Golf betting, where any of 150 competitors are capable of winning an individual event and a gambler could go weeks or even months without cashing, is not for the faint-hearted. But the rewards can justify the pursuit and each new year brings a fresh set of challenges to the sports betting enthusiast.
But 2011 should be especially dicey as Tiger Woods, coming off a season during which he was exposed for his infidelity, was divorced, failed to win a PGA golf tournament, and lost his No. 1 world ranking, attempts to launch a comeback. Will he succeed? Well, many sportsbooks will give you the opportunity to address that very issue.
For example, you can bet on which golfer leads the 2011 PGA Tour in earnings, an empirical way to measure a successful comeback. Woods is the 10/11 favorite to earn the most money with Phil Mickelson the 8/1 second choice and 2010 PGA Player of the Year Jim Furyk the third choice at odds of 12/1.
Another way to measure success is by rankings. Woods is the 5/6 favorite to end 2011 ranked No. 1 in the world with current leader, Lee Westwood, the second choice at odds of 9/4. Martin Kaymer and Mickelson each are rated a 13/2 chance to end the year with the top ranking.
There’s also a future book proposition on the next golfer to assume the top spot from Westwood. Woods is 1/3 to pass Westwood while Kaymer is 11/4 and Mickelson is 10/1 to achieve the No. 1 ranking next. Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Steve Stricker and Furyk each are offered at 66/1 and it’s triple digits on anyone else soaring to the top.
A different to measure success, and one that Woods undoubtedly will employ himself, is how well he does in golf’s four Major events. It’s 4/5 that Woods again goes without winning a single Major in 2011; 3/2 that he wins one Major; 13/2 that Woods captures two Major events; 12/1 that he repeats his three Major wins of 2000; and 66/1 that notches an unlikely Grand Slam.
There’s also a proposition on which Major will be Woods’ next victory with this year’s Masters rated as the 11/4 favorite ahead of the US Open (5/1), British Open (10/1) and PGA Championship (12/1). Pessimists can lay 10/11 that Woods has to wait until at least 2012 to claim his 15th Major. To that end, you also can take 8/1 that Woods does not win a single PGA Tour event on the 2011 calendar. Woods backers have to lay 1/20 that Tiger gets to hoist at least one trophy.
There also are prices on other players winning at least one Major this year, including 3/1 on Mickelson; 4/1 on Westwood; 9/2 on Kaymer; 6/1 on McIlroy; 10/1 on Stricker, McDowell, Paul Casey or Padraig Harrington; 12/1 on Ian Poulter or Luke Donald; and 14/1 on Furyk or Ernie Els.
Speaking of Major victories, of which Woods has 14, some sportsbooks are offering a prop on when Woods will eclipse Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 Major wins. You can get odds of 7/4 that Woods gets five more Major wins between now and the end of 2013 or lay 2/5 that the record doesn’t come until 2014 or later.
Some sportsbooks also are offering a future book prop on which European player is next to win his first Major. Westwood is the obvious favorite at odds of 4/1 but McIlroy is right there at 9/2; followed by Casey, 9/1; Justin Rose, 11/1; and Donald and Poulter, each at 12/1. Sergio Garcia, who for years was considered the best player never to have won a Major, is quoted at odds of 25/1 to make a breakthrough this year.
Golf betting fans can lay 2/5 that at least one Major is decided in a playoff or take 7/4 that 72 holes will be more than enough, thank you.
You lay 2/7 that a European player wins at least one Major or grab 5/2 that the continent is shut out of the big four events in 2011.
There’s even a prop on the low round of the year with 60 listed as the 4/5 favorite over a record equaling 59, which is quoted at 13/8. You can get 10/1 that someone leads with a 58 or lower or 14/1 that the best round of the year is 61 or higher.
Tiger is back and so is interest in golf betting.
This article was written by Luken Karel for http://www.thegreek.com. The Greek Sportsbook & Casino is host to one of the top online sportsbooks offering college football betting and sports betting on NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and all other major sports. The Greek is a must have sports betting and entertainment portal with one of the largest wagering menus available online. Article reproductions must include a link pointing to http://www.thegreek.com
