Although he failed to win any of the year's first three Major events, oddsmakers are sticking with Tiger Woods, installing the world's No. 1 ranked golfer as a 5/2 favorite in PGA Championship future book golf betting. Woods, who boasts four PGA Championship titles among his 14 Major victories, will head a field of 156 golfers who tee off for the season's final Major, at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, Aug. 13-16.
Woods, who was a similar future book price when he finished tied for sixth at both The Masters and US Open, as well as when he failed to make the cut at the British Open earlier this year, twice has won back-to-back PGA Championships, in 2006-2007 and in 1999-2000. He did not compete in last year's PGA Championship following knee surgery after winning the US Open. Five consecutive majors now have been contested without Woods hoisting the winning trophy.
But if not on Woods, then where should PGA Championship betting enthusiasts place their money? Future book prices are attractive for anyone but Woods, including Phil Mickelson, the winner of the 2005 PGA Championship, and a 16/1 proposition to hold the Wanamaker Trophy.
Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood, Anthony Kim, and Kenny Perry are a half-dozen other golfers who have the respect of oddsmakers. Furyk is listed at odds of 25/1, the same future book price as Garcia, the player now saddled with the title of "best golfer never to win a Major." Harrington, the defending champion, is offered at odds of 28/1, as are Westwood, Kim and Perry.
Vijay Singh, the PGA Championship winner in 1998 and again in 2004, is quoted at a robust 40/1, the same price as multiple Major winner Ernie Els. You also can get good prices on the winners of the year's first here majors, including 66/1 on Masters champion Angel Cabrera, 50/1 on US Open winner Lucas Glover, and 50/1 on British Open hero Stewart Cink.
Longshot players have had their moments at the PGA Championship, including 250/1 on Rich Beem in 2002 and an even more gratifying 500/1 on the unlikely victory of Shaun Micheel in 2003. Beem is 150/1 to win this year's PGA Championship while Micheel is 300/1, not quite as generous as in the past but still pretty hefty prices.
Other triple-digit options include Ben Curtis, Boo Weekley, Justin Rose, Tim Clark, Trevor Immelman, Robert Allenby, Rory Sabbatini, 1997 PGA Champion Davis Love III, 1995 winner Steve Elkington, and 1993 champion Paul Azinger, the longest shot in the field at 1500/1.
As is always the case in a Major event, the players will have to share top billing with the golf course. Hazeltine, which hosted the PGA Championship in 2002 when Rich Beem held off a charging Tiger Woods, who birdied the last four holes, is nothing if not long. The course, which will host the Ryder Cup matches in 2016, measures a mammoth 7,674 yards, an advantage for long hitters such as Woods and Mickelson.
There are several holes that could help decide the championship, including the par 4, 448-yard fifth. A new teeing ground has added almost 50 yards to this hole and those who try to fly the fairway bunkers may have to deal with the left rough. The green is narrow and well-protected.
The par 5, 572-yard seventh is the shortest of the four par fives at Hazeltine and a test of strategy. Some golfers will try to reach in two but Justin Leonard laid up four times and made four birdies in 2002 so that's a viable option, too.
The par 5, 606-yard 11th was crucial in Beem's victory when he scored an eagle there in 2002. But a new bunker has been added since then, challenging those who come up short and find the sand to do better than leave with a par on the hole.
The par 3, 248-yard 13th has water on the left, trees on the right and bunkers in the front, making it a pivotal hole.
The par 4, 475-yard finishing hole demands accuracy off the tee and a deft shot to a three-tiered green.
Given the failure of Woods to achieve pre-operative form and the difficulty of the course, 2009 PGA Championship betting should be a challenge.
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 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
