PGA Tour Golf Betting Tips - British Open, US Open, PGA Championship, Masters

Singh to defend Sony Open title in Hawaii

2006-01-13T01:25:00.000-08:00

Defending champion Vijay Singh is coming off a strong showing at the Mercedes Championships. He looks to take the next step at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where he shot four rounds in the 60s in 2005.

Only the 2003-04 champion Ernie Els, reconnoitering as he eases his way back from knee surgery last year, is absent among players who have won this event since the course was altered to par-70 in 1999. Not that anyone will miss the Big Easy given his 1-1-2 performance the last three years. Other recent winners on the roster: Jim Furyk, John Huston and John Cook.

Twenty-two of the 28 players who competed in the Mercedes Championships are making the trip to Oahu for the Sony Open in Hawaii. David Duval, whose five-year exemption for winning the 2001 British Open expires this year, returns to the Sony Open in Hawaii for the first time since 1995, his only appearance. He shot a third-round 64 on the way to a tie for 14th.

Michelle Wie returns to take another shot at making the cut. In Honolulu a 144-player field vies for $5.1 million, and Wie, 16, is now among the professionals looking for a paycheck. She makes her third appearance at Waialae Country Club, a splendid Seth Raynor design that has hosted a TOUR event since 1965.

Last year, Singh shot four rounds in the 60s and closed with a 5-under-par 65 and 270 total to hold off a desperate charge by two-time defending champion Ernie Els, who shot a 62 to finish one stroke back. Singh, who began the final round four strokes behind Shigeki Maruyama, birdied the home hole for his victory margin.

PGA Tour Golf Game Odds: SportsInterAction
Odds to win 2006 Sony Open:
Vijay Singh 6.00
Jim Furyk 19.00
David Toms 21.00
Prediction: Furyk has been in superb form lately and if he can continue his steady drive and putting, the American should win this tournament.
tags: Sportsbook, Golf Betting, PGA Tour, Golf, President's Cup, Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Sony Open, Chris DiMarco, Golf betting tips Golf Betting Picks, Golf Betting Odds

Woods' return to Funai Classic may coincide with arrival of Wilma

2005-10-19T23:43:00.000-07:00

World number one Tiger Woods returns to the Funai Classic after skipping the event last year, but Hurricane Wilma could wreak havoc at the star-studded event that starts on Thursday. Woods won the tournament in 1996 and followed it up with an encore in 1999.

Woods, Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen highlight the field at Disney, with Woods entertaining hopes of breaking the single-season earnings mark of $10.9 million, set last year by Singh. He is just under $1 million short with two tournaments left, this week and THE TOUR Championship in two weeks at East Lake.

This is a home game for Woods, who lives barely 20 minutes away in exclusive Isleworth. But it probably won't be next year because he has confirmed one of golf's worst kept secrets - that he is planning to move from the Orlando area in the not-too-distant future.

Singh, who won here two years ago and tied for second last year, said he was looking forward to the week. Goosen, who was unbeaten at last month's Presidents cup match-play competition, returns after missing the World Golf Championships event in San Francisco two weeks ago with a groin injury.

The tournament might be more challenging, but it's still a peaceful week for just about everyone except those still grinding to either keep their PGA TOUR cards or get into THE TOUR Championship. The Magic Kingdom is not far away, and even those who live in the area stay at Disney to be close to the theme parks.

PGA Tour Golf Betting Odds: SportsInterAction
Odds to win 2005 Funai Classic
Tiger Woods 3.25
Vijay Singh 7.00
Retief Goosen 13.00
Chris DiMarco 23.00
Stuart Appleby 34.00
Tim Clark 34.00
Scott Verplank 41.00
Charles Howell 41.00
Prediction: DiMarco has been in superb form lately and if he can continue his steady drive and putting, the American should win this tournament. That's if Tiger won't be Tiger. Expect Woods to be in contention again. If he flirts within the leaderboard in the final day, Tiger is a shoo-in to win the event for the third time.
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tags: Sportsbook, Golf Betting, PGA Tour, Golf, World Golf Championships, Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, WGC, Chris DiMarco, Golf betting tips Golf Betting Picks, Golf Betting Odds

Singh defends Lumber Classic crown against tough field

2005-09-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

Defending champion Vijay Singh will face a strong field that includes three of the top five money earners on the PGA Tour when the 84 Lumber Classic tees off.

Singh, who is seeking to defend a title for the third time in 2005, will be joined in the US$4.4 million tournament by other top earners Phil Mickelson, David Toms and Jim Furyk.

In 2004, Singh came into this event having won the Deutsche Bank Championship and Bell Canadian Open and his victory here made him the first player since Tiger Woods in 2001 to win three straight starts.

This year, Singh missed the Deutsche Bank with back spasms and never could mount a serious threat and finished tied for seventh at the Canadian Open. In this event last season, Singh shot a final round 69 to hold off a hard-charging Stewart Cink by one shot for his first career wire-to-wire victory.

Ten golfers in the field, including the International team's Stuart Appleby, Peter Lonard and Singh, are tuning up for next week's Presidents Cup in Virginia. Woods, who leads the PGA Tour with five victories, including two majors, is not entered here.

Also in the field are Fred Couples, John Daly and Mark Calcavecchia who won his first tour title in four years last week at the Bell Canadian Open despite managing just one birdie in his final 36 holes.

A hefty $792,000 first prize is at stake, but as is always the case on the PGA Tour, charity comes away as the big winner. PGA Tour players have been asked to donate a portion of their earnings to the U.S. Golf Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, and the 84 Lumber Classic will be collecting donations from spectators, volunteers and tournament staff, as well.

Mickelson is playing in the 84 Lumber Classic for the first time. He has pledged his entire paycheck - or $250,000, whichever is higher - to the relief effort. Mickelson, who has already won four times in 2005, currently ranks third on the Tour money list.

PGA Tour Golf Game Odds: SportsInterAction

Odds to win 2005 Lumber Classic:
Vijay Singh 6.00
Phil Mickelson 9.00
Jim Furyk 19.00
Chris DiMarco 19.00

David Toms 21.00

Prediction: DiMarco has been in superb form lately and if he can continue his steady drive and putting, the American should win this tournament.

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Nicklaus, Player set for President's Cup clash

2005-09-01T22:49:00.000-07:00

US Captain Jack Nicklaus, as expected, went with experience while his International counterpart, Gary Player, surprised many when the two long-time friends announced the men who would complete their Presidents Cup teams.

Nicklaus chose Fred Couples and Justin Leonard, who each have played in three previous Presidents Cup. Player, on the other hand, picked Peter Lonard, who played for him at the 2003 matches in South Africa, and rookie Trevor Immelman.

In doing so, Player passed over the man many thought he would select - Steve Elkington, who finished in joint second at the PGA Championship on Monday, one stroke behind the champion Phil Mickelson. The Aussie had played in three previous Presidents Cups, compiling an 8-4-3 record.

Player felt Lonard, who picked up his first PGA TOUR victory earlier this year, had played consistently all season. The 38-year-old from Brisbane, Australia, compiled a 2-2 mark at the last Presidents Cup, including a win in singles.

Immelman, who has three wins on the European Tour, impressed Player with his performance in the majors. The 25-year-old South African tied for fifth at the Masters, shared 15th at the British Open and tied for 17th at the PGA.

Lonard finished 12th in the International Team standings - one place out of the 10 who automatically qualify since Ernie Els is sidelined - while Immelman was 22nd. The standings are based on the Official World Golf Ranking.

Nicklaus got experience and proven talent in his two picks.

Couples, who finished 17th in the U.S. Team standings, has an 8-3-1 record in Presidents Cup play and has partnered Davis Love III in many international competitions. He's also an honorary member at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, which hosts the Presidents Cup Sept. 19-25, and has a 6-1 record there.

Leonard's Presidents Cup record of 3-9-1 isn't stellar, but two of those winning points came two years ago at the Links at Fancourt. He also sank the clinching putt in singles at the 1999 Ryder Cup and has two wins this year on the PGA TOUR.

Nicklaus called Zach Johnson, who was 12th in the U.S. standings, one behind Leonard, on Monday morning to tell him who he'd picked. While Johnson finished strong with a tie for second at the Buick Open and a share of 17th at the PGA Championship, he had missed the cut in the year's other three majors.

Player, on the other hand, has a big void to fill with the loss of Els, who had knee surgery several weeks ago and will be sidelined much of the rest of the year.

PGA Tour Golf Game Odds: SportsInterAction

United States Team 1.53

vs International Team 2.37

Prediction: With Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the lineup, the US Team will be seemingly impossible to beat on home soil. The International Team will surely miss Ernie Els' leadership and composure. US to win the Cup in a close fight.

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tags: Sportsbook, Golf Betting, PGA Tour, Golf, President's Cup, Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Golf betting tips Golf Betting Picks, Golf Betting Odds

PGA Championship: Mickelson bags second career major

2005-08-16T23:28:00.000-07:00

In the 2005 PGA Tour Championship's first version of "Monday Morning Golf" in 19 years, Phil Mickelson nudged in a two-foot putt to birdie the 18th hole at Baltusrol Golf Club, then took off his cap and wiped his face on his sleeve, perhaps symbolizing the wiping away of all doubt about his rightful place among major championship winners.

This wasn't like the Masters of 2004, but it felt darned good to Mickelson, who came back Monday morning to finish off the five holes left over from Sunday's storm-interrupted final round and claimed the second major title of his 13-year professional career in 50 attempts, this one by the margin of a single shot.

