August 30, 2010
Online betting players have been treated to a great year when it comes to major-championship venues in golf. First Augusta, then Pebble Beach, and now, the British Open will be held at St. Andrews. A familiar name has won the last two Opens at St. Andrews, but this year, a Brit will bring the title back to England for the first time since 1992.
What: Golf Betting
When: Thursday, July 15th-Sunday, July 18th
Where: Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Scotland
Defending Champion: Stewart Cink
The Storyline
The last two times the British Open was held at venerable St. Andrews (aka “the home of golf), Tiger Woods won the event in 2000 and 2005. Woods stumbled down the stretch of the US Open, like everyone else except for first-time major winner Graeme McDowell, who is from Northern Ireland. Stewart Cink held off 60-year-old Ton Watson in a playoff in last year’s British Open at Turnberry.
British Open Betting – The Favorite
Tiger Woods (+205): The three-time major winner romped a five-stroke win here in 2005, and he showed signs that his game was rounding back into form with a T-4 at Pebble Beach. Woods got everyone fired up on Saturday with a 66, but his putter cooled off and he finished with a final-round 75. Woods missed the cut at Turnberry last year, and he’ll be eager to avenge that at St. Andrews.
Phil Mickelson (+1015): Another US Open heartbreak for Mickelson, who finished T-4 alongside Woods and could never make a serious push to threaten McDowell. “Lefty” finished T-16 at St. Andrews at 2000 and T-33 in 2005, and you would think he would be good at St. Andrews, with its massive greens. However, like Woods, Mickelson is wild with the driver, and that could really hurt him here.
Lee Westwood (+1215): Westwood, an Englishman, finished T-16 at Pebble Beach, his first finish outside the top three in his last three major championships. He finished T-3 at Turnberry last year, and is widely considered to be the best player without a major. Westwood hasn’t had the best track record at St. Andrews, finishing T-64 in 2000 and missing the cut in 2005, but he should be around for the weekend after a solid season.
British Open Betting – The Second Tier
Padraig Harrington (+1415): Harrington has won two of the last three British Opens, and he seems to get better as the weather gets worse, which it will at St. Andrews. Harrington finished a decent T-22 at Pebble Beach, but he’s been up and down all year as he’s been working on things to prepare him for St. Andrews, where he will play for the first time since 2000, when he was T-20.
Ernie Els (+1415): Els stumbled down the stretch at Pebble Beach en route to a third-place result, but he’s returning to a place where he’s had success before. Els, who won the 2002 Open at Muirfield, finished T-3 in 2000 and T-34 in 2005, and he has been alternating between great finishes and missed cuts over the last month.
Rory McIlroy (+1415): The 21-year-old didn’t make the cut at Pebble Beach, but he won’t be afraid of St. Andrews. Growing up in Northern Ireland, McIlroy is used to playing in windy conditions, which it will be at some point at St. Andrews. However, he has to get back on track after missing the cut in two of four events since his first PGA Tour win at Quail Hollow.
Ian Poulter (+2050): The loud-dressing Englishman finished T-64 here in 2000, and T-11 in 2005, but he’s been all over the place since March, missing the cut in three events with just one top-10, which came at the Masters. Poulter has been struggling with the irons, which is a skill you need to have at St. Andrews.
British Open Betting – The Longshots
Sergio Garcia (+2850): If Garcia is going to win a major championship, it’ll likely be the British Open, where he has six top-10s since the turn of the century, including a playoff loss to Harrington in 2007, but he’s failed to crack the top 35 in his last two appearances. Garcia finished a respectable T-22 at Pebble Beach, and it’s the same old story for the Spaniard: the putter fails him at the most inopportune times.
Luke Donald (+3250): Donald was a trendy darkhorse pick at Pebble Beach, but finished just T-47. He missed the cut in 2000, and finished T-52 in 2005, but Donald came in T-5 at last year’s British Open, and he’s been consistent as he’s ever been this year. All he needs is a win.
Stewart Cink (+6550): You can get great odds on the defending champion, who finished T-40 at Pebble Beach, and he has just three-10s this season. Cink finished T-41 here in 2000, and he missed the cut in 2005, and while two straight golfers have won two British Opens in a row (Woods and Harrington), Cink won’t make it a third.
