The Bum's Sports Page For Sunday June 21th Best Bets-Trends-News !

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA

Sunday, June 21


WNBA ref counts basket that didn't go in

For those who wager on WNBA games something fishy went down in Friday night's game between Chicago and Atlanta, as one of the officials counted a basket that didn't go in the hoop.

Chicago's Elena Delle Donne was fouled on a shot late in the fourth quarter. The ball didn't go in. Not even close. But the referees counted the basket and Delle Donne took just one free throw, which she made. It made the score 72-71 Atlanta.

The worst part is the officials reviewed the play and still counted the basket.

Luckily for Atlanta backers they still managed to cover as 3.5-point home dogs, winning the game 74-73, but still it makes you think.

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

Sunday, June 21


New York @ Atlanta

Game 601-602
June 21, 2015 @ 3:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
New York
112.189
Atlanta
111.204
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
New York
by 1
144
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Atlanta
by 5
149
Dunkel Pick:
New York
(+5); Under

Connecticut @ Los Angeles

Game 603-604
June 21, 2015 @ 5:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Connecticut
107.576
Los Angeles
111.076
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Los Angeles
by 3 1/2
133
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Connecticut
by 2 1/2
139
Dunkel Pick:
Los Angeles
(+2 1/2); Under

Tulsa @ Minnesota

Game 605-606
June 21, 2015 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Tulsa
114.624
Minnesota
118.626
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Minnesota
by 4
151
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Minnesota
by 8 1/2
156
Dunkel Pick:
Tulsa
(+8 1/2); Under

Phoenix @ Seattle

Game 607-608
June 21, 2015 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Phoenix
114.416
Seattle
108.723
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Phoenix
by 5 1/2
136
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Seattle
by 1
142
Dunkel Pick:
Phoenix
(+1); Under

[StarDust Bum]

Standings

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Conf. Last 10 Streak

Connecticut Sun 5 1 .833 0 2-1 3-0 3-1 5-1 W-5

Washington Mystics 4 2 .667 1 1-2 3-0 4-1 4-2 W-1

Chicago Sky 3 3 .500 2 1-0 2-3 2-2 3-3 W-1

New York Liberty 3 3 .500 2 3-2 0-1 2-3 3-3 L-2

Atlanta Dream 3 4 .429 2.5 2-2 1-2 2-4 3-4 W-1

Indiana Fever 3 5 .375 3 1-3 2-2 2-4 3-5 L-1


WESTERN CONFERENCE

Team Win Loss Percent GB Home Away Conf. Last 10 Streak

Minnesota Lynx 5 1 .833 0 2-0 3-1 4-1 5-1 W-2

Tulsa Shock 5 1 .833 0 3-0 2-1 3-1 5-1 W-5

Phoenix Mercury 2 3 .400 2.5 2-1 0-2 2-0 2-3 L-1

Seattle Storm 2 3 .400 2.5 1-1 1-2 2-2 2-3 L-1

Los Angeles Sparks 0 3 .000 3.5 0-2 0-1 0-3 0-3 L-3

San Antonio Stars 0 6 .000 5 0-3 0-3 0-4 0-6 L-6

Updated Sat Jun 20 10:36 PM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

U.S. Open Odds - Final Round

June 20, 2015

After 54 holes from Chambers Bay Golf Club, the 2015 United States Open has turned into a four-horse race.

Four golfers share the lead at 4-under 206, which includes 2015 Masters Champion Jordan Spieth. He had his worst round of the tournament on Saturday with a 1-over 71.

Despite having a little struggle, Spieth has been installed as a 2/1 co-favorite (Bet $100 to win $200) at Sportsbook.agwith Dustin Johnson.

Johnson held the lead after the first round with a 65 and has played consistent golf the last two days with scores of 71 and 70.

The other pair of golfers that own a share of the leader are International products Jason Day and Branden Grace.

Day's effort was remarkable on Saturday after being treated for vertigo on Friday, which made him pass out. He shot a 2-under 68 on Saturday and is a 4/1 betting choice to capture the second major.

Grace, a 27-year-old from South Africa, is playing with house money. His odds before the tournament started were as high as 200/1 high and that number was 65/1 after the first round and 15/1 headed into Saturday. He opened as a 13/2 betting choice for Sunday's final round.

There are a few golfers listed between 25/1 and 35/1 while the rest of the field are 80/1 and higher.

Bettors should make a note that they can bet LIVE throughout the event at Sportsbook.ag.

Odds to win 2015 U.S. Open per Sportsbook.ag

Subject to Change – Updated 6.20.15, 11:00 p.m.

Jordan Spieth 2/1
Dustin Johnson 2/1
Jason Day 4/1
Branden Grace 13/2
J.B. Holmes 25/1
Louis Oosthuizen 25/1
Shane Lowry 35/1
Henrik Stenson 80/1
Patrick Reed 100/1
Brandt Snedeker 125/1
Cameron Smith 125/1
Charl Schwartzel 200/1
Matt Kuchar 200/1
Rory McIlroy 200/1
Tony Finau 200/1
Joost Luiten 225/1
Adam Scott 250/1
Andres Romero 250/1
Hideki Matsuyama 250/1
Kevin Kisner 250/1
Alexander Levy 300/1
Francesco Molinari 300/1
Jason Dufner 300/1

[StarDust Bum]

Spieth is co-leader for final 18 of USOpen

June 20, 2015

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. (AP) - The latest from the U.S. Open (all times local):

7:35 p.m.