As was the case when he won at Augusta in 2004, Mickelson needed a birdie at the last hole to win. It was a historic turn of events. He is only the second player to have won the PGA Championship with a birdie on the 72nd hole, playing out of the final pairing of the day.

The other is Bob Tway, who won in 1986, beating Greg Norman by holing a bunker shot on the last day at Inverness in Toledo. Coincidently, that was also the last PGA Championship held over until Monday because of bad weather.

At 35, more was expected of him, and this time, Mickelson came through with a clear-cut decision that left no room for doubt. With two major titles, in consecutive years, Mickelson is halfway to a career grand slam, which is a far cry from the situation he found himself before the events of Monday morning. This was so new to him that he had a hard time putting it into perspective.

So his timing was a little off. If that's the worst that can be said about Mickelson now, he has indeed come a very long way.

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Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Vijay Singh, Baltusrol, Golf Betting Tips, golf betting picks, PGA Championship

The 2005 Tiger Show heading for dramatic climax

2005-08-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

The Tiger Woods 2005 show is expected to finish in spectacular style here on Sunday evening with the 29-year-old adding another PGA Championship title to his name. Victory would give Woods 11 Majors and only seven behind Jack Nicklaus' record of 18.

This season, Woods won the Masters and the British Open and but for the worst putting display of his career would have taken the US Open. Instead, he had to do with second.

He is not expecting a repeat this week of his putting woes. The American was unstoppable in 2000 and 2001 when he became the first player to hold all four Major titles at the same time.

But it was not enough for him and so he began to retool his swing to become even better. And as he prepared for the 87th PGA Championship he revealed that many parts of his game were better now than five years ago.

Leading the challenge to try and halt Woods will be Fiji's Vijay Singh, the defending champion. The 42-year-old is playing like a 35-year-old and two weeks ago held off a charging Woods to retain his Buick title.

This season, Singh has already pocketed over US$6 million in prize money, helped mainly by four wins on the PGA Tour. He has also finished in the top 10 in all three Majors - a fact not lost on Woods.

Also desperate to stop Woods is Phil Mickelson, who has failed to contend in the Masters, US Open and British Open. It is a fact that rankles the left-hander and only a victory this week can correct.

The lefty insists Woods' 2005 showing does not mean he is streets ahead of the rest of the field. Mickelson said that he expected the world's top players confirm their talent here this week and challenge Woods down to the wire - something they have failed to do so far this year.

Sergio Garcia is hoping the set up at Baltusrol will help him win his maiden major title. Also, US Open champion Michael Campbell was quick to dismiss talk that the championship was, at most, a two man race between Woods and Singh.

But few pundits expect lightning to strike twice.

2005 USPGA Championship Golf Betting Game Odds from: Bodog Sportsbook

Odds to win the 2005 USPGA Championship:

Tiger Woods 9/5

Sergio Garcia 17/1

Phil Mickelson 13/1

Vijay Singh 5/1

Davis Love III 50/1

David Toms 35/1

Jim Furyk 22/1

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Prediction: Who else... Definitely it's going to be Tiger again. A Masters win, a runner-up finish at the US OPEN and another British Open crown are already in the bag. At Baltusrol, Woods will cap his amazing year by winning his third PGA Championship crown and his 11th major.

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Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Vijay Singh, Baltusrol, Golf Betting Tips, golf betting picks, PGA Championship

Tiger Woods Prepares to Test His Re-Engineered Game Once Again

2005-08-09T22:41:00.000-07:00

At the Buick Open last month, a tournament where he made back-to-back eagles, shot 61 and drove greens from a distance of more than three football fields away, Tiger Woods responded to making a birdie on the penultimate hole by cupping his hand to his ear and gazing sideways toward the grandstands.

This was Woods the flirt, the golfer comfortable in his skin and with his swing. This was Woods with two more major championships in his quiver, daring to show that dominance and a veneer of invincibility may return to a golfer even after they were taken away.

Five years after Woods won three major championships in one season by tearing through the PGA Tour nearly unbothered, he may be on the verge of a repeat. A victory this weekend at the P.G.A. Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., would give Woods his third major title of 2005 and give life to the view that he is once again in full flight.

Has Woods already returned to the level of excellence he demonstrated in 2000? Can any superior athlete, when knocked off a pedestal, as Woods was in 2004 when Vijay Singh replaced him as the No. 1 player in the world, return to that height with the same level of command and control?

Fred Funk, who played two rounds with Woods at the Buick Open, said he was not sure Woods was back to the same point he was in 2000, the two major victories notwithstanding. Five years ago, Woods won the United States Open by 15 shots, the British Open by eight and the P.G.A. Championship in a playoff.

This year, Woods won the Masters in a playoff and the British Open by five. Woods has spent the past 17 months retooling his swing with Hank Haney, the longtime teacher of Woods's best friend, Mark O'Meara. For all of Woods's professional accomplishments from 1996 to 2002 - eight major championships in particular - Woods said he believed he could improve.

Jeff Sluman compared Woods to the Chicago Bulls, whose own star, Michael Jordan, led the team to three straight titles, retired, returned to lose to the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference semifinals, then ran off three more titles. Through it all, Jordan was still Jordan and the Bulls were the Bulls, Sluman said.

At Woods's height, he seemed to wield the power to intimidate, by his superior play, his mental strength and even the large galleries. Does that power exist? Did it ever?

Whether or not he intimidates, Woods has returned to the pinnacle of his sport. In April, he won the Masters in a playoff over Chris DiMarco, holing a spinning, sideways chip on the 16th green that was one of the clutch shots in golf history but just one page of the thick Woods portfolio.

At the British Open at St. Andrews, with Jack Nicklaus playing the event for the final time, Woods seized the moment with a five-stroke victory over Colin Montgomerie in one of those rare instances when a gallery softly dreams of a little Woods misfortune and pulls hard for someone else.

Through it all, Woods holds a 4-point lead over Singh in the world rankings. Ernie Els is out for the year with a knee injury. Phil Mickelson and Retief Goosen have imploded in the majors this year, while Woods has outplayed them all.

2005 USPGA Championship Golf Betting Game Odds from: Oasis Sportsbook

Odds to win the 2005 USPGA Championship:

Tiger Woods +220

Sergio Garcia +2000

Phil Mickelson +1400

Vijay Singh +700

Davis Love III +3600

David Toms +3000

Jim Furyk +2300

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Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Vijay Singh, Baltusrol, Golf Betting Tips, golf betting picks, PGA Championship

Follow the Golden rule: At 10 majors & counting, Tiger is stalking the Bear ... again

2005-08-08T19:56:00.000-07:00

It has been a relentless pursuit, built shot by shot, round by round, win by win. Since Tiger Woods appeared on the PGA scene in 1996, he has made a career with his persistence and tenacity, all aimed at one goal.

Now it seems inevitable again. Just when there were doubts that Woods could surpass Jack Nicklaus' haul of 18 major championships, he's re-emerged as the dominant force in golf's biggest tournaments.

British oddsmakers already have him at 4-1 to catch Nicklaus, and the math not only favors Woods - it makes him a cinch. Since he turned pro (and won the Masters) in 1996, Woods has won every 3.5 times he has teed it up in a major. At this rate, he would win his 19th at the 2013 British Open at the tender age of 37. Nicklaus, even with his hip falling apart, won four majors after age 37.

That's what makes this week's PGA Championship at Baltusrol so intriguing. It is Woods' last major before he turns 30. Should he win his third major of the year for the second time in his career (and tie Walter Hagen at 11), he will have won four more majors than the Bear had won in his 20s. Nicklaus went on to win eight more in his 30s and three in his 40s, a fact which is not lost on Woods.

It is almost as if Woods took off 10 majors and challenged anyone else to take their shot. A so-called Big Five emerged in the interim, but while each of the other four won a major title, neither Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh nor Retief Goosen won more than once. Now, Woods has returned to win two out of three majors, begging another comparison to Nicklaus.

While in his prime, Nicklaus' longest major winless streak was 12. Starting with the 1970 British Open at St. Andrews, he came out of that lull by winning four of the next eight. Woods can match that by winning two of his next five.

It's also important to note that the Humongous One is also the Youngest One. Singh is his next-closest challenger but he is 42, creating a bigger age gap than existed between Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Goosen is 36, Mickelson and Els both 35. Of the top 20 players in the World Rankings, only three - Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott and Luke Donald - are younger than Tiger, and none of those three has won a major.

Nicklaus, by comparison, had a bunch of younger players on his tail. Hall of Famers Lee Trevino, Ray Floyd, Hale Irwin, Tom Watson and Johnny Miller were all his junior.

And there's another factor. Singh took his game to another level relatively late in his career with a tireless dedication to improvement. Woods has the same sort of approach.

In any case, the doubts about Tiger's swing started when he left coach Butch Harmon. The doubts about his dedication started when he began dating Elin Nordegren, whom he has since married. Woods, noting that the doubts remained even after he won the Masters in April, took delight in silencing his critics after the British Open.

In Nicklaus' pre-tournament press conference at the British Open, he said that people only started counting his majors after he won his 10th, and that they started counting Woods' majors from the time he turned pro. Not that Tiger has seen it as a burden.

