8/1 Koepka happy to play waiting game - (2025)

Brooks Koepka (8/1 – US Open Outright) is content with his patient approach at the US Open as he heads into Saturday’s third round five shots adrift of halfway leader Gary Woodland.

Defending champion Koepka, who is aiming to become only the second player after Willie Anderson (1903-05) to win the US Open three times in a row, posted a second successive round of 69 on Friday to move on to -4 for the tournament.

The American made three birdies and one bogey during his second set of 18 holes, leaving him five strokes behind compatriot and midway leader Woodland (9/2jf), who carded a superb six-under-par round of 65 to sit on -9 overall.

England’s Justin Rose (9/2jf) is in sole possession of second on -7, two shots off the pace, while South African Louis Oosthuizen is a further shot back in third on -6.

Koepka, who is the only player in history to hold back-to-back titles in two majors simultaneously, has been pleased with his performance over the first two rounds and believes being patient will bring him glory this weekend.

“I’m good at this patient game, I know you just need to be hanging around on the weekend,” he said. “I have a chance. If I can putt the way I did on Thursday and hit it like I did on Friday, it’s a good combination.”

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy and American Aaron Wise are in a share of fourth on -5 and the duo are priced at 5/1 and 33/1 respectively to win the US Open.

Former world number one Tiger Woods (50/1) is level-par for the tournament after a one-over-par 72 on Friday, leaving him nine off the lead, but he still feels he has a chance.

Woods said: “Right now I’m still in the ball game.”

Odds subject to change.