British Open Sports betting & Outlook
Woods’ game isn’t all the way back yet, while Mickelson has just one top-10 in his British Open career. Westwood may be getting frustrated by the close finishes, so we’re going with another Englishman: Luke Donald has a solid all-around game, and he’s been extremely close lately, he just needs a couple of breaks to go his way. Take Luke Donald in your sports betting picks.
British Open Betting Pick: Luke Donald +3250
August 12, 2010
Get in on the best odds for European Tour golf betting at the Bet365 Sportsbook for this week’s action at Whistling Straits where the US PGA Championship takes place, the final golf major of the year. Phil Mickelson is the 13.080* favourite on the odds to win the USPGA Championship at Bet365 Sportsbook where several Europeans will be trying to break the strangle-hold that US golfers have had on the event. As well as the outstanding value on the outright market AT Bet365 Sportsbook, you can get match-ups priced to 102.5%, giving you the best chance to win more on European Tour golf.
European Tour Betting - McIlroy Leads the European Challenge
Punters wishing to stay away from American-born players should get a handle on Rory McIlroy coming off a ninth-place showing at Firestone last week. Priced 17.08*, the World No. 9 is third on the USPGA Championship odds at Bet365 Sportsbook behind Mickelson and Tiger Woods who for the first time in a decade isnt favourite for a major championship. Woods shot a career worst 18 over par last week at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, where he looked a shadow of the player that has won this event four times.
Padraig Harrington (21.12*) is seeing action from bettors this week, but he’s probably overvalued. The Irishman is the only European player to have won the PGA Championship, but he’s also winless this season. Harrington was tied 9th at the recent WGC event, but the last time he took any silverware was in 2008 when he won this event.
Other European players to consider this week include Paul Casey (40.29), Luke Donald (49.73*), Justin Rose (44.32*), and Ian Poulter (79.86) who are looking for a breakthrough win at a major. Graeme McDowells surprise success at the US Open will provide a huge inspiration, and with that experience under his belt, McDowell is a 57.90* shot. Sergio Garcia is an interesting option at 82.19*. This is his last tournament before a self-imposed break with the game, effectively due to burn-out, whether that will see him relax his shoulders and provide value, or is a reason to swerve the Spaniard is something for bettors to consider.
August 11, 2010
Online betting players would have never thought they would see the likes of this: is Tiger Woods done? His -18 at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational was the worst score of his professional career, and while it is completely possible he could come back, here are five reasons why it isn’t likely (and none deal with his marital life directly).
1) Lack Of Mental Strength
This is the most surprising aspect of this entire situation. For years, we talked about how mentally tough Woods is, but it may have just been a hoax. Everything is fine when Woods is winning: all 14 of his major championships have come when Woods was leading after 54 holes. But he showed a chink in the armor when Y.E. Yang came back to win at last year’s PGA Championship, then the “accident” on Thanksgiving, and it’s been pretty much downhill since. At Firestone last weekend, we watched Tiger Woods give up on the course for the first time in his career. And it could still get worse.
2) Age
Woods will be 35 on December 30th, so he’s no spring chicken and not even in the prime of his career anymore. He isn’t the first golfer to see his game deteriorate with age, and he won’t be the last. He can overcome this, but it’s tough. Vijay Singh had a good run as he got older, but age has definitely caught up to him. Phil Mickelson is 40 and possibly playing the best golf of his life, but that could come to an end at any time. Even Jack Nicklaus struggled as he got older, and golf betting players know that it’s going to come eventually for Woods, maybe just a bit earlier.
3) No Coach
Woods won eight majors with Butch Harmon, and another six with Hank Haney, but since he split with Haney in May, it’s been terrible. Woods may know his swing better than anyone, but it always helps to have an extra set of eyes on you, watching for things you can’t see. It’s one thing to know how to swing a club, and one thing altogether to be able to fix a swing, and Woods has no idea how to fix his.
4) Injury
Woods has had a lot of injuries in the last few years. His knee problems have been well documented, along with back and shoulder ailments, and he had to withdraw from the Players Championship earlier this year with a neck injury. This ties into the age factor from above, because as you get older, your body breaks down more easily, and it doesn’t recover as easily. These injuries could be playing a bigger role in Woods’ decline then he lets on.
