Long shots lead, with veterans lurking

Lowry favorite at 5-2, but wagerers probably rooting for 3-1 Johnson

Despite his reputation for being a major underachiever, Dustin Johnson was a popular player with bettors going into the U.S. Open. It’s no surprise he’s on the leaderboard going into Sunday.

It would be a minor surprise if he wins.

Johnson, widely considered the most talented player never to win a major, was No. 1 in the ticket count at the CG Technology and Westgate sports books when the tournament started Thursday. He was three shots out of the lead when third-round play was suspended because of darkness Saturday.

Well-known veterans Johnson, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood will be chasing two obscure long shots — Shane Lowry and Andrew Landry — when plays resumes Sunday morning.

“There are some good storylines to it,” Westgate golf oddsmaker Jeff Sherman said. “It’s interesting because Johnson, Garcia and Westwood are the big names up there, and none of those guys have won a major.”

Unless Jason Day or Zach Johnson make a big run from way behind, there will be a first-time major winner at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. Day and Johnson are tied for eighth, six strokes behind Lowry.

The adjusted odds Sherman posted Saturday night showed Lowry as the 5-2 favorite and Dustin Johnson as the 3-1 second choice. Lowry, a portly Irishman with one PGA Tour win to his credit, is at 5 under par through 14 holes in the third round.

Lowry attracted only a few tickets at 100-1 odds on Thursday. Landry, who trails Lowry by two strokes, closed at 1,000-1 and drew one ticket for $5 at the Westgate. His adjusted odds are 15-1.

“There are a lot of ways this thing can go,” Sherman said. “I’m surprised Landry is still up where he is. I thought he would slowly regress, but he’s still in position.”

Garcia (6-1) and Westwood (9-1) are in a third-place tie with Dustin Johnson, who had the 36-hole lead before losing ground. Hard-charging Branden Grace, 1 under and four shots back, is at 15-2 odds. Day (12-1) and Zach Johnson (40-1) are hanging on the fringe of contention.

Scott Piercy of Las Vegas trails Lowry by five and is alone in seventh. He closed at 200-1, and his adjusted odds are 50-1.

Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson were the most popular players to miss the cut.

GENE J. PUSKAR/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS; CHARLIE RIEDEL/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Shane Lowry, left, of Ireland and Dustin Johnson play the seventh hole Saturday during the third round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. Lowry was the leader at 5 under par through 14 holes of the round, while Johnson, who never...