2005 USPGA Championship Golf Betting Game Odds from: SportsInterAction

Odds to win the 2005 USPGA Championship:

Tiger Woods 3.50

Ernie Els 15.00

Phil Mickelson 17.00

Vijay Singh 11.00

Davis Love 41.00

David Toms 34.00

Jim Furyk 26.00

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Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, PGA Championship

Woods Has the Length for Baltusrol

2005-08-03T12:12:00.000-07:00

Tiger Woods got his first look at Baltusrol on Monday, the site of next week's P.G.A. Championship, and he said he liked what he saw.

On a stopover from the Buick Open in Grand Blanc, Mich., where he tied for second behind Vijay Singh on Sunday, to his home in Isleworth, Fla., outside Orlando, Woods teed off around 7 a.m. and played 36 holes in about five hours. He was playing with his swing coach, Hank Haney.

During his second round, Woods and Haney caught up to Phil Mickelson, the 2004 Masters champion, who was playing with Doug Steffen, the Baltusrol pro, and was accompanied by Dave Pelz, his short-game guru. With Woods and Mickelson wearing shorts - which Baltusrol members are forbidden to wear - the foursome played the last two holes together.

Phil Mickelson, who got his first look at Baltusrol on Sunday, thinks the shot values are as good as any golf course on the Tour. He further added the the course is pretty tough to navigate - off the tee, to the greens and on the greens.

The P.G.A. Championship, which Woods won in 1998 at Medinah, outside Chicago, and in 2000 at Valhalla, outside Louisville, Ky., starts Aug. 11. "It's really long," Haney said of Baltusrol, the site of seven United States Opens dating to 1903. "It's all right for Tiger, but it's awfully long for most of the other players."

Woods, this year's Masters and British Open winner, prefers to practice before a major championship and will spend the rest of the week at Isleworth. He will return to Baltusrol early next week. Mickelson, who likes to compete in a PGA Tour event the week before a major, is entered in this week's International in Castle Rock, Colo.

2005 USPGA Championship Golf Betting Game Odds from: SportsInterAction

Odds to win the 2005 USPGA Championship:

Tiger Woods 3.50

Ernie Els 15.00

Phil Mickelson 17.00

Vijay Singh 11.00

Davis Love 41.00

David Toms 34.00

Jim Furyk 26.00

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Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, PGA Championship

Large greens, huge possibilities at Warwick Hills

2005-07-27T19:59:00.000-07:00

There's always something special to play for every week on the PGA Tour because winning a tournament is a monumental achievement all its own. But it's always intriguing when added incentive is put on the table.

This week the Tour is returning to Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan, for the 46th edition of the Buick Open. Featuring some of the largest greens of any course on Tour, Warwick Hills has hosted this $4.6 million tournament 39 times.

A par-72 layout measuring 7,127 yards, Warwick Hills features greens that average 8,000 square feet, which is 2,000 more than the average greens size on the professional tours. Navigating them, however, isn't that demanding; their subtle undulations can be tricky but not exceedingly so. The rest of the course has its bite in the form of tree-lined fairways, some thick rough and 89 bunkers.

Still, these nagging but not nasty features are far from enough to slow down the game's best players. World No. 2 Vijay Singh's 23-under-par winning score last year was the lowest in relation to par in a 72-hole Tour event in 2004.

One of the course's greatest charms is its lack of resistance to scoring over the final seven holes. Two par 4s are drivable, the 12th and 14th, and there are two par 5s in the mix. As a result, competitors can gain quite a bit of ground down the stretch, making for the possibility of a riveting finish. Only twice in the last 25 years has the winner shot a final round of 70 or higher.

Now for that extra incentive. In addition to all the usual perks, this week's Buick Open represents the final event that determines the field for the PGA Championship two weeks hence at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey. The top 70 players on the money list dating from the 2004 International through the Buick Open qualify.

The purse for the inaugural Buick Open in 1958 was $52,000. Since then, it has gone from $100,000 in 1978, to $700,000 in 1988, to $1.8 million in 1998, to its current high of $4.6 million, keeping pace with other purse increases on the PGA Tour. First place money has gone from $9,000 in 1958, to $20,000 in 1978, to $126,000 in 1988, to $324,000 in 1998. The winner of the 2005 Buick Open will receive $828,000.

2005 Buick Open Golf Betting Game Odds from: SportsInterAction

Odds to win the 2005 Buick Open:
Tiger Woods 3.25
Vijay Singh 7.50
Jim Furyk 13.00
Chris DiMarco 26.00
Scott Verplank 26.00
John Daly 34.00

Prediction: Against another star-studded field, Woods will definitely raise his game. He's going to prove that his British Open win is no fluke. Woods will win again with Jim Furyk as runner-up.

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Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, Buick Open

Catching this Tiger maybe harder than ever now

2005-07-22T12:09:00.000-07:00

Britain's betting shops, where the action on golf runs high, were forking over plenty of Nicklaus five-pound notes this week after reportedly losing a record $17.5 million on bets placed on Tiger Woods. Hahaha!

OK, so now he knows how most pro golfers feel.Those pained expressions they wore last week in the British Open at St. Andrews weren't the result of hitting errant shots in the gorse, but from having the window of opportunity slammed on their fingers.

For the past two years, many of them have talked about narrowing the gap on the world's best player, while he went about the business of revamping his swing for the second time.

When Woods won this year's Masters in a playoff, there was talk that he wasn't the same, dominating player who captured 7 of 11 majors during one stretch. When he finished second in the U.S. Open, there were rumblings that he couldn't mount the same kind of charge that once gave opponents a sudden case of yips.

Last week's performance at the Old Course left no doubt that his game not only is back, but his swing appears to be the best it has ever been. About the only thing that might stop him is if he tears half of his musculoskeletal system on one of those vicious rips with his driver.

Woods' buddy John Cook warned early this season that if his fellow pros were going to get a piece of Tiger, they better have it. They didn't, and they might not anytime soon. During the 10 majors when he failed to win, between the 2002 U.S. Open and this year's Masters, no other player won more than one. Next up is the PGA Championship at Baltusrol, which sets up perfectly for Woods to claim his third major of the year. Woods has never played the course but has taken note of one of its features.

The PGA will be Woods' last major before he turns 30, and if the also-rans weren't impressed enough, that should get their attention. Just wait until he reaches the 30-something freeway, the age when most pro golfers play their best. Woods has won 10 of his first 39 majors and needs eight more to match Jack Nicklaus' record of 18. Before he turns 40, he will have 41 chances to do so, and right now there aren't too many players standing in his way. When this season started, Woods appeared to have four serious challengers, but none has delivered in the big events.

Vijay Singh is struggling with his putter. Ernie Els appears worn out from his globetrotting ways. Phil Mickelson played well early but has faltered in majors. Retief Goosen went belly up in the U.S. Open.

Current odds are 2-1 that Woods will win the PGA and 4-1 that he will break Nicklaus' record. Bookmakers, beware...

2005 USPGA Championship Golf Betting Game Odds from: SportsInterAction

Odds to win the 2005 USPGA Championship:

Tiger Woods 3.50

Ernie Els 15.00

Phil Mickelson 17.00

Vijay Singh 11.00

Davis Love 41.00

David Toms 34.00

Jim Furyk 26.00

for more Sports and 2005 PGA Championships Golf Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: Sports Betting Index

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, PGA Championship

Woods chasing history in PGA Championship

2005-07-20T23:21:00.000-07:00

If Tiger Woods had made just two more putts at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, next month's PGA Championship at Baltusrol would have been the most important golfing event in 75 years.

But, while his Grand Slam chances are gone, Woods still can be the first golfer to twice win three majors in a year. He's now tied with Ben Hogan as the only two to do it once, Hogan being just another of the legends whom Woods keeps eclipsing.

Having secured the Claret Jug for the second time, Woods is now tied with Bobby Jones with 13 combined professional and amateur majors. He is one shy of Walter Hagen's 11 pro majors and eight short of Jack Nicklaus' 18.

It again seems like just a formality before he catches the Golden Bear. Just do the math. He has been winning a major every 3.5 times he tees it up. Nicklaus won his last major at age 46, so Tiger will have roughly 60 chances to win eight more.

The next could easily be at Baltusrol, in Springfield, N.J. Woods always does well at courses where Nicklaus won - they have similar strengths - and the Bear won two U.S. Opens at the A.W. Tillinghast layout. Actually, it will play at a record 650 yards, the longest hole on a course that has been stretched to its limits in order to prevent another scoring record. Lee Janzen tied Nicklaus' 272, also set at Baltusrol in '67, when he won in 1993.

Woods can expect thick bluegrass rough and narrow fairways this time, but his wildness problems seem to be behind him. The swing changes he made with Hank Haney all came together this past week so that Nicklaus, watching back home on TV, said it was the best he's ever seen Woods swing the club.

That brings to mind another question. Will the lesser four-fifths of the Big Five shake what, by Woods standards, might qualify as a slump? Defending PGA champ Vijay Singh has played his best golf in regular tour events, Ernie Els seems to win only on the Euro Tour and Phil Mickelson has done nothing since Doral. Retief Goosen's image as the unflappable ice man in the clutchis now gone. Oops, that's back-to-back final-round meltdowns in majors now for the Goose. He started the finale here three shots behind Woods but bogeyed the first two holes, three of the first five and four of the first eight.

It seems as though Woods, who went 10 majors without a win before this year's Masters, has opened another gap. Once again, everyone else may have to work harder to make it up.

2005 USPGA Championship Golf Betting Game Odds from: SportsInterAction

Odds to win the 2005 USPGA Championship:

Tiger Woods 3.50

Ernie Els 15.00

Phil Mickelson 17.00

Vijay Singh 11.00

Davis Love 41.00

David Toms 34.00

Jim Furyk 26.00

for more Sports and 2005 PGA Championships Golf Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: Sports Betting Index

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, PGA Championship

Can Woods go for three for four?

2005-07-19T23:15:00.000-07:00

How about three out of four? Tiger Woods may have missed his chance at the 2005 Grand Slam when he was second at the U.S. Open after bogeying the 16th and 17th in the last round, but now he has two of the year's major titles, the Masters and the British Open, with the PGA Championship next, Aug. 11-14 at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J.

If he hadn't flubbed a chip and missed a short putt at the U.S. Open last month, Woods could be going for the Grand Slam at the PGA Championship next month. Woods, with 10 major titles, can catch Walter Hagen with a victory at the PGA. Jack Nicklaus, who said goodbye to major championship golf here this weekend, is the leader with 18.

Make no mistake -- Woods is back, looking just as dominating as he did at the start of the millennium. While the Grand Slam is out reach - for now - he did wrap up the â€œNicklaus Slamâ€ going 4-for-4 when the Golden Bear played in golf's biggest events for the last time.

Woods' victory at the Old Course coincides nicely with farewells in majors by Nicklaus. When Nicklaus played his last PGA Championship at Valhalla in 1999, Woods won. When Nicklaus played his last U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in 2000, Woods won. And if Nicklaus did indeed play his last Masters in April, Woods won that one, too.

Woods will go to Baltusrol as an overwhelming favorite to pull even with Hagen and win three majors in a year for the second time - not bad for a guy who's still five months away from his 30th birthday. Woods already claimed the "Tiger Slam,'' becoming the only golfer to hold all four major titles at the same time. But it wasn't a Slam in the purest sense, since he won the last three titles of 2000 and didn't win the Masters until the following year.

Officials from the PGA of America have announced that a limited number of tickets remain to see Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson and the rest of the world's greatest golfers compete in the 87th PGA Championship. The season's final major will be contested Aug. 11-14, 2005, at famed Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J.

While weekly packages, including Season Passes and Wanamaker Club packages, are still available for purchase, daily tickets for the final Championship rounds on Saturday and Sunday are nearly sold out. In addition, tickets are still available for practice rounds, which are set for Monday through Wednesday.

2006 Ryder Cup Golf Betting Game Odds from: BODOG SportsBook

Odds to win the 2006 Ryder Cup:

Europe 5/6

USA 6/5

Tie 8/1

Prediction: It's USA's time to shine... Now that Tiger's back to his old form, expect the Americans to dominate the Europeans and regain lost glory.

for more Sports and 2005 PGA Championships Golf Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: Sports Betting Index

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, PGA Championship

Woods returns to dominance at British Open

2005-07-18T23:33:00.000-07:00

Once again, there was no stopping Tiger Woods, not the pressure of a Sunday with a major championship on the line, not a swirling wind, not the burden of history and not the heat generated by those determined to chase him down.

The sky above the Old Course was as gray as the stone buildings that line Links Road as it hugs the length of the 18th fairway when Woods closed out his round of two-under-par 70, winning the British Open for a second time and completing his second career grand slam.

Woods' 10th major championship was a picture of consistency and a testament to perseverance. His rounds of 66-67-71-70 added up to a 14-under par total of 274, five shots ahead of Colin Montgomerie. Woods joined Jack Nicklaus as the only players to have won all four of the major championships at least twice, but at 29 Woods is younger than Nicklaus when he accomplished the feat at 31.

Almost from the moment Woods set a goal as a youngster growing up in Orange County in Cypress that he would break Nicklaus' record of 18 major titles, it seems there was no other player with whom he could ever compare. So here is another: Nicklaus' 10th major title was the 1972 Masters, which he won when he was 32. The only other player with 10 or more major titles is Walter Hagen, who had 11.

In the end, Woods' 10th will go down as one of his most serene, although it really wasn't, despite his margin of victory. Unlike his 19-under total when he claimed his first British Open on the Old Course in 2000, won by eight shots and completed his first career grand slam, Woods didn't exactly have clear sailing this time. But he still overpowered the course as well as the competition with equal parts flair and grit.

Woods raised his arms after making his putt for par at the famous 18th hole, in front of the green metal bleachers that spilled over with fans. He grinned and removed his cap and waved it to acknowledge the polite applause for a mission accomplished. In the final analysis, it might not have been spotless, but it was effective.

Woods is the sixth player to win the British Open wire-to-wire and the first since Tom Weiskopf in 1973. The others are Ted Ray in 1912, Bobby Jones in 1927, Gene Sarazen in 1932 and Henry Cotton in 1934. It was Woods' fourth victory this year and the 44th of his career. His payday Sunday of $1,261,584 moves him to No. 1 on the PGA Tour money list with $6.6 million and also increased his career prize money to $51,744,610.

And there's one more number to look at: Woods is 10 for 10 in majors when either leading after 54 holes or sharing the lead. He has never lost. Judging by the way he played for four days in July on the Old Course along St. Andrews Bay, Woods looks like he might never.

Just before Woods received the Claret Jug in the awards ceremony, he was introduced by Peter Dawson, the secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, as "the champion golfer of the year."

So far, he's done nothing to prove otherwise.

2006 Ryder Cup Golf Betting Game Odds from: BODOG SportsBook

Odds to win the 2006 Ryder Cup:

Europe 5/6

USA 6/5

Tie 8/1

Prediction: It's USA's time to shine... Now that Tiger's back to his old form, expect the Americans to dominate the Europeans and regain lost glory.

for more Sports and 2005 British Open Golf Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: SportsBettingIndex

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, British Open 2005, 2005 British Open, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, British Open

For Goosen and Campbell, Finish at Pinehurst Looms

2005-07-16T20:07:00.000-07:00

Retief Goosen and Michael Campbell crossed at an intersection in golf history last month at Pinehurst No. 2, with Goosen blowing a three-shot lead in the final round and Campbell surging to win his first major.

Now each player is within reach of Tiger Woods, the leader, at the 134th British Open at the Old Course at St. Andrews. Goosen trails Woods by three shots, Campbell by five. Goosen, in winning the United States Open in 2001 at Southern Hills and 2004 at Shinnecock Hills, forged a reputation as a steely competitor. That image took a hit at Pinehurst, but could be revived here.
He thrived in the dry, nearly unplayable conditions at Shinnecock, and that experience may help him along the fast-running dunes here.

But he also knows that Woods has been impenetrable when carrying a 54-hole lead into the final round of a major. Campbell, who made up a four-shot deficit against Goosen at Pinehurst, blew a two-shot lead going into the final round in 1995 at St. Andrews.

Woods stared hard down the sixth fairway, toward his ball knotted in an unplayable lie, toward an eventual bogey and toward an uneven third round that brought a talented group closer to him in the 134th British Open.

Olazabal spent the first two days here paired with Woods, while Goosen and Montgomerie have played with Woods when the pressure has been greatest. Garcia tangled with Woods at the United States Open at Bethpage Black in 2002. Campbell held off Woods at the United States Open last month at Pinehurst No. 2. Two years ago, Faxon jousted with Woods at the Buick Invitational, and Singh has been wrestling with Woods for the No. 1 ranking going on one year.

All of them appeared doomed by Woods's 66-67 beginning at St. Andrews - where he won the British Open by eight shots in 2000 - but they have life now.

2005 British Open Golf Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Odds to win:

T. Woods -200

V. Singh +3000

M. Campbell +6500

J.M. Olazabal +800

R. Goosen +800

B. Faxon +5000

C. Montgomerie +1400

D. Clarke +10000

S. Garcia +2000

Prediction: No doubt it's gonna be Tiger Woods again. He's driving accurately, hitting greens and putting superbly. On Sunday, he will lift his second British Open trophy.

for more 2005 British Open Golf Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: PGA Tour Golf Betting

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, British Open 2005, 2005 British Open, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, British Open

Woods off to a fast start at St. Andrews

2005-07-15T22:25:00.000-07:00

Tiger Woods finally found a bunker on the Old Course. Actually, he found three of them, which is three more than he hit when he won the 2000 British Open here. But it looks like the same old story on the Old Course.

It could be a frightening tale, considering the first chapter was one stroke better than five years ago. In 2000, Woods hit zero bunkers and shot 67. This time, he opened with a 6-under 66. Players are reading the scoreboard with interest because they know Woods' potential for creating masterpieces at St. Andrews.

Everybody knows that nobody can match Woods on his Royal and Ancient playground. Woods is like the R and A. He makes himself at home on the Old Course, and he's the governing body of golf with lots of records, history and prestigious trophies. Win or lose, this Open Championship will be up to Woods.

Woods' bunker-free streak was bound to end, considering there are 112 of them. It had happened on the par-4 seventh hole, where his 320-yard drive caught the trap fronting the green. He got up and down from 40 feet for birdie. He made bogeys after sideway bunker blasts on Nos. 13 and 16.

But he cruised with such efficiency, making four straight birdies to get to 7 under after 12 holes, that he was poised to transform the 134th Open Championship into the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. That's why the field should worry. Woods is in his comfort zone, having led four of his last five rounds at St. Andrews. He entered today's play with his third-best opening round in a major.

Although Woods may not seem like the dominant player of 2000, remember, he won the Masters and finished second at the U.S. Open with less than his best. It will take low scores by heavy hitters such as Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen for Woods to look over his shoulder. The other members of the Big Five, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson, entered the second round tied for 74th and 73rd, respectively.