5) The Tour Has Caught Up To Him
The loss to Yang showed that Woods wasn’t invincible, and that is a trend that has been coming for the last couple of seasons. The rest of the PGA Tour, thanks to technological advances in equipment, and the fact that players are just getting better, which catching Woods in a downward spiral. Woods also exploded on the scene as a 21-year-old phenom with his win in the 1997 Masters. Now it’s guys like Rory McIlroy, Anthony Kim, Ryo Ishikawa and a host of other kids that grew up watching Woods. These kids are now trying to chase down their idol.
However, for all of these reasons we’ve discussed, we wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see Woods boost his sports betting chances within the next year.
August 5, 2010
Get in on the best odds for European Tour golf betting at the Bet365 Sportsbook for this week’s action with all eyes are the PGA Tour’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, as every player in the top 10 of the World Rankings prepares for next week’s PGA Championship. Tiger Woods leads the odds to win the WGC bridgestone Invitational priced 5.750* at Bet365 Sportsbook where as well as the outstanding value on the outright market, you can get match-ups priced to 102.5%, giving you the best chance to win more on European Tour golf.
European Tour Betting - Top Golfers Gather for Third WGC Event of Year
Tiger Woods lists St. Andrew’s as his favourite course, but the South Course at Firestone Country Club in Akron has to be a close second. Woods has won seven of the 11 editions of the Bridgestone Invitational, including three-peats from 1999-2001 and 2005-2007.
That said, Tiger is struggling to find his game. Woods finished 23rd at the Open Championship, and has only two top 10s – at The Masters and U.S. Open – in seven tournaments this year.
Tiger is priced as 5.750* favourite on the odds to win the WGC bridgestone Invitational at Bet365 Sportsbook, ahead of Phil Mickelson (15.27*) and Lee Westwood (15.27*) on the outright list. Mickleson has four top 10s in his last seven starts, although he was 48th at the Open in his most recent appearance.
Westwood was second at St. Andrew’s, and has six top 10s in 10 PGA Tour events this year. The winner at the St. Jude Classic earlier this season, Westwood tied for second at Firestone two years ago when Vijay Singh (122.99*) interrupted Woods’ dominance.
Rory McIlroy (23.39*) and Padraig Harrington (23.39*) both figure to see action from punters this week, but there’s better value elsewhere on the board. McIlroy has missed the cut in four of his last eight PGA Tour events, and was tied for 35th at last week’s 3 Irish Open on the European Tour. Steve Stricker (31.53*) is a sharp play this week given his price tag. Stricker tied for sixth at Firestone last year when Tiger won for the seventh time there, and has two wins under his belt this season (Northern Trust Open, John Deere Classic).
Luke Donald (36.62*) and Jim Furyk (36.62*) also provide value at Firestone. Third at the RBC Canadian Open two weeks ago, Donald has a pair of top 10s at the Bridgestone Invitational to his credit. Furyk has six top 10s at Firestone in 10 career starts.
July 29, 2010
Get in on the best odds for European Tour golf betting for all of this week’s action at the Bet365 Sportsbook, as it gears up for the year’s fourth and final major. The PGA Championship is only two weeks away, making this crunch time for golfers – and for handicappers looking for the next Louis Oosthuizen, who landed the Open Championship at huge odds. This weeks action is at the Irish Open where as well as the outstanding value on the outright market, Bet365 Sportsbook are also offering match-ups priced to 102.5%, giving you the best chance to win more on European Tour golf.
European Tour Betting - Local Hopes High On Irish Open Odds
Rory McIlroy is the 6.890* favourite at Bet365 Sportsbook on their odds to win the Irish Open for the event at the Killarney Golf & Fishing Club, but he’ll be in tough against the likes of Justin Rose (15.09*), Graeme McDowell (15.61*), and Padraig Harrington (17.69*).
McIlroy was third at the Open Championship at St. Andrew’s, where he recorded a record-low 63 in the first round, while McDowell won the U.S. Open, and Rose has won twice on the PGA Tour this season, with both wins since June.
