posted January 31, 2007 at 13:52 EST in Golf Articles
Golf Betting - Woods Heads Overseas to Defend Title
by BetUS Staff
Tiger Woods' victory at last week's Buick Invitational was his seventh straight on the PGA Tour, which is the second-longest streak in the circuit's history. So what are Woods' chances of extending that run to eight this weekend? Zero. That's because Tiger will be playing overseas this week, at the (non-PGA) Dubai Desert Classic in UAE.
No matter how well Woods does at the Emirates Golf Club, the large appearance fee (which is allowed on the European Tour) will make the trip worthwhile. However, the oddsmakers don't expect Woods to cruise through the week with that money already in his pocket - they've listed him as the even-money favorite to pick up the tournament title.
That favored status, of course, is just a formality - Woods has been nearly unbeatable everywhere he's played over the past few months, and he's made it difficult to place a wager on any golfer going up against him. Even history is on Tiger's side at Dubai this week - he is the defending champion in the event, getting his first win there last season.
Hoping to give Woods a run for the money will be Ernie Els, who won this event in 2005, 2002, and 1994. Els is currently second on the oddsmakers' list at +450, and he's the only golfer anywhere close to Woods on that chart. Third is Henrik Stenson at +1400, with Paul Casey (+2000) and Sergio Garcia (+2250) rounding out the Top 5. Robert-Jan Derksen, the 2003 champion, is way back at +12500 odds, while 2001 champ Thomas Bjorn is listed at +7000 odds. Here are the rest of the oddsmakers' top contenders.
Odds To Win Dubai Desert Classic
Tiger Woods EVEN
Ernie Els +450
Henrik Stenson +1400
Paul Casey +2000
Sergio Garcia +2250
Stuart Appleby +2500
Miguel Angel Jimenez +3000
David Howell +3500
Richard Green +4000
Robert Karlsson +4000
Colin Montgomerie +5000
Lee Westwood +5000
Michael Campbell +5500
Darren Clarke +6600
Nick Dougherty +6600
Thongchai Jaidee +6600
Thomas Björn +7000
Niclas Fasth +7000
Graeme McDowell +7000
Paul McGinley +7000
So, with Woods in the Middle East, someone else will walk away with a PGA Tour victory on Sunday. The circuit hits TPC Scottsdale in Arizona this weekend for the FBR Open. The FBR Open (in case you were wondering, it stands for Friedman Billings Ramsey, an investment bank) was known as the Phoenix Open prior to 2004.
The fan favorite there is Phil Mickelson, who attended Arizona State University. Lefty won this event in 2005 and 1996, and he's listed as the +800 favorite this time around. Second on the odds list at +900 is Vijay Singh, who has also picked up two tournament victories (2003 and 1995). Trevor Immelman (+1600), Geoff Ogilvy (+1600), and David Toms (+2000) round out the FBR Open's Top 5 contenders. Defending champion J.B. Holmes is back at +6600 odds. 2002 champ Chris DiMarco is at +2500.
Here are the rest of the oddsmakers' top contenders to prevail at the 2007 FBR Open.
Phil Mickelson +800
Vijay Singh +900
Trevor Immelman +1600
Geoff Ogilvy +1600
David Toms +2000
Charles Howell +2250
Chris DiMarco +2500
K.J. Choi +3300
Stewart Cink +3000
Davis Love +3300
Justin Rose +3300
Scott Verplank +3300
Lucas Glover +4000
Rory Sabbatini +5000
Steve Stricker +5000
Mike Weir +5000
Mark Calcavecchia +6000
Charley Hoffman +6000
As for Woods' streak, the next chance he'll have to extend it will come at the PGA Tour's Nissan Open, which takes place at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California from February 15-18. Tiger has already stated that he might play in that event; if he takes a pass on it, though, he'll next play on tour from February 21-25 in the WGC AccentureMatch Play Championship (at The Gallery at Dove Mountain, Tucson).
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