For at least one day, it was vintage Woods, trying to become only the second player to win all four majors at least twice. Jack Nicklaus, playing his last major here, is the other.

It's only one round, but when Woods is on the Old Course, it's a familiar refrain.

2005 British Open Golf Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Odds to win:

T. Woods +125

V. Singh +1200

P. Mickelson +8000

E. Els +4000

R. Goosen +1200

M. Hensby +2000

A. Scott +4000

L. Donald +1600

S. Garcia +2200

Prediction: No doubt it's gonna be Tiger Woods again. He's driving accurately, hitting greens and putting superbly. On Sunday, he will lift his second British Open trophy.

for more Sports and 2005 British Open Golf Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: Sports Betting Index

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, British Open 2005, 2005 British Open, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, British Open

British Open: Tiger and Bear... for the Last Time

2005-07-14T00:24:00.000-07:00

The 134th edition of the oldest major championship in golf begins this morning at the Old Course, where there will be a new look and a last goodbye from an old friend.The skies are supposed to be friendly fly zones for the power hitters at the beefed up links that hug St. Andrews Bay, with four new tees adding 164 yards to the 7,279-yard layout, which Tiger Woods tromped at 19 under par to win here five years ago.

Woods is the strongest challenger and is acting like it, having caved in the face of his driver on the ninth hole during a practice round. As usual, Woods draws the most attention, the case at every major, but he will share the spotlight with Jack Nicklaus, who is playing in his last major championship.

Nicklaus, 65, a three-time British Open winner, is saying farewell at St. Andrews, where he won in 1978, through a favor from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, which moved the Old Course forward a year in the rotation so Nicklaus could end his career here. The tournament has a 65-year-old age limit.

Woods is coming off a tie for third at the Memorial, a second at the U.S. Open and second at the Western Open. This is his 11th British Open, his ninth as a pro, and he has four top 10s in addition to winning here five years ago. But Woods isn't the only top player taking aim at the ancestral home of golf. The conventional thinking is that someone from the head of the class is going to hold the Claret Jug this time, ending the two-year run on upset winners, Ben Curtis at Royal St. George's and Todd Hamilton at Royal Troon.

Vijay Singh, the leading money winner on the PGA Tour, has already won three times this year. But his British Open record isn't that great, although he did tie for second at Royal St. George's in 2003. He has only one other top 10 in his 16 appearances in the Open.Ernie Els seriously considered skipping last week's Scottish Open after he tied for 15th at the U.S. Open, but he shot three rounds in the 60s, wound up 11th, and figures he's in good shape if his putting comes around.

There are others who promise to be in the mix this week, a healthy list that includes Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Adam Scott, David Toms and U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell. Wherever the winner is found, the Old Course will decide another major champion, while Nicklaus, the greatest major champion of all time, chooses the right place to call it a career.

2005 British Open Golf Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Tournament Matchups:

T. Woods -198

vs V. Singh +183

P. Mickelson +135

vs E. Els -145

R. Goosen +1900

J. Furyk -135

D. Toms +125

Prediction: Pick Woods over Singh, Els over Mickelson and Toms over Furyk.

for more Sports and 2005 British Open Golf Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: Sports Betting Index

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, British Open 2005, 2005 British Open, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, British Open

Something old and new at the British Open

2005-07-12T00:28:00.000-07:00

The birthplace of golf is becoming a popular place to say goodbye.

Arnold Palmer struck a famous pose atop the Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews when he played his final British Open in 1995. It was a heartfelt tribute to the King, who resurrected US interest in the oldest championship in golf and returned the Open to its place of prominence.

Next to cross that bridge for the last time will be Jack Nicklaus, who conquered the Old Course in 1970 and 1978 and has decided to make this British Open his final appearance in a major-championship career that defined the modern standard of greatness.

And in the middle of these amazing 10 years at St. Andrews was Tiger Woods in 2000.

Indeed, Woods turned his back on the field and left everyone in his wake when the British Open last was held at St. Andrews, turning in a performance never before seen on these hallowed grounds. He didn't hit into a single trap over 72 holes, using sheer power to fly the ball beyond the punishing pot bunkers that serve as the best defense on the Old Course. When it was over, Woods became the youngest player (24) to complete the career Grand Slam, and his 19-under 269 remains the record score relative to par at any major.

St. Andrews is loaded with history, and the home of golf is ripe with opportunity to make more when the 134th British Open returns to the Old Course for the 27th time starting Thursday.

Woods has a history of winning majors when Nicklaus is on his way out. He won by a record 15 shots at Pebble Beach when Nicklaus played in his final U.S. Open in 2000 and won the PGA Championship that year at Valhalla while playing the first two rounds with the Golden Bear. After missing the cut this year at the Masters, Nicklaus said he no longer would compete at Augusta National, and Woods went on to win in a playoff.

Coming off a 2-1/2-year drought in the majors and his third swing change as a pro, Woods is doing just fine this season. Along with winning his fourth Masters and two PGA Tour events that featured some of the strongest fields of the year, he finished two shots behind Michael Campbell in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.

Woods remains locked in a battle for No. 1 with Vijay Singh, who has played St. Andrews better than the other courses in the British Open rotation. For all the talk of a ''Big Five,'' they are starting to separate themselves.

Els was the runner-up at St. Andrews in 2000 and simply adores the Old Course. He was on the winning team twice at St. Andrews during his nine years playing the Dunhill Cup. Phil Mickelson finally found some success in the British Open last year, finishing one shot out of a playoff at Royal Troon. He already has spent two full days at St. Andrews, playing one round without any pins in the greens.

Despite all the changes to the course and the battle at the top, the focus at this British Open is on Nicklaus. About the only thing he has failed to conquer in golf is learning how to retire graciously. He wishes now he had left tournament golf after winning the 1986 Masters at age 46 for his sixth green jacket. It was his last victory on the PGA Tour, and Nicklaus has gone from hoping to dreaming that he can compete.

2005 British Open Golf Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Odds to win:

Woods +320

V. Singh +1500

P. Mickelson +1700

E. Els +1000

R. Goosen +1900

J. Furyk +3300

D. Toms +5000

L. Donald +3500

S. Garcia +2000

Prediction: Sergio Garcia has been in superb form lately and will surely be a major contender at St. Andrews this weekend. Goosen will be in the top ten along with Singh and Woods. Pick Garcia or Woods to lift the trophy.

for more Sports and 2005 British Open Golf Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: Sports Betting Index

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, British Open 2005, 2005 British Open, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, British Open

2005 British Open: US should have strong presence at St. Andrews

2005-07-11T22:37:00.000-07:00

It goes against the grain of bagpipes, single-malt Scotch whiskey and gorse, but there's a definite U.S. flavor to the oldest golf tournament in the world, the British Open.

If you were to choose a likely winner for this week's 134th version of the Open Championship, would you choose a U.S. player? It might be a good call. U.S. players have won four of the last five and eight of the last 10 British Opens, the only exceptions in the streak being Paul Lawrie of Ireland in 1999 at Carnoustie and Ernie Els of South Africa in 2002 at Muirfield.

But it's a slightly different Old Course this time around. Changes have been made, such as lengthening the course 164 yards to 7,279 with the addition of four new tees. This brings back into play a number of bunkers that were being ignored because of the players' strength off the tee. Courses have been Tiger-proofed. Might this be U.S.-proofing?

Normally, choosing Tiger Woods as the U.S. player most likely to win the British Open seems a safe bet. Woods has won it only once, although that victory was a rout, an eight-shot triumph in 2000 here on the Old Course. This recent list of U.S. players who have won the British Open began with John Daly's playoff victory over Costantino Rocca of Italy at St. Andrews in 1995, starting a stretch of four straight wins for U.S. players that continued with Tom Lehman in 1996 at Royal Lytham, Justin Leonard in 1997 at Royal Troon and Mark O'Meara in 1998 at Royal Birkdale.

Leonard had a chance to continue the streak, but he lost to Lawrie in a playoff at Carnoustie. Woods' record-setting victory here in 2000 preceded David Duval's three-shot victory over Niclas Fasth at Royal Lytham in 2001. Els won in a four-way playoff at Muirfield in 2002 after Woods had taken himself out of it with an 81 in a wind-blown third round that not even a 65 on Sunday could fix.

After that, two more U.S. players won and it would be difficult to determine which was the bigger surprise: Ben Curtis in 2003 at Royal St. George's or Todd Hamilton in a playoff over Els last year at Royal Troon. Curtis was ranked 396th when he showed up at Royal St. George's and hadn't earned his place in the field until the week before. Hamilton was a 38-year-old rookie and eight-time qualifying school veteran.

The U.S. success ratio at the Old Course is noteworthy, perhaps an indication that the wide-open format of the layout, where long hitters are rewarded, has been beneficial to the PGA Tour pros. Plus, the weather has generally been warm and sunny, which hasn't hurt.

Since 1970, when Jack Nicklaus won at the Old Course, U.S. players have won five of the last seven championships played here in St. Andrews. Nicklaus won again in 1978, Seve Ballesteros of Spain won in 1984, Nick Faldo of England in 1990, then came Daly in 1995 and Woods in 2000.

Will it happen again? Check the wind, check the bunkers, check the passports, then check back on Sunday.

2005 British Open Golf Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Odds to win:

Woods +330

V. Singh +1400

P. Mickelson +1580

E. Els +1000

R. Goosen +1800

J. Furyk +3000

D. Toms +4950

L. Donald +3600

S. Garcia +2200

for more Sports and 2005 British Open Golf Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: Sports Betting Index

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, British Open 2005, 2005 British Open, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, British Open

Reigning British Open champ Hamilton stuck in a major slump

2005-07-06T22:40:00.000-07:00

So which Todd Hamilton is going to show up at St. Andrews, Scotland next week? Will it be the player who went to PGA Tour qualifying school eight times or the British Open champion who defeated Ernie Els in a playoff last year at Royal Troon?

Last year, as a 38-year-old rookie, Hamilton shocked everyone with his upset over Els, joining such recent first-time major champions as Ben Curtis, Shaun Micheel and Rich Beem. He earned more than $3 million and made the 11 years he toiled on the Japan Tour seem like a distant memory.

So far this year, Hamilton doesn't have a top-10 finish in 19 tournaments and has missed six cuts, three of them in the last four weeks. His best result is a tie for 18th at Houston. Hamilton isn't a long hitter, but he has dropped 30 places in driving distance from last year, to 115th. And he's also 117th in greens in regulation and 115th in scoring.

Tiger Woods might blame his putting for not winning his last three times out, but he tied for third at the Memorial and was second at the U.S. Open and the Western and, believe it or not, he will arrive at St. Andrews with an improved putting average.

Woods is 14th, up from 20th a week ago, with such notables as Chris DiMarco, David Toms, Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard and Jim Furyk ahead of him. On the Old Course, putting may not be as important as how far you hit it and how quickly you get the ball on the green.

And because there's no rough at St. Andrews, here's another interesting statistic that probably won't hurt Woods: 169th in fairways hit. A more important statistic at St. Andrews is bunkers hit - and when Woods won in 2000, the number was zero.

There are 142 players who have earned places in the field of 156 for next week's Open Championship at St. Andrews and the last 14 will be decided by the highest finisher not already exempt at the Barclay's Scottish Open and at the John Deere Classic and 12 from local final qualifying.

2005 British Open Golf Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Odds to win:

Woods +320

V. Singh +1400

P. Mickelson +1600

E. Els +1000

R. Goosen +1800

J. Furyk +3000

D. Toms +5000

L. Donald +3600

S. Garcia +2200

for more Sports and 2005 British Open Golf Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: Sports Betting Index

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, British Open 2005, 2005 British Open, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, British Open

Garcia, Singh strives for three at Barclay's Classic

2005-06-24T00:20:00.000-07:00

This would be Sergio Garcia's major accomplishment, until he wins a major. The defending champ can highlight his career by becoming the first three-time winner at Westchester in the Barclays Classic that opens today.

A third would be no small feat. The names Garcia is trying to leave behind are impressive: Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Ernie Els and, ominously, defending and current money leader Vijay Singh, who is also here seeking that record third.

Garcia (2001, 2004 titles) and Singh (1993, 1995) loom as the first-tee favorites at the Barclays Classic, which is lacking Tiger Woods, Els and Phil Mickelson. Garcia tied for third at last week's U.S. Open at Pinehurst and won the Booz Allen the week before. He's hot and now returns to Westchester, where he has played par-or-better for 19 straight rounds, and enjoyed four straight top-10 finishes.

Westchester Country Club, site of this week's Barclays Classic, is one of those storied old gems that we don't see that much of anymore on the PGA Tour. In these days when so many of the pros are hitting drives 300-plus yards, the 6,839-yard Westchester course - designed in 1922 by Walter Travis - holds its own because it is one which you can't overpower. In a way, hitting it too far can be a problem on this short layout.

The course is very hilly with tree-lined fairways. The rough is always difficult, and many consider it the toughest they play all year. This year the tournament follows the U.S. Open, but in the years when it is played the week before the Open, such as last year, it provides a good tune-up for the players. It draws a stronger field in the years it is played before the Open than in years like this one when it follows it.

Singh returns to the scene of his first PGA Tour win. This is one of the tournaments that Vijay always seems to play well in, and he wouldn't surprise anyone with a victory here this week. The putter was his problem at Pinehurst, and if he putts just a bit better this week he will be a shoe-in for a top finish.

Barclays Classic Golf Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Head-to-Head Matchups:

Vijay Singh -225
vs K.J. Choi +205
S. Garcia -141
vs P. Harrington +131

Prediction: Sergio Garcia has been in superb form lately and will surely be a major contender at the tournament this weekend. He will again be a major contender along with Singh and Jim Furyk. Pick Garcia or Furyk to lift the trophy.

for more Sports and Barclays Classic Golf Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: Sports Betting Index

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, Barclays Classic 2005, Barclays Classic, Sergio Garcia, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, Golf Betting Odds

Woods shoots for second leg of Grand Slam

2005-06-14T23:42:00.000-07:00

The memories are twofold at this U.S. Open. First, Payne Stewart created such a legacy at Pinehurst No. 2 that a bronze statue of his reaction to making the winning putt stands above the 18th green.

But as many of the 156 players file into the Donald Ross course in the sandhills of North Carolina, they have reason to remember the fiasco the U.S. Open became last year at Shinnecock Hills.

Retief Goosen didn't win his second U.S. Open last year as much as he survived it. The USGA allowed Shinnecock to get so dry and brittle that no one broke par in the last round, and 28 players failed to break 80. The par-3 seventh would not hold a tee shot, and it reached the point that officials had to water the green every other group.

Pinehurst presents enough difficulties on its own.

The identity of the venerable course is found in the greens, which are described as domed - or as turtlebacks or upside-down saucers. They are sloped severely around the edges, demanding precision like no other U.S. Open site.

Singh, the No. 1 player in the world, lacks U.S. Open and British Open titles to complete the career Grand Slam, the only things missing from his Hall of Fame career. The 42-year-old Fijian considers the U.S. Open the toughest of the four majors, demanding players to have control off the tee and on the greens, and everything in between.

The short game plays into Mickelson's strength, for few players possess his imagination around the greens. Players can hit a variety of chips with a half-dozen clubs, although Mickelson tends to hit them all with his sand wedge.

Mickelson is the sentimental favorite, and he already has won three times this year on the PGA Tour, making him a strong favorite. But he has struggled since winning the BellSouth Classic in a playoff, failing to contend in his last four tournaments.

As for Woods?

The Masters champion is the only player capable of the Grand Slam this year, and expectations usually are high whenever he slips on a green jacket. But this year is different.

Woods felt his fourth victory at Augusta National would be a validation of the changes he made to his swing. Instead, it has felt more like an interrogation, with people questioning whether his game truly is back.

He has never been this unpredictable.

True, he won the Masters with three perfect shots in a playoff to beat Chris DiMarco. But most people remember the bad swings on the final two holes in regulation that led to bogeys and made him work overtime.

He rallied to win at Torrey Pines and Doral. He missed the cut at the Byron Nelson Championship, ending his record streak on the PGA Tour at 142 consecutive events in the money.

Which Woods will show up at Pinehurst?

No one knows for sure, although Woods certainly is capable of a calendar Slam - remember, he won four straight majors from the 2000 U.S. Open through the 2001 Masters.

Perhaps no other tournament is as tough as the U.S. Open, which prides itself on protecting par. Pinehurst No. 2 was relatively soft six years ago when Stewart won, starting and finishing with light rain. Even so, Stewart was the only player to break par for the tournament.

US Open Golf Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Odds to win:

T. Woods +500
V. Singh +1050
P. Mickelson +800
E. Els +1000
R. Goosen +1800
J. Furyk +2000
D. Toms +2450
L. Donald +2700

S. Garcia +2400

Prediction: Sergio Garcia has been in superb form lately and will surely be a major contender at Pinehurst this weekend. Goosen will be in the top ten along with Singh and Woods. Pick Garcia or Woods to lift the trophy.

for more Sports and US Open Golf Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: Sports Betting Index

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, US Open 2005, US Open, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, Golf Betting Odds

US Open 2005: Goosen, out to steal limelight from the 'Big Four'

2005-06-13T23:46:00.000-07:00

Quick, name the only golfer besides Tiger Woods to win two U.S. Open titles in the last 10 years. No, it's not Ernie Els, though he did win the Open in 1994 and `97. No, it's not Phil Mickelson or Vijay Singh, who haven't even won it once.

The answer is Retief Goosen of South Africa, who has perfected the art of standing in the spotlight and not casting a shadow. Adept at avoiding anything that would draw attention to himself - except for the times he pops up in June and picks off a major - the stoic Goosen is golf's fifth Beatle.

When the 105th U.S. Open begins on June 16 at Pinehurst Resort's No. 2 course, he'll be the nearly anonymous defending champion, the guy wearing the boring tan khakis and the blank expression on his face.Goosen, who also won the U.S. Open in 2001, enters this year's event ranked No. 5 in the world and loving the attention he's not getting.

Much of the pre-tournament talk will be about the late Payne Stewart, who won a memorable duel with Mickelson at Pinehurst in 1999, just months before he died in a plane crash.

When the tournament begins, all eyes will be on Woods, who won the Masters in April and goes after the second leg of the Grand Slam on Donald Ross' most famous course design. Just five players have won the Masters and U.S. Open in the same year, including Woods in 2002.

Others to watch include Singh, ranked No. 1 in the world and a three-time winner this year; Mickelson, who finished second to Goosen at Shinnecock Hills; Els, ranked No. 3 in the world; and Jim Furyk, twice a runner-up this year and the only golfer besides Woods and Goosen to win the Open since 2000.

Of the top players, the 36-year-old Goosen is perhaps best-suited for the U.S. Open, which demands patience and rewards precision. Goosen has the demeanor of a Buddhist Zen and a metronomic consistency with every club in his bag.

He ranks among the top 35 on the PGA Tour in greens in regulation, birdie average, putting average, total driving, ball-striking, scrambling and scoring average. In other words, he doesn't have any weaknesses.

Though Goosen no longer works regularly with Jos Vanstiphout, he credits the Belgian sports psychologist for teaching him how to win. Goosen steered good friend Els to Vanstiphout and the two are still together.

Goosen has won 17 international titles but only five times in America, including the Open twice and the 2004 Tour Championship. Though he hasn't won on the PGA Tour this year, he tied for third in the Masters, finished fourth at Bay Hill and tied for 12th at the Players Championship.

In other words, the bigger the event and the stronger the field, the better Goosen plays. Give Goosen a briefcase and he could pass for an investment banker. But put him on a golf course with tree-lined fairways, tough rough and table-top greens and he's electrifying.

US Open Golf Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Odds to win:

Woods +475

V. Singh +1000

P. Mickelson +850

E. Els +950

R. Goosen +1750

J. Furyk +2100

D. Toms +2500

L. Donald +2800

S. Garcia +2400

for more US Open Golf Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: Sports Betting Index

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, US Open 2005, US Open, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, Golf Betting Odds

Els defends Memorial crown against familiar foes

2005-06-01T01:48:00.000-07:00

With three international victories this year, defending champion Ernie Els arrives at the Memorial Tournament this week ranked No. 3 in the world, but still seeking his first win on the PGA TOUR in 2005.

Muirfield Village, where Els has five top-10 finishes, might be just the spot. Defending champion Els makes his second PGA TOUR start since the Masters. He has been competing since then, however, winning the BMW Asian Open in China by 13 strokes for his third European Tour victory of the year. This will be Els' 12th appearance in the Memorial tournament.

He has never missed a cut and has finished in the top 10 five times. He has four top-10 performances in seven starts on the TOUR this season, including a tie for third at the season opening Mercedes Championship and a solo second at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

The 105-player field at the Memorial Tournament features 40 international players from 17 nations outside the United States. Included are players from Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, France, Germany, Northern Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Paraguay, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Wales and Thailand.

Tiger Woods is making his ninth start in the Memorial Tournament, having played in it each year since he turned professional. He has won the Memorial Tournament three times. Coupled with his success in the NEC Invitational in Akron, Woods has won six times in the state of Ohio, second only to the eight times each he has won in California and Florida.

He can further define his progress with a win this week at the 30th Memorial Tournament, where seven of the top 11 players in the Official World Golf Ranking are among the 105 competitors. Woods, No. 2 in the world, has finished outside the top four here just once since 1999, and he has shot par 72 or better in 22 of 24 rounds at Muirfield, which has been stretched again slightly in the last year and now measures 7,300 yards.

The 1997 winner of the Memorial Tournament, Vijay Singh, is in the process of building a golf course to help bring an end to ethnic tensions in his native Fiji. Singh, the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world, has played in 71 events, with 16 victories since the start of the 2003 season He's also been second nine times, third twice and has posted 44 top-10 finishes. During that span, he's earned $23,771,079. That by itself would be good enough for sixth on the all-time career money list.

PGA Golf Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Odds to win:

1 Tiger Woods +469

2 Vijay Singh +656

3 Ernie Els +982

4 Jim Furyk +1666

5 David Toms +2061

Prediction: It's a three-way battle between former champions Woods, Els and Singh. Lookout for darkhorses like Jim Furyk, David Toms and Adam Scott.

for more Sports Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: Sports Betting Index

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Tour, The Memorial Tournament, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, Golf Betting Odds

Toms guns for third straight FedEx St. Jude Classic crown

2005-05-26T01:26:00.000-07:00

The 48th annual FedEx St. Jude Classic will bring a week of exciting golf and entertainment to Memphis, TN, as the world's finest golfers compete for a purse of $4.9 million May 26-29, 2005.

The golf course is very different from last year when David Toms won the tournament sponsored by FedEx for a second straight year. The grass on the greens was stripped with champion Bermuda replacing the original bentgrass, and tee boxes were pushed forward or back to add 141 yards.

Par is a stroke lower at 70 on the 7,244-yard course. The par-5 No. 5 was changed to a 485-yard par 4, with the tee moved forward. Sticking a shot on the green that slopes to the back won't be easy.

Slight favorite for the crown is American Kenny Perry. He blew away the field last week by seven strokes in winning the Colonial despite a case of nearsightedness so bad he couldn't read his eye doctor's chart less than 24 hours later.

Perry has very few good memories at the TPC at Southwind. He hasn't played there since 1999, partly because he hasn't fared very well on the course with five missed cuts, including his last two visits in 1998 and 1999. He was third in 1996 for his only top 10 finish.

If Toms wins the FedEx St. Jude Classic for the third consecutive year, he will be the first player other than Tiger Woods to win the same event three times in a row. Legendary Tom Watson won the Byron Nelson Classic from 1978-80.

The format of the tournament is stroke play at 18 holes for four days, a total of 72 holes. The feild consists of 156 players. After 36 holes, the field is cut to the top seventy players plus all players tied for 70th place. The 2005 purse is $4,900,000, with $882,000 going to the winner (the usual PGA Tour winner's share of 18%).

The tournament was founded in 1958 as the Memphis Open and was two years later named the Memphis Invitational Open. Accordingly, the tournament changed its name the next year to the Danny Thomas Classic. The tournament was renamed the St. Jude Memphis Classic in 1985. Federal Express became the tournament's sponsor in 1986 and the tournament was again renamed the Federal Express St. Jude Classic until the company officially changed its name to "FedEx".

PGA Golf Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Odds to win:

1 D. Toms
+691

2 K. Perry
+803

3 D. Love III
+1497

4 N. Price
+1467

5 J. Leonard
+1751

6 T. Lehman
+2274

7 K.J. Choi
+3412

Prediction: Though Toms and Perry are the early odds choice, don't count out Davis Love III. He's been on a slump over the last few months but being a top-caliber golfer that he is, Love can erupt at any given time. He's due for a win and this might happen this weekend.

for more Sports Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: Sports Betting Index

Technorati:
David Toms, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Tour, FedEx St. Jude Classic, Davis Love III, Keny Perry, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, Golf Betting Odds

Singh goes for three straight as world's top 5 tees together at Byron Nelson Championship

2005-05-10T02:43:00.000-07:00

Beware Tiger Woods because Vijay Singh is knocking at your doorsteps again. Singh's come-from-behind victory at the Wachovia Championship provided him with an enormous boost in the Official World Golf Ranking. Singh closed to within 0.18 average points of world No. 1 Tiger Woods - who finished tied for 11th at Quail Hollow. With the Byron Nelson Championship just around the corner, the Fijian wants to reclaim the top spot from the Masters champion.

For only the third time this year the top five players in the Official World Golf Ranking - Tiger Wods, Singh, Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson and Retief Gooses - are teeing it up together, following the Masters and The Players Championship. Four of the five have won this event. Goosen is the exception, but, then, this will be his first appearance in Irving, Texas.

The host site for this $6.2 million tournament, the 12th oldest on the PGA TOUR schedule and the only event named for a former player, is the Tournament Players Club at Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas, a rather taxing par-70 course measuring 7,016 yards. Each entrant also plays one of his first two rounds on the kinder 6,847-yard, par-70 Cottonwood Valley Course.

Woods, who hasn't finished worse than 12th in his eight starts at the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, the only PGA TOUR tournament named after a professional golfer, and Els share the distinction of being the only two players in the field to win in their first appearances. The two also share the Cottonwood Valley Course record of 61.

Don't overlook the strong international presence - not that you could with so many fine players from abroad pocketing dollars on the TOUR. The last three and four of the last five champions of the EDS Byron Nelson Championship are foreign-born.

The Salesmanship Club of Dallas, sponsor of the Byron Nelson Championship, announced Thursday that it has increased the purse for the 2005 Championship to $6.2 million. The champion's share will be $1.116 million.

For the 11th consecutive year, the Salesmanship Club of Dallas has increased the Championship purse, resulting in one of the largest purses on the PGA TOUR. The prize money represents a $400,000 increase over 2004. The champion will earn more than $1 million for the third straight year.

Sergio Garcia defends his title. He won last year after nosing out Dudley Hart and Robert Damron in the first playoff hole. Just this week, Garcia lost to Singh in the sixth playoff hole at the Wachovia Championship.

Singh won his third check of $1 million or more at the Wachovia Championship and the 46th in TOUR history. Singh took home his third PGA TOUR title of the season in a three-man playoff at the Wachovia Championship. It was his strong overall game that once again sent him to victory.

Will Woods be able to cling to his slim lead in the Official World Golf Ranking, or will we soon see yet another shuffle in 2005? Time - and the caliber of competition - will tell. The race remains extremely close, with Singh threatening to unseat Woods, and Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen in pursuit - to name a few.