Harrington hasn’t played his best golf lately, but he’ll look to ride the luck of the Irish in Killarney this week, and replicate his success at this event in 2007 when it was held in Adare. Irish-born players have taken home four of the last 13 major championship titles, while McIlroy is seen as a major winner in waiting. His chances at the PGA Championship could well be dictated by whether he can continue his good form at the Irish Open.
July 28, 2010
Online betting players know that you have to lose a few times to learn how to win, and that appears to be the case for England’s Lee Westwood as we head to the final major of the year, the PGA Championship. Westwood has come close this year, in and out of the majors, but he’ll finally come through at Whistling Straits.
What: Golf Odds
When: Thursday, August 12th- Sunday, August 15th
Where: Whistling Straits, Haven, WI
Defending Champion: Y.E. Yang
The Storyline
The last time that the PGA Championship was held at Whistling Straits was 2004, when Vijay Singh held off Chris DiMarco and Justin Leonard in a playoff despite shooting a +4 in the final round. Y.E. Yang is the defending champion after storming back to beat Tiger Woods at Hazeltine in Minnesota, and we could have another surprise winner after what has occurred in the majors this year. While Phil Mickelson’s win at the Masters could have been expected, no one saw Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell taking the US Open at Pebble Beach, and especially, South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen’s slaughter of the field in the British Open at St. Andrews.
PGA Championship Betting – The Favorites
Tiger Woods (+450): The signs are encouraging for Woods, who was T-23 at St. Andrews, and he’ll be hungry to avoid his second straight major-less year, the first time that has happened since 2003 and 2004. However, that T-23 was his lowest result in a major since Whistling Straits in 2004, when Woods came in T-24, and unless he figures something out with the putter, he won’t be able to lift his fifth Wanamaker Trophy. Put him down for a top-10, though.
Phil Mickelson (+815): We can throw out Mickelson’s T-48 at St. Andrews, as he never does well at the British Open due to his high ball flight. He was T-6 at Whistling Straits in 2004, but like Singh, he struggled on the Sunday with a 74. You get the feeling that Mickelson will challenge at some point, but his wayward driving could hurt him.
Lee Westwood (+1215): Westwood is turning into Mr. Consistency, or he can’t win the big ones, depending on who you speak to. Westwood’s second-place result at St. Andrews was his fourth finish of second or third in the last five majors, and both runners-up came this year at Augusta and St. Andrews. He missed the cut in 2004, but Westwood is a much better player now, and you would think he would have to come through at some point, right?
Rory McIlroy (+1415): The kid excited us with a Thursday 63 at St. Andrews, then the Old Course bit him for an 80 on the next day in insanely windy conditions, and McIlroy was left with a T-3 result. He’s going to win a major sooner than you think, but this year has been up and down for McIlroy, and we’re banking on a letdown at Whistling Straits.
PGA Championship Betting – The Second Tier
Paul Casey (+2550): Casey collapsed to a final-round 75 at St. Andrews to settle for a T-3, and he missed the cut at the Canadian Open, but he’s solid from tee to green, he just has to settle his nerves. Casey missed the cut here in 2004, but like Westwood, he’s far improved as a player.
Steve Stricker (+2850): Golf betting players may be apt to take the homefield advantage: Stricker is a Wisconsin native who loves playing in the Midwest, so he’ll be excited for this tournament. Stricker has made the cut in all three majors this year, and has never finished higher than 30th, but we’re taking him for a top-10, at least.
Luke Donald (+3550): Donald actually finshed T-24 here in 2004, and he followed up his T-11 at the British Open with a third-place result at the Canadian Open. Donald has been very consistent this year, and he may be finally ready to fulfill the promise many saw in him when he turned pro in 2001.
PGA Championship Betting – The Longshots
Henrik Stenson (+5050): Stenson is coming off a T-3 at St. Andrews in which he had a hot putter, and after a few injuries, the long-hitting Swede will be dangerous at Whistling Straits.
K.J. Choi (+6550): Choi’s year has been adventurous as he began with a T-4 at Augusta, and it declined from there until he won the Scandinavian Masters last weekend. Choi was T-6 at Whistling Straits in 2004.
