Posted on 1/22/2008 5:08:11 PM

Golf Betting Action - Woods favored in Buick Invitational

By BetUS Staff

Tiger Woods is the big favorite whenever he takes part in a PGA Tour event, but those who plan on doing some golf betting this week will note that he is the really big favorite to get the win at the Buick Invitational. Woods has won this tournament five times in his career, and he heads into this week as the event winner in each of the last three years.

Woods finished two strokes ahead of Charles Howell III to take this tournament in 2007, opening and closing the event with rounds of 66. Woods ended up at -15 over the four days, with Howell at -13 after shooting a closing-round 68. Brandt Snedeker was three strokes back at -12, while Bubba Watson, Mark Calcavecchia, and Andrew Buckle all ended up at -11. Phil Mickelson ended up tied for 51st place after going -1 for the event.

Mickelson, though, is sitting second on the odds list to get the win at Torrey Pines this week. While Woods is listed as the +120 favorite, Mickelson is next at +1000. Mickelson won this event back-to-back in 2000 and 2001 (although a respiratory problem could create some issues for him in this year’s tourney). The only other two golfers to win this January tournament since 1999 are John Daly (2004) and Jose Maria Olazabal (2002).

After Woods and Mickelson the next golfer on the odds list for this week is Jim Furyk, who sits at +1800. K.J. Choi and Vijay Singh are tied for fourth at +2500, followed by Rory Sabbatini at +3000, and Justin Leonard at +3500. Mike Weir, Aaron Baddeley, and Stephen Ames are all pegged at +4500 odds. Here are the rest of the top contenders.

Odds To Win Buick Invitational

Meanwhile, the golfers of the European Tour will be competing in the Qatar Masters this week. Ten different golfers have won this event in the 10 years it has been held, with South Africa’s Retief Goosen the defending champion. Goosen, though, is listed just fifth at +1800 odds to win this week, with 2006 champion Henrik Stenson tops at +1000.

Lee Westwood is second at +1100, followed by 2002 champion Adam Scott at +1200, and Sergio Garcia at +1600. Other top odds to get the win in Qatar include Ian Poulter (+2000) and Luke Donald (+2200). Here are the rest of the tourney’s top contenders.

Odds To Win Qatar Masters

Waiting for the two big tours to converge before doing any serious golf betting this year? You can always get ahead of the game by placing a wager on the golfer you will think will win The Masters in the spring. Woods, of course, is the big +150 favorite on those golf lines, followed by Mickelson at +900, then Ernie Els sitting in third at +1400 odds.

Other top odds to win The Masters this year are owned by Singh (+2200), Goosen (+2800), Garcia (+2800), Furyk (+3000), Padraig Harrington (+3000), and Justin Rose (+3000). Scott is pegged at +3500, with Geoff Ogilvy just back of him at +4000 odds. Check the BetUS golf odds section for all of the latest tournament odds and prop bets.

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