CollegeKingRex
CTG Regular
Tiger Woods makes his second official PGA Tour appearance this week, and it's in what some consider to be the world's most exciting golf tournament. There will be 64 of the world's best golfers teeing it up in the Arizona desert, and unlike in most PGA Tour events, Tiger Woods is no shoo-in to win this week. He has won the Accenture twice, but he's also lost to the likes of Peter O'Malley and Nick O'Hern. Underdog Henrik Stenson won the event last year, defeating Geoff Ogilvy 2-and-1 in 2007 to capture the crown.
Obviously, Woods has to be considered the favorite. But don't be stunned if he loses in the first round. Holmes barely snuck into this field, but this Tucson course generally is kind to bombers off the tee, and J.B. can hit his drive more than 350 yards without wind-aid. He can be a bit wild at times, but that's not nearly as punishing in match-play as it is when every stroke counts. If he hits a few bad shots, he might lose some holes, but he can get some of them back on other holes where he'll out-drive Tiger and have shorter clubs to hit in. Other matchups aren't favorable, either, so let's try to beat Tiger.
In the nine years of the tournament, of the 32 first round matches, there has been an average of 13 upsets. Last year, there were 11. This 33 percent upset-ratio holds true throughout the entire week, so always look for the upset, as they will happen.
Here are three picks to win the whole thing:
Geoff Ogilvy (60-to-1) is the first one you have to take a long look at. He finished second in this event last year, and won it the year before. At 11-1 lifetime in this event, you have to take a long look at him at this price.
Padraig Harrington (20-to-1) has won his first match in each of the last five years, and has made it to the quarterfinals in two of the last four years. With the shingles behind him now, and two solid performances on US soil in the books, he has to be considered a threat.
Ian Poulter (60-to-1) is playing in the States for the first time this season. But in four appearances, he's made it to the round of 16 (2007), the quarterfinals (2004) and finished fourth-place (2005). Expect him to play well and make some noise.
As an added long shot, look at David Toms (50-to-1), who always is competitive in match-play. He's been to the round of 16 six straight years and has never lost in the first round. He won here in 2005.
Good luck!
I'll be back with some matchup bets in the morning...
:cheers:
Obviously, Woods has to be considered the favorite. But don't be stunned if he loses in the first round. Holmes barely snuck into this field, but this Tucson course generally is kind to bombers off the tee, and J.B. can hit his drive more than 350 yards without wind-aid. He can be a bit wild at times, but that's not nearly as punishing in match-play as it is when every stroke counts. If he hits a few bad shots, he might lose some holes, but he can get some of them back on other holes where he'll out-drive Tiger and have shorter clubs to hit in. Other matchups aren't favorable, either, so let's try to beat Tiger.
In the nine years of the tournament, of the 32 first round matches, there has been an average of 13 upsets. Last year, there were 11. This 33 percent upset-ratio holds true throughout the entire week, so always look for the upset, as they will happen.
Here are three picks to win the whole thing:
Geoff Ogilvy (60-to-1) is the first one you have to take a long look at. He finished second in this event last year, and won it the year before. At 11-1 lifetime in this event, you have to take a long look at him at this price.
Padraig Harrington (20-to-1) has won his first match in each of the last five years, and has made it to the quarterfinals in two of the last four years. With the shingles behind him now, and two solid performances on US soil in the books, he has to be considered a threat.
Ian Poulter (60-to-1) is playing in the States for the first time this season. But in four appearances, he's made it to the round of 16 (2007), the quarterfinals (2004) and finished fourth-place (2005). Expect him to play well and make some noise.
As an added long shot, look at David Toms (50-to-1), who always is competitive in match-play. He's been to the round of 16 six straight years and has never lost in the first round. He won here in 2005.
Good luck!
I'll be back with some matchup bets in the morning...
:cheers:
