’re diving headfirst into the oddsboard — and let’s just say, it’s tighter than a pair of Sunday slacks after a wedding buffet.

The Favourite: Scheffler Stands Alone… Again

At a barely believable 11/4, Scottie Scheffler’s odds to win the US Open make him the undisputed favourite — and frankly, he’s being priced like a golfer who’s found some sort of cheat code. Winning three of his last four starts hasn’t exactly discouraged the bookies from treating him like golf’s answer to Thanos, and punters are queueing up with their tenner in hand, desperate for a slice of the action.

Whether he lives up to the billing or adds his name to the long list of “nearly” favourites who’ve come up short, only time will tell. But if you’re brave enough to back him, now might be the moment to dig out one of those new customer free bet offers — you know, just in case his putter goes on holiday.

DeChambeau and Rahm: Power and Precision, If the Mood Strikes

Lurking behind the frontrunner like two overqualified understudies are Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm. Bryson’s currently hovering at 15/2 — a price that reflects both his terrifying power off the tee and his equally terrifying unpredictability. One minute he’s smashing 350-yard drives like he’s launching satellites, the next he’s arguing with a sprinkler head.

Then there’s Rahm at 13/1. Always a threat, always simmering just under the surface like a volcano in golf spikes. He’s the sort of player who could blitz the field by five shots — or spend four days wrestling with bunkers and shouting at clouds. If he shows up in the right mood, though, everyone else may as well be playing for second.

Rory and the Reluctant Supporters

Rory McIlroy clocks in at 15/1, a figure that says “we remember what you used to do, but we’re not quite sure anymore.” Once the golden boy of golf, Rory now finds himself something of a wildcard — dangerous, unpredictable, and increasingly prone to making fans scream into their golf towels.

There’s a sense he’s due a major soon, and if you’re feeling nostalgic or just desperate for a storyline, he might be your man. Also a sensible option if you’re looking to put that free bet bonus to good use without going full daredevil.

The Chasing Pack: Young Guns, Steady Hands, and a Bit of British Grit

Next on the list is Ludvig Åberg at 22/1, the new kid on the block with a swing smoother than a jazz saxophonist on a Sunday morning. He’s followed by Xander Schauffele at 25/1, whose consistency is only rivalled by his ability to somehow always finish just shy of glory.

Joaquin Niemann, offered at 28/1, brings a bit of South American flair into the mix — the sort of golfer who plays like he’s got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Collin Morikawa, sitting at 30/1, remains the most unflappable man on the course, even when surrounded by chaos and dodgy weather forecasts.

Then we’ve got Tommy Fleetwood at 35/1, Britain’s own mop-haired maestro. He’s often there or thereabouts, and if you like to back the likeable underdog, Tommy’s your man — especially if you’ve got a risk-free flutter to spare.

Longer Shots with Plenty of Bite

Bringing up the rear — but certainly not to be dismissed — are Patrick Cantlay, Sepp Straka, Justin Thomas, and Shane Lowry, all at a generous 40/1. Cantlay is steady as they come, Straka’s quietly impressive, JT is still capable of brilliance on his day, and Lowry? Well, he’s as tough as they come and loves a scrap.

These are the players where your free bet bonuses come into their own. A fiver here, a tenner there, and you’re suddenly dreaming of a handsome payday courtesy of a name no one saw coming. Stranger things have happened — especially at the US Open.

Final Whistle: The Favourite’s Burden and the Field’s Hunger

Scheffler might be the clear frontrunner, but the US Open has a funny way of humbling even the most dominant figures. With a chasing pack full of talent, temperament, and the occasional firework, this year’s renewal promises drama, delight, and a fair bit of despair for anyone who gets too confident too soon.

So whether you’re backing the banker or throwing your lot in with a plucky outsider, don’t forget to shop around for those lovely free bet bonuses. It might just be the difference between a painful near-miss and a celebratory takeaway on Sunday night.

US Open 2025 – Winner Odds