Everyone will be chasing four front-runners in the final round of the U.S. Open.

Masters champion Jordan Spieth missed a 12-footer for birdie on the finishing hole Saturday, leaving him 4 under for the championship. He is tied with Dustin Johnson, Branden Grace and Jason Day, who overcame a bout of vertigo to shoot a memorable 2-under 68 at Chambers Bay.

Spieth is trying to become the first player since Tiger Woods in 2002 to win the first two majors of the year. He shot a 1-over 71 in difficult conditions.

Louis Oosthuizen shot the day's best round, a 4-under 66. He is at 1 under along with J.B. Holmes, Cameron Smith and Shane Lowry. Six others are 1 over.

---

7:15 p.m.

Jason Day's caddie says he had reservations about his charge playing in the third round of the U.S. Open after his bout of vertigo the previous day.

Then Colin Swatton watched Day shoot 2-under 68 on Saturday and called it ''a superhuman effort'' and the ''greatest round of golf I've ever watched.''

Swatton says Day is most affected by his illness when he turns his head, along with having to deal with the massive elevation changes at Chambers Bay.

Day finished with three birdies in his final five holes in the third round.

---

6:50 p.m.

Jason Day says he felt ''pretty groggy'' from drugs given to him to treat vertigo in comments posted by the USGA after his 2-under 68 left him tied for the lead in the U.S. Open.

Day says the drugs seemed to be flushed out by the back nine, but that the vertigo came back a bit on No. 13. He felt nauseous all day and also started shaking on the 16th tee before making par, but still went birdie-birdie to finish his round.

Day had to withdraw at Firestone last year after a similar episode. He says this one was worse and ''the goal was just to get through today and see how it goes.''

---

6:35 p.m.

Jason Day declined to speak to broadcaster Fox after his 2-under 68 left him tied for the lead at the U.S. Open, leaving player partner Kevin Kisner to answer questions about him.

Which was a little bit awkward.

Day experienced a bout of vertigo near the end of his round Friday, and he was a bit wobbly at times Saturday. But he sure looked steady down the stretch with a birdie-birdie finish.

Rather than stop to speak to a group of reporters, though, Day headed for his motorhome. So Fox had to ask Kisner about Day's performance - but never asked Kisner about his own.

Kisner is 2 over for the championship, six shots off the lead.

---

6:25 p.m.

Jason Day made five birdies on the back nine Saturday and shot 2-under 68, moving into a tie for the lead at the U.S. Open one day after succumbing to vertigo.

Day weathered a pair of bogeys on the front nine and seemed to steady himself on the back, making his first birdie on the par-4 10th. He made bogey at No. 11 before making four birdies in his final seven holes, the last of them generating a roar from the grandstand at No. 18.

Many wondered whether Day would even play on Saturday after his scary fall near the end of his second round. Now, there is a good chance he will be playing in the final group on Sunday.

---

6:10 p.m.

Calling it a ''dream come true,'' 21-year-old Australian Cameron Smith will be in one of the final groups on Sunday at the U.S. Open.

Smith came into the weekend even-par and shot 1-under 69 on Saturday, putting him within three shots of leaders Dustin Johnson and Branden Grace, who were still on the course.

Smith is playing in his first major championship. Asked whether he thought he might be in contention in the final round, he replied: ''No, not really.''

Smith had missed the cut in five of his nine events on the PGA Tour this season.

---

5:50 p.m.

The day is getting late and the shadow is getting long at Chambers Bay.

Yes, shadow. Singular.

There is only one tree on the entire course at the U.S. Open, a fir near the 12th green that doesn't really come into play. But with the sun starting to drop over Puget Sound, that lone fir cast its defiant shadow right over the hole as the leaders were putting.

As if the tree hadn't received enough TV time this week.

---

5:25 p.m.

Shane Lowry is no doubt glad his game is making the headlines at this U.S. Open.

The USGA tends to make its early groupings based on themes, such as putting the last three Masters winners together. But the organization irked many last year when it put the husky Lowry in the same group with fellow heavyweights Kevin Stadler and Brendon de Jonge.

USGA officials refused to acknowledge the grouping was based on weight, but they did not deny it, either. Lowry said he was ''pretty annoyed'' by the situation.

The two-time European Tour winner wound up missing the cut, but he is faring a whole lot better this year. He was 2 under for the championship and alone in fourth midway through the third round.

---

5:10 p.m.

There is a thick plume of black smoke rising just north of Chambers Bay, providing an ominous backdrop to the third round of the U.S. Open.

What appeared to be a warehouse near Narrows Marina in Tacoma caught fire Saturday. Fire trucks were attempting to douse the blaze, but it left a tower of black smoke climbing hundreds of feet into the sky.

Fans on the course had no idea what was causing the smoke.

---

5 p.m.

Jason Day answered all those questioning whether he could continue in the U.S. Open, and is now raising a better question: Could he win it?

