PGA Action - Who will capitalize on Tiger's injury
Posted on 10/3/2008 11:55:06 AM
By Marco Sussman
With Tiger Woods on the shelf, golf odds have become much more interesting for sports bettors. The perennial safe pick of Woods as a tournament winner is no longer on the board, spicing up the PGA tour for the next few months.
When Woods announced he was finished for the season with a knee injury, fellow players were undoubtedly excited at the possibility of cleaning up in his absence. Taking the underdog didn't provide much of a thrill over the past few seasons, with Woods exuding as much dominance the golf world has ever seen. Now, players like Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcio and Stewart Cink get a chance to play favorite, while sports bettors can win big with some smart choices on good golfers who simply couldn't compete on Woods' level.
Stewart Cink is a good bet to gain a lot in the coming months. He's currently third on the money list, trailing Woods and Mickelson, after winning the Travelers Championship last week. It was Cink's first win of the season, but he has seven top-10 finishes, most on the tour. He won't be participating in this weekend's Buick Open, but keep an eye on him down the stretch.
Of course, Phil Mickelson will be looking to capitalize too. “Lefty” has a pair of wins and five top-10 finishes this season, but both victories came in tournaments Woods sat out. He hasn't won a tourney that Woods participated in since May 2007 at the Players Championship.
One last candidate to keep a close eye on is Geoff Ogilvy. He's showed some real juice as of late, finishing in the top-10 in his last three tournaments. He has six top-10 finishes this season, won the WGC-CA Championship, and ranks fifth on the PGA tour money list. Look for him to build some momentum heading into the British Open.
Sports bettors shouldn't fret with Tiger Woods out. In fact, they should rejoice. With the world's best sidelined, take advantage of a wide open field and some new golf odds.
Marco Sussman isn't too bad on the links, reportedly a
five handicap. But, he's great in the sports betting game. He'll watch just about
anything you put in front of him, but golf is what really gets his juices
flowing. Thoughts or questions? Email
Comments@BetOnline.com.