Prediction: Tiger Woods and Ernie Els both have a good record at this tournament. When all the best players of the world are present, Tiger and Ernie usually raise their level of play. Expect one of these players to bag the crown and prevent a three-peat for Singh. Probable longshots are Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott and Luke Donald

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Sport, Sports, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Basketball, NBA, NFL Football, NCAA Football

Big Three meets again for big purse at Wachovia Championship

2005-05-05T03:06:00.000-07:00

Tiger Woods, fresh from his Masters Tournament victory three weeks ago, and the No. 1 player in the world, has added his name to the illustrious entry list for the third annual Wachovia Championship, which will be played at Quail Hollow Club, May 2-8.

Woods, who finished tied for third in last year's edition of the Wachovia Championship, will join a strong field that includes nine of the top 11 players in the World Rankings. This will be Woods' first appearance on the PGA TOUR since capturing his fourth Masters title in April.

The field also includes World No. 2 Vijay Singh and No. 4 Phil Mickelson. That threesome - Mickelson, Woods, Singh - currently holds the top three spots on the PGA Tour Official Money List.

The Wachovia Championship, a 72-hole tournament that features the traditional layout of Quail Hollow Club and a $6 million purse, will pay a championship record $1,080,000 to the winner.

The 29-year-old Woods will enter the Wachovia Championship with 43 career PGA Tour victories after his sudden-death playoff victory over Chris DiMarco, who is also in the field, in Augusta. Woods' birdie on the first playoff hole earned him his fourth green jacket and ninth professional major, tying legends Ben Hogan and Gary Player for third-most all-time behind Jack Nicklaus (18) and Walter Hagen (11).

Woods, who is playing for the first time since winning the Masters, has won three times in eight events this year. Singh has won twice and is first on the money list. Mickelson, like Woods, has also won three times this year.

His win at the Buick was Woods' third in the event and extended his streak of consecutive seasons with a victory to 10 - the longest active streak on the PGA TOUR. He is in the top 10 in eight official statistics, including second in official money ($3,687,090) and par breaking (28.8 percent).

The defending champion is Joey Sindelar, who won last year for the first time in 13 years and eight months. The win was so special to Sindelar that he placed the trophy in a spot at his house where he often sees it.

Sindelar is a two-time winner in the state of North Carolina, as he captured the 1985 Greater Greensboro Open. With his winners check last year ($1,008,000), Sindelar surpassed the $1 million mark in single-season earnings for the first time in his 21-year career.

Golf Betting Game Odds: PinnacleSports

Spread:

T. Woods +324

V. Singh +808

P. Mickelson +750

A. Scott +1965

P. Harrington +2598

J. Furyk +2620

D. Love III +3136

C. DiMarco +2286

M. Weir +3691

D. Toms +3624

S. Garcia +3199

Prediction: Expect one of the Big Three to win this event. Now that Woods and Singh have won tournaments recently, Mickelson will prove that his time is due now. The lefty will steal the lead on the final round and ward off a late charge by Woods. Mickelson to lift the trophy.

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Sport, Sports, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Basketball, NBA, NFL Football, NCAA Football

Zurich Classic of New Orleans: Singh to defend his crown but DiMarco is itching to avenge Master's disappointment

2005-04-28T01:47:00.000-07:00

Last year's PGA Zurich Classic of New Orleans was a classic example of how Vijay Singh dominated last year's PGA Season. The Player of the Year, Money Leader Awardee and former no. 1 player in the world, Singh looks to defend his title and win back-to-back tournaments in as many weeks at the new TPC of Louisiana.

If golfing afficionados are expecting a low-scoring tournament just like last year, well, you're not gonna get it this year because the new course is a tough, challenging one with small greens and five man-made lakes.

The course, which replaced the Jack Niclaus-designed English Turn, opened in the spring of 2004. It costs about $30 million, features 60 acres of native trees - moss-draped cypress, red maple, tall and oak woven around 120 acres of turf, which planners said helped it fit into the natural landscape.

But Singh is up to buck the challenges posed by the new course. He is even more motivated to win this one because a victory would again place him in the record books. Singh, winner of the Shell Houston Open last week, is trying to become the first player to successfully defend titles in consecutive weeks since Johnny Miller won in Phoenix and Tucson in Arizona back-to-back in 1974-75.

Considered as legitimate threats for Singh's title-retention bid are Chris DiMarco and last year's runnerup Joe Ogilvy. DiMarco is playing his first tournament since that heartbreaking loss to Tiger Woods at the Masters on the first playoff hole while Ogilvy is trying to erase the bitterness of coming close last year after a spectacular back nine performance of Sing. Ogilvy was tied for second place with Phil Mickeson, a shot back at Singh.

But both players need a lot of catching up to do now that they both shot poorly in the pro-am event. DiMarco shot a 75 while Ogilvy shot 73. Though he found the course very tough, Singh has had little problems on the greens and fairways by scoring a remarkable 65.

Look also for former world no. 3 Davis Love III. He hasn't been making noise for the past few months but a player of his caliber can explode at any given moment. Other longshots to win are Padraig Harrington, David Toms, John Daly and Charles Howell III.

Golf Betting Game Odds: PinnacleSports

Vijay Singh +271

Davis Love III +1206

David Toms +1399

Padraig Harrington +1453

Chris DiMarco +1653

Joe Ogilvy +3053

Prediction: The absence of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els makes it easy for the Fijian to win again this week. Noboday among his competitors can match Singh's driving power and accuracy, fairway hitting consistency and poise under pressure. Expect a little challenge from either DiMarco or Love III but Singh should be able to hang on.

Technorati:
Sport, Sports, Baseball, MLB, Red Sox, Yankees, Basketball, NBA, NFL Football, NCAA Football

test

2005-04-14T00:20:00.000-07:00

test.............................

PGA Tour Golf Betting Tips - British Open, US Open, PGA Championship, Masters

Singh to defend Sony Open title in Hawaii

PGA Tour Golf Game Odds: SportsInterAction

Woods' return to Funai Classic may coincide with arrival of Wilma

PGA Tour Golf Betting Odds: SportsInterAction

Odds to win 2005 Funai Classic

Singh defends Lumber Classic crown against tough field

PGA Tour Golf Game Odds: SportsInterAction

Nicklaus, Player set for President's Cup clash

PGA Tour Golf Game Odds: SportsInterAction

PGA Championship: Mickelson bags second career major

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Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Vijay Singh, Baltusrol, Golf Betting Tips, golf betting picks, PGA Championship

The 2005 Tiger Show heading for dramatic climax

2005 USPGA Championship Golf Betting Game Odds from: Bodog Sportsbook

Odds to win the 2005 USPGA Championship:

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Vijay Singh, Baltusrol, Golf Betting Tips, golf betting picks, PGA Championship

Tiger Woods Prepares to Test His Re-Engineered Game Once Again

2005 USPGA Championship Golf Betting Game Odds from: Oasis Sportsbook

Odds to win the 2005 USPGA Championship:

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Vijay Singh, Baltusrol, Golf Betting Tips, golf betting picks, PGA Championship

Follow the Golden rule: At 10 majors & counting, Tiger is stalking the Bear ... again

2005 USPGA Championship Golf Betting Game Odds from: SportsInterAction

Odds to win the 2005 USPGA Championship:

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, PGA Championship

Woods Has the Length for Baltusrol

2005 USPGA Championship Golf Betting Game Odds from: SportsInterAction

Odds to win the 2005 USPGA Championship:

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, PGA Championship

Large greens, huge possibilities at Warwick Hills

2005 Buick Open Golf Betting Game Odds from: SportsInterAction

Odds to win the 2005 Buick Open: Tiger Woods 3.25 Vijay Singh 7.50 Jim Furyk 13.00 Chris DiMarco 26.00 Scott Verplank 26.00 John Daly 34.00

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, Buick Open

Catching this Tiger maybe harder than ever now

2005 USPGA Championship Golf Betting Game Odds from: SportsInterAction

Odds to win the 2005 USPGA Championship:

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, PGA Championship

Woods chasing history in PGA Championship

2005 USPGA Championship Golf Betting Game Odds from: SportsInterAction

Odds to win the 2005 USPGA Championship:

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, PGA Championship

Can Woods go for three for four?

2006 Ryder Cup Golf Betting Game Odds from: BODOG SportsBook

Odds to win the 2006 Ryder Cup:

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, PGA Championship 2005, 2005 PGA Championship, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, PGA Championship

Woods returns to dominance at British Open

2006 Ryder Cup Golf Betting Game Odds from: BODOG SportsBook

Odds to win the 2006 Ryder Cup:

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, British Open 2005, 2005 British Open, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, British Open

For Goosen and Campbell, Finish at Pinehurst Looms

2005 British Open Golf Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Odds to win:

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, British Open 2005, 2005 British Open, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, British Open

Woods off to a fast start at St. Andrews

2005 British Open Golf Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Odds to win:

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, British Open 2005, 2005 British Open, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, British Open

British Open: Tiger and Bear... for the Last Time

2005 British Open Golf Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Tournament Matchups:

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, British Open 2005, 2005 British Open, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, British Open

Something old and new at the British Open

2005 British Open Golf Betting Game Odds from: PinnacleSports

Odds to win:

for more Sports and 2005 British Open Golf Betting Tips, Odds, Picks, Lines and Predictions, click here: Sports Betting Index

Technorati: Tiger Woods, Golf Betting, Golf, British Open 2005, 2005 British Open, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Golf Betting Tips, Golf Betting Picks, British Open

Odds to win the 2005 Buick Open:
Tiger Woods 3.25
Vijay Singh 7.50
Jim Furyk 13.00
Chris DiMarco 26.00
Scott Verplank 26.00
John Daly 34.00