Ryo Ishikawa (+8050): The 18-year-old shows no nerves whatsoever, going from a missed cut at Augusta to a T-33 at Pebble Beach, and a T-27 at St. Andrews (playing alongside Tom Watson at the last two tournaments, no less). He’s probably more likely to win than McIlroy, his 21-year-old colleague.
PGA Championship Sports betting & Outlook
We’re taking Westwood to learn from his past mistakes this season and come through in the clutch at Whistling Straits. He didn’t lose the Masters, he was beaten by Mickelson. Even at the US Open, Westwood was T-16 and always in the mix. He played solid golf at St. Andrews, but no one was beating a red-hot Oosthuizen. It’s Westwood’s week in Wisconsin, so take him in your sports betting picks for the PGA Championship.
PGA Championship Betting Pick: Lee Westwood +1415
July 22, 2010
On the European Tour this week, Open Championship winner Louis Oosthuizen is right back on the course at the Nordea Scandinavian Masters at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club in Stockholm. As well as the outstanding value on odds to win the Scandinavian Masters - where Robert Karlsson is the local hope and favourite priced 13.28* - Pinnacle are also offering match-ups priced to 102.5%, giving you the best chance to win more on European Tour golf.
European Tour Betting - Oosthizen Makes Quick Return to Action
Surprise Open Champion, Louis Oosthuizen, has resisted the temptation to rest on his laurels after his amazing performance last week at St.Andrews, and instead has opted to get straight back into action at the Nordea Scandinavian Masters in Stockholm, looking for what would be his third career European Tour title. The South African broke his duck four months ago at the Open de Andalucia, but he’s the talk of the golf world after winning at St. Andrews last week. Despite those heroics Oosthuizen isnt listed as the favourite on the odds to win the Scandinavian Masters with odds of 27.55* in what is a strong international field.
Swede Robert Karlsson (13.28*) is set as the favourite, looking to add an 11th European Tour win, with his latest coming at the Qatar Masters in January. Karlsson was a respectable tied-14 at St.Andrews, and is expected to do well on home soil. Dustin Johnson (16.36*), who is normally seen on the PGA Tour is extending his stay in Europe after finishing alongside Karlsson t-14 at St.Andrews, a result that will give him confidence for the Scandinavian Masters. Another Swede, Peter Hanson (19.39*), was a winner at the Iberdrola Open in May and at this tournament in 2008, putting him in the frame while Edoardo Molinari (22.08*) is worth a look following his success as the Scottish Open two weeks ago.
July 14, 2010
The British Open betting at Bet365 Sportsbook favours the two biggest names in world golf, who also occupy the top two positions on the official world golf rankings, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Woods is the 6.400* on the British Open odds at Pinnacle, given he won at St.Andrews - this years venue - in 2000 and 2005, while Mickelson won the 2010 US Masters and was fourth in the US Open. There are however, plenty of reasons to oppose both. Woods is still under a cloud of personal issues, while Mickleson has a terrible record at the Open, and neither will be suited to the anticipated windy conditions, which may favour a British challenge. As well as the outstanding value of the outright British Open market, Pinnacle are also offering match-ups priced to less than 103%.
European Tour Betting - British Challengers at the Open
Rory McIlroy, the talented young Northern Irishman is likely to see plenty of public action this week, but he’s likely overvalued. McIlroy’s only win this season came at the Quail Hollow Championship - on the PGA Tour - and he missed the cut at the U.S. Open.
Justin Rose is the hottest player in the field, and has British Open odds of 20.810*. In his last three starts, Rose won the AT&T National, was ninth at the Travelers Championship, and won the Memorial. Rose is a first-timer at St. Andrew’s, however, although he ranks eighth on the PGA Tour in sand saves (59.8%), which could prove crucial. The black mark against Rose is that his form leading into 2010 was so poor that he didnt qualify for either of the first two majors this year, leaving him short of recent experience of the big occasions.
Lee Westwood has yet to win a major in his career, but this could be his time. The World No. 3 has five top 10s on the PGA Tour to go along with three top 10s on the European Tour this season, and has two top 5s at the Open to his credit. Westwood, finished third at Turnberry in last years Open and was runner-up at the Masters in April, but his backers must however hope the old saying is beware the injured golfer, rings true. Ive got swelling into my ankle and it is six to eight weeks recovery time if you put your feet up,” said Westwood. Not a good situation to be taking into the biggest event on the calendar. Westwood is 21.99* on the British Open betting at Pinnacle.