Day collapsed after getting hit with vertigo late in Friday's second round. He needed medical attention and some thought he might not be able to continue this weekend.

Day has been shaky at times, and has been careful when he bends over to tee his ball or pluck it out of the hole. But so far he is hanging in there, a birdie at the par-4 12th getting him back to 1 over for the third round and 1 under for the championship.

Day has finished second in the U.S. Open twice.

---

4:40 p.m.

Joost Luiten spent his formative years in the Netherlands splitting his time between playing golf in the summer months and ski jumping in the winter.

Then he fractured his elbow and nose and decided ski jumping was overrated.

Good thing Luiten stuck with golf. The 29-year-old has won four times on the European Tour, and is now in contention at the U.S. Open, where he has made the cut for the first time.

Luiten followed a bogey at the par-4 seventh with an easy birdie at the eighth to keep him even-par for his round Saturday. He is 3 under for the championship, two off the lead.

---

4:20 p.m.

Asked whether he gave himself a chance after shooting a 7-over 77 in the opening round of the U.S. Open, Louis Oosthuizen replied: ''Well, no.''

At least he is honest.

Then he went out and shot back-to-back rounds of 66 to climb into contention, and is now 1 under for the championship. Oosthuizen even missed a couple of makeable putts in his third round Saturday that kept his round from being better.

Oosthuizen says he was playing so badly in a group with Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler that ''you just want to work on something the next round, or the last few holes, to take into next week. It just goes to show you never give up, especially on a course like this.''

---

4:05 p.m.

There are plenty of birdies to be had at Chambers Bay on Saturday.

There are even more bogeys. And worse.

After back-to-back birdies pushed him into the lead, Masters champion Jordan Spieth came right back with back-to-back bogeys. Then he followed with another birdie.

Dustin Johnson also had three birdies and two bogeys in his first six holes.

These rounds are about as much of a rollercoaster as the greens.

---

3:50 p.m.

A few years ago, Charlie Beljan had just shot 64 in the Children's Miracle Network Classic at Disney when he needed to be wheeled out of the scorer's tent and taken to the hospital.

He felt as if he was dying. It turned out he was having a panic attack.

That is no flippant diagnosis, either. It is something that Beljan has dealt with for years, and something that affects millions of people. But Beljan has been able to keep it under control, and his steady nerves have been on display this week at Chambers Bay.

Beljan shot a third-round 69 at the U.S. Open on Saturday to post one of the few rounds under par. He also shot 69 in the opening round before a 75 on Friday.

---

3:30 p.m.

Jordan Spieth is one of the best on the PGA Tour when it comes to long putts, and it gave him a boost early in the third round of the U.S. Open.

After hitting his approach to about 35 feet on the par-4 second, the Masters champion calmly rolled in the putt for birdie. Then on the par-3 third, he ran in another about the same length.

That moved Spieth to 7 under and gave him a three-shot lead.

Just six players were in red figures on Saturday, and only Louis Oosthuizen was better than Spieth. Oosthuizen was at 4 under for the day with two holes to go.

---

2:50 p.m.

Think playing in one of the final groups at the U.S. Open is pressure?

Try doing it with your future father-in-law watching.

Hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky was following Dustin Johnson as he teed off for the third round at Chambers Bay on Saturday. Johnson is engaged to The Great One's daughter, Paulina, and the two of them have a baby boy, Tatum.

Johnson was the first-round co-leader before stumbling a bit on Friday. He was still 4 under for the championship, one shot off the lead, as he prepared to tee off Saturday.

---

2:25 p.m.

Henrik Stenson expressed his displeasure with the bumpy greens at the U.S. Open on Friday, likening them to ''putting on broccoli.''

On Saturday, Rory McIlroy went with another suggestion from the salad bar.

''I don't think they're as green as broccoli,'' he said after missing a number of putts but still shooting even-par 70 in his third round. ''I think they're more like cauliflower.''

McIlroy was diplomatic, though, saying that ''they are what they are. Everyone has to putt on them. It's all mental. ... But it is disappointing that they're not in better shape.''

---

2:10 p.m.

Jason Day began his third round at the U.S. Open with a massive, sympathetic crowd following him around Chambers Bay, one day after collapsing because of vertigo.

There was doubt whether Day would be able to play this weekend after falling on the ninth hole Friday, his final hole of the round. Day finished his round and signed his scorecard before he was treated by medical personnel at his on-site motorhome. He has dealt with vertigo for the past year.

He drove his opening tee shot right down the middle Saturday. He hit a solid approach into the green and two-putted for par.

Day began the day 2 under, three behind the leaders.

---

1:55 p.m.

USGA executive director Mike Davis is coming to the defense of Chambers Bay, saying ''it wouldn't be a U.S. Open if there wasn't a little muttering.''

Players, fans and pundits alike have ripped everything from the condition of the greens to the design of the course this week. But Davis, who was consulted throughout the design of the course, said Saturday the putting surfaces are ''better than they look.''

He says the mixture of fine fescue and poa annua grasses leave them looking splotchy, and that the poa annua tends to get bumpy later in the day.

Still, Davis insists, ''a lot of it is your eye telling you it doesn't look like it's going to be smooth.''

