Spieth has company atop adjusted odds board for U.S. Open

It’s not a surprise to see Jordan Spieth atop the leaderboard at the U.S. Open, and Dustin Johnson being there with him is no shock, either. But the four-way tie for first includes two unlikely candidates.

Jason Day has dealt with vertigo symptoms for two days. Branden Grace’s odds were as high as 150-1 entering the tournament. Day, Grace, Johnson and Spieth are deadlocked at 4-under-par 206 heading into Sunday’s final round.

Spieth, who won his first major at the Masters in April, is the 7-4 favorite on the adjusted odds board at the Westgate Las Vegas sports book. Johnson is the 5-2 second choice, followed by Day (4-1) and Grace (6-1).

If not for narrow misses on several short and midrange putts in Saturday’s third round, Spieth could have a comfortable lead. But Westgate oddsmaker Jeff Sherman is not picking Spieth to win.

“My gut says no,” Sherman said. “If I had to go with someone right now, I’d probably go with Johnson.”

It has been British Open-style golf on the Chambers Bay links course in University Place, Wash., and Johnson has hit bombs off the tee into the wide fairways. He is hunting for his first major win. Johnson had the outright 54-hole lead in the 2010 U.S. Open, but he finished in a tie for eighth after shooting a final-round 82.

Grace, a 27-year-old from South Africa, never has finished in the top 10 in a major. He is 6-for-6 when holding a 54-hole lead, but all of those wins were on the European Tour. Grace was getting 150-1 odds at William Hill sports books before Thursday’s first round, and his odds closed at 100-1 at the Westgate.

“There are a couple guys like that who usually get money, and the sharps have played Grace before,” Sherman said. “I wouldn’t discount Grace, but he’s obviously the outsider.”

Day seems to be a longer shot. After collapsing on the final hole Friday, Day struggled to get through the third round and was visibly exhausted, yet carded birdies on three of his final four holes.

“That was a remarkable performance by Day, but I find it hard to believe he’ll be able to repeat that Sunday,” Sherman said. “I wouldn’t expect him to come through. If he does, it will be a hell of a story.”

Louis Oosthuizen lurks three strokes behind the leaders and is listed at 20-1 odds. Oosthuizen, who opened with a 77, fired a 66 in each of the next two rounds to quietly move into contention.

Adjusted odds at the Westgate will remain open for wagering until early Sunday afternoon. Spieth and Grace hit the first tee at 2:48 p.m., with Johnson and Day in the final pairing at 3.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.