Further down the British Open betting list, Englands Chris Wood at 69.10*is a lively outsider. Wood finished tied 5th as an amateur in 2008, then tied third in his first year as a pro in 2009, when he won the best rookie award on the European Tour. Whoever you fancy make sure to get the best odds to win the British Open at Bet365 Sportsbook, and match-ups priced to less than 103%, giving you the best chance to win more on European Tour golf betting.
July 8, 2010
The Bet365 Sportsbook offers the best odds on European Tour golf betting for this week’s Barclays Scottish Open, the last tournament before next week’s The Open Championship at St. Andrew’s. US Masters Champions, and world number two, Phil Mickelson, heads the odds to win the Scottish Open at Bet365 Sportsbook priced 10.20*. Success at Loch Lomond would give Mickelson the perfect prep for the Open Championship, where he has historically struggled, but it would also see him knock Tiger Woods off the number one spot in the official golf world rankings, a position he has held since June 2005. As well as the outstanding value of the outright Barclays Scottish Open market, Pinnacle are also offering match-ups priced to less than 103%.
European Tour Betting - Star Studded Field at Loch Lomond
The field for this weeks Scottish Open at Loch Lomond is stacked with talent, headed by Phil Mickelson who is the 10.20* favourite at Bet365 Sportsbook. Along with a purse of £3million Mickelson has the huge incentive of being able to take over top spot from Tiger Wodds in the World Rankings with a win or second-place finish. Woods is back home with his family, rather than getting links practise, so the loss of the position at the top of the golfing world he has held since June 2005 would be a significant blow ahead of the Open.
Lefty’s best showing at the Scottish Open came in 2007 when he lost in a playoff to Gregory Havret. Fresh off his second-place finish to Graeme McDowell (19.25*) at the U.S. Open, Havret is priced at a profitable 77.04* to win at Loch Lomond for the second time. McDowell himself is a winner, succeeding in 2008, and of course is in excellent form winning twice in June - Wales Open and US Open.
Defending champion Martin Kaymer (17.24*) is looking to become the first back-to-back winner at the Scottish Open, and is third on the odds to win the Scottish Open behind Ernie Els (13.17*).
Els is a two-time winner at Loch Lomond, and he’s joined by a bevy of worthwhile wagers in Glasgow. Last week’s Alstom Open de France winner Miguel Angel Jimenez (41.56*) is in the field, as is Retief Goosen (26.37*), Robert Allenby (36.49*), Camilo Villegas (41.56*), Vijay Singh (51.70*), Ryo Ishikawa (71.97*), and Lucas Glover (87.19*).
Get the best odds to win the Scottish Open at Bet365 Sportsbook, and match-ups priced to less than 103%, giving you the best chance to win more on European Tour golf betting.
July 2, 2010
The oldest golf tournament in continental Europe takes place this week at Le Golf National in Paris, and the Bet365 Sportsbook has punters covered for the Alstom Open de France with the best odds on European Tour golf betting. As well as the outstanding value of the outright Alstom Open de France market, Pinnacle are also offering match-ups priced to less than 103%.
European Tour Betting - Alstom Open de France
Four of the world’s top 10 players will be on the course in Paris, and they’ll all be chasing defending champion Martin Kaymer. Expect the four big names – Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Ian Poulter, and Rory McIlroy – to see the bulk of action from public punters this week.
Kaymer was unbeatable during a two-week stretch last summer, when he won the Alstom Open in a playoff over runner-up Westwood before cashing the Barclays Scottish Open the following week.
Beyond Kaymer, Westwood, Donald, Poulter, and McIlroy lie former major champions Angel Cabrera, Michael Campbell, Paul Lawrie, and Geoff Ogilvy on the outright odds list.
Bettors should also consider last week’s BMW International Open champion David Horsey, as well as 2008 Alstom Open winner Pablo Larrazabal, who tied for third last week.
Get the best odds to win Alstom Open de France at Bet365 Sportsbook, and match-ups priced to less than 103%, giving you the best chance to win more on European Tour golf betting.