---

1:45 p.m.

Nobody is finding Chambers Bay easier than Louis Oosthuizen right now.

The South African shot 77 in the opening round of the U.S. Open, struggling around with playing partners Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler. But he bounced back with a 4-under 66 on Friday and had birdies on three of his first six holes in Saturday's third round.

Then, he nearly aced the par-3 ninth, his approach shot hitting the flagstick.

As just about everybody else backs up on the firm, fast course, Oosthuizen has quietly played his last 25 holes in 9 under to climb into contention.

---

12:40 p.m.

There has been plenty of grumbling from players about the bumpiness of the greens at the U.S. Open, but that is often the case whenever the tournament comes to the West Course.

Former USGA executive director David Fay, now an analyst on Fox, pointed out that greens were often a topic of conversation when the U.S. Open went to Pebble Beach or Torrey Pines.

Fay says he remembers ''Tiger Woods was very upset about the condition of the greens at Pebble Beach. The reality of it is this, it is a game played on natural surfaces.''

Sergio Garcia remained critical of the green conditions after finishing his third round Saturday, saying: ''To me it's like playing the NBA finals on a court that has holes and slopes and no backboard. It just doesn't feel right.''

---
12:15 p.m.

Jordan Spieth arrived at Chambers Bay more than three hours before his U.S. Open tee time.

Spieth was on the practice green in anticipation of his third round before lunch, with more than a dozen groups still to tee off before him.

Phil Mickelson and others tend to show up early for their rounds at major championships, but most players will arrive at the course about 90 minutes before their tee time.

Spieth won the Masters earlier this year. The co-leader with Patrick Reed, he's trying to become the first player since Tiger Woods to win the year's first two majors.

---

12 p.m.

Jason Day will try to play the third round of the U.S. Open on Friday after collapsing with a case of vertigo on his final hole of the second round.

Day was walking to his ball in a greenside bunker when he toppled over. He was still shaky as he finished the hole and received treatment from medical staffers at his on-site motorhome.

Day was 2 under for the championship, three shots off the lead. He tees off with Kevin Kisner at 1:55 p.m. local time.

Day has had trouble with vertigo in the past. The condition forced him to withdraw from the World Golf Championship event at Firestone last year and from the Byron Nelson last month.

---

11:35 a.m.

Sergio Garcia is not exactly feeling chummy with some of the fans at Chambers Bay.

Playing early Saturday after barely making the cut, the fiery Spaniard has been pestered most of the way around the course in the third round of the U.S. Open.

At the par-4 fourth, where he left his approach shot well short of the green, a fan sarcastically shouted to him, ''Hey, nice shot!'' Garcia shouted back across the fairway in less than decorous language.

When he made it to the back nine, another fan shouted to him that ''chicken dinner is at my house.'' It was a reference to the derogatory ''fried chicken'' remark Garcia made about Tiger Woods a couple years ago during the European Tour awards dinner.

---

11:15 a.m.

Those with early tee times at the U.S. Open have taken advantage of easier conditions at Chambers Bay, the greens more receptive and the wind blowing a little more gently.

So far, nobody is taking advantage of it in the third round.

That could be scary for those starting late. The course was already starting to bake as noon approached, and some tricky hole locations have made for difficult scoring.

Phil Mickelson is still hoping that he can go low enough to put himself in contention for his first U.S. Open title. He was at 3 over heading into the weekend, eight off the lead.

---

10:25 a.m.

Morgan Hoffman nearly holed out for double eagle in the U.S. Open and didn't even know it.

The eighth hole at Chambers Bay is so far up the hillside on the far side of the property that the gallery can't get there. It creates an eerie quiet for a major championship.

So when Hoffman hit a long iron into the lumpy green in the third round Saturday, he thought it might be good. Only when he hiked the 270-odd yards to the green did he realize his ball had stopped a couple inches from the hole.

Hoffman was off to a rocky start with bogeys on four of his first five holes, but the tap-in eagle lifted his spirits. He even acknowledged the crowd.

Even though out there it was merely imaginary.

---

9:45 a.m.

Unpleasant. Terrible. A tragedy.

These were the words used to describe the U.S. Open by someone who isn't even playing.

Gary Player used an appearance on Golf Channel to deliver a rant on Chambers Bay and the U.S. Open. He called it the most unpleasant tournament he's ever seen in his life and took a shot at the architect, Robert Trent Jones Jr. ''The man who designed this golf course had to have had one leg shorter than the other,'' he said.

Player later referred to the course as terrible.

As for the tragedy?

He rambled so much it was hard to keep track, though it appeared he was talking about the maximum length of 7,900 yards and how much water it requires. Actually, USGA executive director Mike Davis says fescue doesn't need as much water as other grasses.

---

8 a.m.

Nick Hardy began the third round of the U.S. Open on Saturday about 10 hours after finishing his second, and one has to wonder if he got any sleep at all.

He was probably busy receiving ''thank-you'' text messages.

Hardy made bogey as the sun was setting over Chambers Bay, and that moved the cut line from 4 over to 5 over and allowed a slew of others to play the weekend. Among them: Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Poulter, Jimmy Walker and Camilo Villegas.

Hardy was first on the course Saturday, playing with Bryson Dechambeau as a marker.

Masters champion Jordan Spieth is tied with Patrick Reed for the lead at 5 under. They will go off at 2:50 p.m. local time. Dustin Johnson and Branden Grace are a shot back.

[StarDust Bum]

Rory can't make headway at US Open

June 20, 2015

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. (AP) - Rory McIlroy went out in 33 on Saturday and was at 2 over for the tournament after his first nine holes, poised for a possible charge back up the leaderboard at the U.S. Open.

His inability to make putts on the back nine at Chambers Bay left McIlroy back where he started.

''Whenever you start to miss a couple you start to get a little tentative. You start to doubt yourself. You start to doubt the greens a little bit. And then it just sort of - it snowballs from there,'' McIlroy said after his round of 70. ''I holed a few nice ones early on, but once I missed a couple it got into my head and couldn't really get out of it.''

McIlroy's third round was filled with crisp, clean ball striking, following by frustration on the greens. He missed a number of putts inside 10 feet on the back nine and fell behind the field playing Nos. 11 and 12.

McIlroy made a bogey on the long par 4 11th, then could not take advantage of the drivable par 4 12th, putting his tee shot in the rough and missing his birdie attempt.

McIlroy joined the chorus of those noting the putting surfaces are not perfect, but it's something everyone has to deal with.

''I don't think they're as green as broccoli. I think they're more like cauliflower,'' McIlroy joked. ''They are what they are, everyone has to putt on them. It's all mental. Some guys embrace it more than others, and that's really the way it is. It is disappointing that they're not in a bit better shape.''

GATE KEEPER:

Nick Hardy arrived at Chambers Bay on Saturday morning after little sleep and instantly started to hear thanks from the 15 players he helped make the cut late Friday night.

''They came up to me this morning, kind of laughed about it, but that's golf. I just happened to be the last ones on the course,'' Hardy said. ''We joked about it this morning with some of the guys, it was funny.

Hardy was about 12 inches away from sending the likes of Sergio Garcia, Webb Simpson and Colin Montgomerie home before the weekend arrived at the U.S. Open. Hardy was the last player on the golf course on Friday night when the cut hovered at 4 over par. If he pared his final hole - the ninth - the cut would stay at 4 over. A bogey and the cut would move to 5 over.

Hardy hit a poor tee shot, splashed out of the bunker and had a 25-footer for par. Hardy said the putt was headed for the heart of the cup, but came up about a foot short.

Hardy said he was aware of the cut situation as he was playing Nos. 8 and 9 on Friday.

''Coming down on 8 and 9, I kind of knew that 5 over was actually going to make it,'' Hardy said. ''Made a really bad swing at 9 and happened to make bogey.''

Hardy - who shot 77 on Saturday - said a few players who made the weekend thanks to his bogey had already packed up their gear and a few jokingly offered a token of thanks. But Hardy knows his NCAA rules and politely declined.

''They were just goofing off. They were joking around with me, just saying, `I'll buy you dinner,''' Hardy said. ''I'm like, `No, that's against NCAA rules.'''

PAIN FREE POULTER:

Ian Poulter said he's pain free after withdrawing in Byron Nelson in Texas last month with a ''strain.''

But the injury, which was never specified, left him behind in his preparations for the U.S. Open and it showed in his swing.

''It's a shame I couldn't get any more work done than I what I did,'' Poulter said on Saturday. ''I always knew it was going to be tricky coming in having not hit as many balls as I would have liked to.''

After two shaky rounds to start, Poulter shot 69 in the third round, which he said could have been closer to 65 if his ball striking was more consistent. Poulter's been leaving too many shots out to the right.

''Missing a lot of drives way right, had a couple of iron shots way right. Because of that it's been damaging,'' Poulter said. ''When I put it in play, I've been brilliant. I hit a lot of good shots, used a lot of the slopes, felt really comfy on the golf course.''

[StarDust Bum]

The Latest: Warm weather greets final round of US Open

June 21, 2015

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. (AP) - The latest from the U.S. Open (all times local):

8 a.m.

The final round of the U.S. Open is under way at Chambers Bay, where Jordan Spieth could make history by following up his victory at the Masters with another major championship.

The young phenom will have to contend with a host of others if he is to become the first player to win the first two legs of the Grand Slam since Tiger Woods in 2002. Jason Day, Dustin Johnson and Branden Grace are also at 4 under for the championship.

Four others are within striking distance at 1 under.

Then there is the course itself that Spieth must navigate. With its bumpy greens, slick fescue and wild terrain, Chambers Bay has been a stern test all week.

[StarDust Bum]

The Latest: USGA exec Mike Davis defends Chambers Bay

June 20, 2015

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. (AP) - The latest from the U.S. Open (all times local):

1:55 p.m.

USGA executive director Mike Davis is coming to the defense of Chambers Bay, saying ''it wouldn't be a U.S. Open if there wasn't a little muttering.''

Players, fans and pundits alike have ripped everything from the condition of the greens to the design of the course this week. But Davis, who was consulted throughout the design of the course, said Saturday the putting surfaces are ''better than they look.''

He says the mixture of fine fescue and poa annua grasses leave them looking splotchy, and that the poa annua tends to get bumpy later in the day.

Still, Davis insists, ''a lot of it is your eye telling you it doesn't look like it's going to be smooth.''

[StarDust Bum]

Team Open Line Movements Current Moneyline Halftime Scores

3:05 PM EDT

601 NEW YORK LIBERTY 148.5o05 148 / 149 / 148.5 149.5 +195
602 ATLANTA DREAM -5 -09 -5 -09 / -4.5 -5 -230

NY-G-Epiphanny Prince-OUT | TV: NBA TV, SportsSouth, DTV: 216, 646

5:05 PM EDT

603 CONNECTICUT SUN 142o07 -2 / -2.5 / -3 -3.5 -165
604 LOS ANGELES SPARKS -1 -01 136.5 / 136 / 136u16 137 +140

CON-F-Chiney Ogwumike-OUT | LA-F-Nnemkadi Ogwumike-? | LA-G-Kristi Toliver-OUT | LA-F-Candace Parker-OUT | TV: NBA TV, DTV: 216

7:05 PM EDT

605 TULSA SHOCK 156o05 156o05 / 155 156 +292
606 MINNESOTA LYNX -10 -03 -8 / -8.5 / -8 -8 -05 -352

Tul-G-Odyssey Sims-OUT | Tul-F-Glory Johnson-OUT | TV: NBA TV, DTV: 216

9:05 PM EDT

607 PHOENIX MERCURY 143o07 PK / -1 / -1.5 -1.5 -15 -130
608 SEATTLE STORM -1.5 -05 143o07 142.5 +110

PHO-C-Brittney Griner-OUT | PHO-G-Diana Taurasi-OUT | TV: NBA TV, DTV: 216

[StarDust Bum]

Team Pitcher Open Line Movements Current Runline Scores

1:10 PM EDT

901 MIAMI MARLINS (R) Phelps, D 8u15 8.5o15 / 8.5o21 / 8.5o25 9u20 +1.5(-205)
902 CINCINNATI REDS (R) Lorenzen, M -119 -120 / -114 / -120 -117 -1.5(+175)

TV: FS-Florida, FS-Ohio, DTV: 654, 661 | PARTLY CLOUDY, 40% CHANCE SHOWER/STORMS. WIND OUT TO LEFT 7-12. GAME TEMP 85, RH 60% HEAT INDEX 90

1:35 PM EDT

903 ST LOUIS CARDINALS (R) Wacha, M -240 -240 / -215 / -216 -196 -1.5(-125)
904 PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (L) Morgan, A 7.5u15 7.5u11 / 7.5 / 7.5o20 7.5o19 +1.5(+105)

STL-LF-Matt Holliday-OUT | TV: FS-Midwest, DTV: 671 | PARTLY CLOUDY, 30% CHANCE SHOWER/STORMS LATE. WIND IN FROM LEFT 11-16, GUSTY. GAME TEMP 85, RH 60% HEAT INDEX 90

1:35 PM EDT

905 PITTSBURGH PIRATES (R) Morton, C 7.5u15 7.5u20 / 7.5o20 / 8u20 -111 -1.5(+140)
906 WASHINGTON NATIONALS (L) Gonzalez, G -115 -110 / +107 / +103 8o15 +1.5(-160)

TV: MASN2, ROOT-Pittsburgh, DTV: 641, 659 | PARTLY CLOUDY, 30% CHANCE SHOWER/STORMS LATE. WIND LEFT TO RIGHT 9-14, GUSTY. GAME TEMP 86, RH 58% HEAT INDEX 91

4:10 PM EDT

907 SAN DIEGO PADRES (R) Cashner, A 8.5 8.5u20 / 8.5u15 / 8.5 8.5u15 +1.5(-215)
908 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (R) Hellickson, J -119 -115 / -111 / -105 -107 -1.5(+185)

TV: FS-Arizona, FS-San Diego, DTV: 686, 694 | SUNNY, WIND LEFT TO RIGHT 9-14. GAME TEMP 104, RH 17% HEAT INDEX 103 (CHASE FIELD ROOF MAY CLOSE IN HOT WEATHER)

4:10 PM EDT

909 MILWAUKEE BREWERS (R) Garza, M 10.5o15 10.5o31 / 11u15 / 11 -105 +1.5(-210)
910 COLORADO ROCKIES (L) Rusin, C -119 -113 / -115 / -106 11o15 -1.5(+180)

MIL-CF-Carlos Gomez-? | TV: FS-Wisconsin, ROOT-Rocky Mountain, DTV: 669, 683 | MOSTLY SUNNY, WIND OUT TO LEFT CENTER 9-14. GAME TEMP 92, RH 28% HEAT INDEX 91

5:05 PM EDT

911 NEW YORK METS (R) Harvey, M -140 -134 / -133 / -141 -145 -1.5(+115)
912 ATLANTA BRAVES (R) Teheran, J 6.5o20 7u15 / 7u20 / 7u26 7u15 +1.5(-135)

TV: FS-South, DTV: 646 | MOSTLY SUNNY, WIND LEFT TO RIGHT 7-12. GAME TEMP 92, RH 50% HEAT INDEX 100

8:05 PM EDT

913 SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (R) Lincecum, T 7.5u15 7.5u15 7.5 +1.5(-145)
914 LOS ANGELES DODGERS (L) Anderson, B -160 -184 / -190 / -180 -181 -1.5(+125)

