Jeff Haney explains why long shots Jim Furyk or Geoff Ogilvy could upset Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson in golf’s U.S. Open

Friday, June 8, 2007 | 7:18 a.m.

Professional golfers who have been playing the course at Oakmont Country Club in preparation for next week's U.S. Open had a succinct description of the notoriously challenging layout.

It's even more brutal than usual.

"They're saying they would gladly sign a scorecard right now at even par," said Jeff Sherman, leading golf odds- maker and assistant manager of the Las Vegas Hilton sports book.

Sherman will take the tough course into account when he creates his proposition wagers scheduled to be posted early next week for the Open, which begins Thursday in Oakmont, Pa.

Odds to win golf's second major of the year are already available, with Tiger Woods (2-1) and Phil Mickelson (7-1) atop the field.

Among longer shots who could stand out, according to Sherman, are Jim Furyk, who brings a strong track record on rugged courses into the U.S. Open, and defending champion Geoff Ogilvy.

Furyk, who typically goes off at odds of 20-1 or greater to win a tournament, is 15-1, tied with Vijay Singh at the third-shortest price on the board for the U.S. Open.

Ogilvy, who won his first major last year at Winged Foot, is listed at 25-1. Before his victory in 2006, odds in the 40-1 range were commonly attached to Ogilvy.

"We received consistent action on him since he won last year's U.S. Open," Sherman said. "He really became a fan favorite and a favorite with the bettors. People kept betting him in every other major right through this year's Masters."

Sherman expects Mickelson, who is recovering from a wrist injury, to play in the U.S. Open but suspects he might not be 100 percent so won't use him in head-to-head matchups or betting propositions. Sherman briefly raised the odds on Mickelson to 8-1 but received a flurry of bets at that price to drive the odds back down.

Belmont

The defection of Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense took some luster from Saturday's 139th running of the Belmont Stakes, but the addition of top filly Rags to Riches brought some intrigue to race.

Rags to Riches, the Kentucky Oaks champ trained by Todd Pletcher, was installed as the third betting choice in the Belmont morning line at odds of 3-1, behind heavily favored Curlin (6-5) and Derby and Preakness front-runner Hard Spun (5-2).

The short odds on Rags to Riches reflect the filly's racing style and pedigree. She figures to track the leaders from off the pace and make a bid for victory down Belmont's legendary homestretch. She is a half-sister of last year's Belmont winner, Jazil, and her sire is ' 92 Belmont champ A.P. Indy.

Head-to-head horse betting matchups are a popular staple on Triple Crown race days in Las Vegas race books, and Rags to Riches is expected to be paired against Curlin and Hard Spun in individual matchups at casinos that offer such propositions. Also look for matchup s pitting Hard Spun against Curlin , CP West against Tiago and Slews Tizzy against Imawildandcrazyguy.

The three Belmont favorites - as well as the Derby winner - also figure prominently in Breeders' Cup futures in Las Vegas race books. Curlin and Street Sense are each listed at 10-1 to win the Breeders' Cup Classic (Oct. 27, Monmouth Park), with Hard Spun at 50-1, at Wynn Las Vegas. Rags to Riches is an early 3-1 favorite to win the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

French Open

As long as Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer make it past their opponents in their semifinal matches scheduled for early this morning, Nadal figures to go off as a solid betting favorite against Federer in the final match of the French Open on Sunday at Roland Garros.

Nadal, trying for his third consecutive French Open championship, was listed as a minus-170 favorite at the Hilton to win the title heading into this morning's matches. Federer, who has won 10 of the past 15 tennis majors but never the French Open, was listed at plus-180.

Their opponents in the semis - Novak Djokovic, who faces Nadal this morning as a big underdog of plus-850, and Nikolay Davydenko, a plus-600 underdog against Federer - were listed as 20-1 long shots before today's matches.