betting odds on the Buick Open
30th July, 2009
Tom Watson stole the headlines at The Open Championship a fortnight ago, if not the Claret Jug, but the 59-year-old's heroics detracted somewhat from Tiger Woods' missed cut, an outcome almost unheard of for the world's number one golfer.
Just his second weekend off in a Major Championship as a professional, Tiger gets the chance to bounce back this week at the Buick Open and is an overwhelming favourite, 15/8 with Sky Bet, to do so.
Woods entered Turnberry as a general 5/2 shot and on that basis alone there will be plenty of punters across the globe willing to take the prices on offer this time around against vastly inferior opposition than he faced at the Scottish venue.
Tiger hasn't played at Warwick Hills, host course this week, since 2006 but he has finished no worse than third on his last five visits, winning twice, and will be far more at home in Michigan than he was at the Ailsa Course.
Woods will no doubt have his mind focused on future engagements at Firestone and Hazeltine, stage of the PGA Championship, in the coming weeks but you have to fancy his chances on a course that clearly suits his game and only Jim Furyk, 14/1 with Ladbrokes, can be put forward as a credible alternative.
A sound week with the putter should see Woods prevail and Warwick Hills doesn't place anywhere as much emphasis on accuracy off the tee as the tests he failed at both Bethpage, in the U.S Open, and Turnberry.
By Tom Allen
