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Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy favorites to win U.S. Open at Chambers Bay

Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy shake hands after the second round of the Masters at Augusta National on April 11, 2014.

Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy shake hands after the second round of the Masters at Augusta National on April 11, 2014.

(Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
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Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are the top ranked golfers in the world and as such are the odds-on favorites to win the 115th U.S. Open at Chambers Bay later this week.

Oddsmaker Bovada is giving McIlroy (No. 1 in the world) 7-1 odds to win the U.S. Open, which begins Thursday, with Spieth (No. 2) right behind him at 8-1.

“There’s going to be someone lifting the trophy at the end of the week,” McIlroy told the Associated Press. “It’s a bit of an unknown to most people, so you have to prepare. But you can fall into the trap of trying to over-prepare.”

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Spieth is one of the few competitors with experience at the University Place, Wash., course, which has been hyped as one of the most difficult ever to host the U.S. Open, though not all of it good. In 2010, he withdrew from the U.S. Amateur Championship after shooting an 11-over-par 83 in the second round.

However, Spieth forged a happier memory there in 2013 at his caddie Michael Greller’s wedding on the course.

“Players that have played there, especially in the 2010 U.S. Amateur, are going to be at a monumental advantage, about how to position certain shots, how to play certain holes,” Golf Channel analyst Notah Begay said.

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Said Spieth: “I didn’t really see much of it. Actually, I saw a lot of it — I didn’t see much of the places I want to see.”

Other favorites to win include Dustin Johnson (16-1), Phil Mickelson (18-1), Justin Rose (18-1) and Ricky Fowler (18-1).

Reigning U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer isn’t getting much love at 40-1 and Tiger Woods, who hasn’t won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, is way off the leaders already at 50-1.

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Noteable odds:

Henrik Stenson -- 25-1
Adam Scott -- 28-1
Bubba Watson -- 28-1
Jim Furyk -- 33-1
Webb Simpson -- 80-1
Graeme McDowell -- 80-1
Angel Cabrera -- 125-1
Geoff Ogilvy -- 125-1
Lucas Glover -- 250-1

Follow Matt Wilhalme on Twitter @mattwilhalme

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