The very fine golf writer John Feinstein (The Majors : In Pursuit of Golf’s Holy Grail, Open : Inside the Ropes at Bethpage Black)offers an audio commentary on the US Open.

Below are the latest odds that I can find on the US Open winners. I note that Tiger is the favorite, but I don’t think I agree with the line. The Big Cat has not been hitting the fairways with any regularity, and in the US Open that can be a killer. The same goes for Vijay Singh.

Among the other contenders, Els is due, but he’s been in a bit of a slump. Sergio is the next best player not to win a major ... he’s been playing well, so he might be a contender. Toms and Furyk certainally can keep it in the short grass, so you’ve got to consider them.

But of all the top players, I think that Phil Mickelson has the best chance. His short game wizardry is going to be especially valuable with Pinehurst’s crowned greens.

Anyway, here are the odds:

PLAYER ODDS
Tiger Woods 5-1
Phil Mickelson 8-1
Ernie Els 9-1
Vijay Singh 13.5-1
Retief Goosen 13.5-1
Sergio Garcia 22-1
Jim Furyk 27-1
David Toms 27-1
Luke Donald 30-1
Adam Scott 35-1
Chris DiMarco 40-1
Padraig Harrington 40-1
Stewart Cink 50-1
Darren Clarke 50-1
Justin Leonard 50-1
Davis Love III 50-1
Kenny Perry 50-1
Mike Weir 50-1

Yesterday was the last day for teachers. So I’m free to OD on the US Open for the next four days. I’m secretly hoping that it will rain here in Michigan so I have an excuse to watch golf instead of playing it.

Here are the 2005 US Open TV Times:

Thursday, June 16
ESPN 10am-3pm
NBC 3-5pm
ESPN 5-7pm

Friday, June 17
ESPN 10am-3pm
NBC 3-5pm
ESPN 5-7pm

Saturday, June 18
NBC 12:30-7pm

Sunday, June 19
NBC 12:30-7pm

A list of the 2005 US Open tee times and pairings is below. Each group will go off the front at Pinehurst one day, and the back on the other.

Going into the US Open, it’s worth noting Rory Sabbatini’s one man protest against slow play at last weekend’s Booz Allen. While his actions have been criticized roundly, I haven’t heard anyone dispute his central thesis: that golf pace of play is far too slow.

Slow play has been a bugaboo of the Tour for some time. And it’s only going to get worse at the US Open, where rounds can extend into six hour marathons.

Rather than criticizing Sabbatini, maybe we should be celebrating him. Maybe it’s time for more players to take a stand against slow play.

I am reminded that a few years ago, Fulton Allem sent a pointed message to Bob Estes about slow play when he signed his scorecard: “You are too slow,” he wrote.

Ultimately, though, responsibility for this lies with Tour and USGA officials. For the sake of the game, they’ve simply got to do something about this. The USGA prides itself on being the caretaker of the game; maybe their premier event is the place to make their stand on this issue.