For the past decade or so, the fundamental question facing golf betting enthusiasts has been whether to bet on Tiger Woods or against him. Once again, gamblers will have to ask and answer that query when Woods and some 125 other of the world's premier golfers tee off at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia, April 9-12.
Woods, who recently returned from an eight month absence after knee surgery, opened as a consensus favorite of slightly more than 2/1. In fact, the best price we could find among the 18 books surveyed was 11/4, the worst, 15/8.
Is 11/4, which is a tick under 3/1, a good betting price on Woods? Hmm, it's close, at least statistically. Woods has won 65 of 238 career PGA outings, a win percentage of 27.3. Odds of 11/4 translate to 26.66 percent.
Woods' performance at The Masters has been even better, however. The world's top ranked golfer has competed in 13 Masters, winning four Green Jackets (1997, 2001-02, 2005) for a win percentage of 30.7. So, based on pure numbers, you would be slightly on the short side with odds of 11/4.
Of course, those hard numbers must be tempered by the fact that Woods is returning from injury and has not won at Augusta in four years, though he was second in both 2007 and 2008.
Woods, who has won a total of 14 majors, second only to Jack Nicklaus' 18, and holds the course record at The Masters with an 18 under par 270 in 1997, will attract his share of golf betting action but those folks looking for a more substantial price do have other options.
One of those choices surely would be Phil Mickelson, the 2004 and 2006 Masters champion. Mickelson, who is offered at odds as high as 6/1 at some international books, is off to a fast start in 2009, winning two events, the Northern Trust Open in Pacific Palisades, Feb. 22 and a World Golf Championship event in Miami, Mar. 15.
Padraig Harrington, 2008's Golfer of the Year, has the last two Major championship trophies on his mantle but would like to add his first Masters win to last season's British Open and PGA Championships. He's listed in the 16/1 to 20/1 range to accomplish the difficult feat of three consecutive Major wins.
Geoff Ogilvy, Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, Ernie Els and Vijay Singh are five more players who could interest golf betting enthusiasts still searching for a Masters wager. The best price we uncovered on Ogilvy, the winner of the Mercedes Championship in Maui and the Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona this winter, was 23/1.
Garcia, who has yet to win a Major, can be found at 25/1 while Goosen, who captured the Transitions Championship in Florida recently, was spotted with odds as high as 29/1.
Els, who has won a pair of US Opens and one British Open, is listed at 40/1, the same price as Singh, the Masters champion in 2000.
We saw defending Masters Champion Trevor Immelman, who beat Woods by three strokes last year, listed as high as 66/1 while 2007 Masters winner Zach Johnson was 50/1.
Unlike previous years, there have been no significant changes made to the par 72, 7,435-yard course. Holes 11-13, dubbed “Amen Corner” in a 1958 Sports Illustrated article by Herbert Warren Wind because golfers often had to resort to prayer to get them through the tough stretch, again will play a significant role in determining the champion.
In addition to straight win wagering, many books also will offer propositions on the sport's first Major. Among the more intriguing is one that provides odds for a number of golfers finishing in the top 10 in all four majors.
Woods, of course, is the favorite at odds of 9/4 to notch a top 10 finish in all four majors. Mickelson is 14/1 to do it, Garcia and Harrington each 16/1; Els 33/1; Anthony Kim and Singh 40/1.
There's also a prop on golfers winning at least one Major in 2009. Woods is 8/13 to do it; Mickelson and Harrington each 10/3; Garcia 7/2; Singh 7/1; Kim and Els each 8/1; and Ogilvy 10/1.
Golf betting and The Masters, it's clear, are par for the course.