TV: ESPN, DTV: 206 | SUNNY, WIND OUT TO LEFT CENTER 6-11. GAME TEMP 87, RH 37% HEAT INDEX 87

1:05 PM EDT

915 DETROIT TIGERS (R) Sanchez, A 7.5u20 7.5u15 / 7.5u20 / 7.5 7.5o15 +1.5(-155)
916 NEW YORK YANKEES (R) Tanaka, M -160 -173 / -161 / -164 -151 -1.5(+135)

TV: FS-Detroit, YES, DTV: 631, 663 | PARTLY CLOUDY, 30% CHANCE SHOWER/STORMS. WIND OUT TO RIGHT 11-16, GUSTY. GAME TEMP 82, RH 60% HEAT INDEX 85

1:05 PM EDT

917 BALTIMORE ORIOLES (R) Tillman, C 9.5u20 9o19 / 9o20 / 9 9o20 +1.5(-190)
918 TORONTO BLUE JAYS (R) Copeland, S -125 -120 / -125 / -127 -124 -1.5(+160)

BAL-CF-Adam Jones-Doubtful | TV: MASN, DTV: 640 | PARTLY CLOUDY, 30% CHANCE SHOWER/STORMS. WIND IN FROM LEFT 9-14. GAME TEMP 76, RH 61% HEAT INDEX 78 (ROGERS CENTRE ROOF CLOSES IN WET WEATHER)

1:10 PM EDT

919 TAMPA BAY RAYS (R) Colome, A 8u15 8u25 / 7.5o20 / 8u15 8.5u20 +1.5(-200)
920 CLEVELAND INDIANS (R) Anderson, C -125 -130 / -129 / -121 -122 -1.5(+170)

TV: SportsTime Ohio, SunSports, DTV: 653, 662 | PARTLY CLOUDY, 30% CHANCE SHOWER/STORMS. WIND IN FROM LEFT 8-13. GAME TEMP 75, RH 76% HEAT INDEX 78

2:10 PM EDT

921 BOSTON RED SOX (L) Miley, W 8.5u20 8.5o13 / 8.5 / 8o15 8o20 +1.5(-195)
922 KANSAS CITY ROYALS (R) Young, C -145 -135 / -137 / -140 -124 -1.5(+165)

TV: FS-Kansas City, NESN, DTV: 628, 672 | PARTLY CLOUDY, 30% CHANCE SHOWER/STORMS. WIND OUT TO CENTER 9-14. GAME TEMP 90, RH 55% HEAT INDEX 98

2:10 PM EDT

923 TEXAS RANGERS (R) Gallardo, Y 8o15 8 / 8u15 / 8u20 7.5o20 +1.5(-200)
924 CHICAGO WHITE SOX (L) Quintana, J -119 -130 / -129 / -126 -123 -1.5(+170)

TEX-3B-Adrian Beltre-OUT | TV: FS-Southwest, WGN, DTV: 307, 676 | PARTLY SUNNY, WIND OUT TO CENTER 5-10. GAME TEMP 77, RH 71% HEAT INDEX 80

4:05 PM EDT

925 LOS ANGELES ANGELS (R) Richards, G 7.5u15 7.5u25 / 7o20 / 7o25 7.5u25 +1.5(-215)
926 OAKLAND ATHLETICS (L) Kazmir, S -130 -107 / -108 / -106 -108 -1.5(+185)

TV: CSN-California, FS-West, DTV: 692, 698 | MOSTLY SUNNY, WIND OUT TO RIGHT 11-16, GUSTY. GAME TEMP 65, RH 65%

4:10 PM EDT

927 HOUSTON ASTROS (R) Velasquez, V 8u20 7.5u23 / 7.5u25 / 7.5u20 7.5u26 +1.5(-205)
928 SEATTLE MARINERS (L) Happ, J -119 -118 / -128 / -130 -121 -1.5(+175)

TV: ROOT-Southwest, DTV: 674 | PARTLY SUNNY, WIND LEFT TO RIGHT 7-12. GAME TEMP 74, RH 39% HEAT INDEX 74


2:10 PM EDT

929 CHICAGO CUBS (R) Arrieta, J -118 -116 / -115 / -121 -120 -1.5(+135)
930 MINNESOTA TWINS (R) Gibson, K 8 8o15 / 8o11 / 8u15 8u20 +1.5(-155)

TV: FS-North, DTV: 668 | MOSTLY SUNNY, WIND OUT TO CENTER 5-10. GAME TEMP 82, RH 52% HEAT INDEX 84

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA Consensus Picks

SIDES (ATS)

Time Away Line Picks Pct Home Line Picks Pct Detail Odds

3:00 PM New York +5 251 50.20% Atlanta -5 249 49.80% View View

7:00 PM Tulsa +8 286 56.08% Minnesota -8 224 43.92% View View

9:00 PM Phoenix +1 286 57.66% Seattle -1 210 42.34% View View

5:00 PM Connecticut -3.5 317 60.15% Los Angeles +3.5 210 39.85% View View


TOTALS (OVER/UNDER)

Time Away Total Over Pct Home Total Under Pct Detail Odds

3:00 PM New York 149.5 167 38.39% Atlanta 149.5 268 61.61% View View

5:00 PM Connecticut 137 223 52.35% Los Angeles 137 203 47.65% View View

9:00 PM Phoenix 142 222 52.36% Seattle 142 202 47.64% View View

7:00 PM Tulsa 155.5 244 56.88% Minnesota 155.5 185 43.12% View View

[StarDust Bum]

MLB Consensus Picks


SIDES (ATS)

Time Away Line Picks Pct Home Line Picks Pct Detail Odds

2:10 PM Boston +115 220 23.89% Kansas City -125 701 76.11% View View

1:07 PM Baltimore +114 283 31.20% Toronto -123 624 68.80% View View

1:10 PM Miami +108 300 35.67% Cincinnati -117 541 64.33% View View

4:10 PM Milwaukee -104 282 38.68% Colorado -104 447 61.32% View View

1:05 PM Detroit +138 353 39.01% NY Yankees -150 552 60.99% View View

4:10 PM San Diego -103 336 42.91% Arizona -105 447 57.09% View View

8:08 PM San Francisco +156 419 48.50% LA Dodgers -170 445 51.50% View View

1:10 PM Tampa Bay +114 423 48.56% Cleveland -123 448 51.44% View View

4:10 PM Houston +113 400 49.50% Seattle -122 408 50.50% View View

4:05 PM LA Angels +100 416 50.49% Oakland -108 408 49.51% View View

2:10 PM Chi. Cubs -118 425 52.34% Minnesota +109 387 47.66% View View

1:35 PM Pittsburgh -108 517 56.81% Washington +100 393 43.19% View View

5:05 PM NY Mets -138 501 58.19% Atlanta +127 360 41.81% View View

2:10 PM Texas +117 575 65.12% Chi. White Sox -127 308 34.88% View View

1:35 PM St. Louis -199 662 72.59% Philadelphia +182 250 27.41% View View


TOTALS (OVER/UNDER)

Time Away Total Over Pct Home Total Under Pct Detail Odds

1:35 PM Pittsburgh 8 203 40.76% Washington 8 295 59.24% View View

1:10 PM Tampa Bay 8 216 44.54% Cleveland 8 269 55.46% View View

4:10 PM San Diego 8.5 210 44.87% Arizona 8.5 258 55.13% View View

2:10 PM Chi. Cubs 8 210 45.16% Minnesota 8 255 54.84% View View

2:10 PM Texas 8 235 47.38% Chi. White Sox 8 261 52.62% View View

1:10 PM Miami 8.5 226 47.68% Cincinnati 8.5 248 52.32% View View

4:10 PM Houston 7.5 226 48.71% Seattle 7.5 238 51.29% View View

2:10 PM Boston 8.5 241 50.00% Kansas City 8.5 241 50.00% View View

4:05 PM LA Angels 7.5 259 53.96% Oakland 7.5 221 46.04% View View

8:08 PM San Francisco 7.5 270 54.33% LA Dodgers 7.5 227 45.67% View View

1:35 PM St. Louis 7.5 298 58.66% Philadelphia 7.5 210 41.34% View View

1:05 PM Detroit 7.5 315 58.66% NY Yankees 7.5 222 41.34% View View

4:10 PM Milwaukee 11 322 60.19% Colorado 11 213 39.81% View View

1:07 PM Baltimore 9 322 60.30% Toronto 9 212 39.70% View View

5:05 PM NY Mets 7 312 61.06% Atlanta 7 199 38.94% View View

[StarDust Bum]

Under hot, Twins cold with this ump behind the plate

The Minnesota Twins aren't happy to see Paul Schrieber calling balls and strikes for Sunday's matchup against the Chicago Cubs, having lost seven straight games when he is behind home plate.

Under bettors bettors on the other hand are happy, with the under going 6-0 in Schrieber's last six games calling balls and strikes.

The Twins and starter Kyle Gibson are currently +107 home dogs against the Cubs' Jake Arrieta. The total is currently at 8.0 runs.

[StarDust Bum]

Pirates streaking against lefty starters

The Pittsburgh Pirates have won seven consecutive games against left-handed starters and have done so in dominating fashion, outscoring their opponents 35-5 in those games.

The Pirates and right-hander Charlie Morton (5-0, 1.62 ERA) face lefty Gio Gonzalez (4-4, 4.82 ERA) and the Washington Nationals this Sunday afternoon, where the Pirates are slight +108 road dogs.

[StarDust Bum]

The numbers say stay away from this team in NL matchup

The numbers say avoid the Philadelphia Phillies if you can for their Sunday afternoon matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Phillies, who are are currently +205 home underdogs, are a terrible 6-36 in their last 42 games when listed at +200 or greater.

On the flipside, the Cardinals usually cash when listed as big faves, going 16-2 in their last 18 games as a road favorite of -201 or greater.

To make things harder for the Phillies, they get to face right-hander Michael Wacha (9-2, 2.48 ERA), while the Phillies will call on lefty Adam Morgan, who makes his first career start.