Top Props of the Week: 2013 PGA Championship
by Dave Schwab - 8/7/2013
Professional golf’s fourth and final Major of the 2013 season gets underway this week at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York. The first of four rounds starts this Thursday, and to get you ready for all the action Bovada has released a full set of prop bet odds for the event. The following is a look at a few these props that offer the best value when it comes to wagering on the tournament.
Tiger Woods’ Odds
After besting the field by seven strokes last week in the Bridgestone International to post his fifth win on the PGA Tour in just 11 events this season, it is little wonder that the No.1-ranked player in the world has been opened as a 4/1 favorite to win this week. Everyone is well aware of Tiger’s extended winless streak in Majors that dates back to 2008. And while you may want to jump on these odds because you think he is due, the smarter and safer bet could be on the prop bets for his actual finishing position.
The money line he finishes in the Top 5 is -115, which is almost a gift for a return of $100. These is no doubt he is playing at top form and should remain at or near the top of the leaderboard all four rounds, but this prop bet allows you to still cash in if he slips up again on Sunday.
It gets a bit costly to wager on a Top-10 finish at -350, so I would stay away from that one just in case he has another full meltdown over the weekend.
Phil Mickelson’s Odds
Mickelson is coming off an impressive victory in the Open Championship last month to claim golf’s third Major of the year. This was after a heartbreaking second-place finish in this year’s US Open, so you know he has the game for Majors this year. He has been opened as a 16/1 second-favorite along with Adam Scott to win this week, but it is always a tall task to win back-to-back Majors.
Much like Woods, the best play on Phil this week is to go with the +275 odds that he finishes in the Top 5. He has not been as consistent as Tiger at contending in Majors over the years, so you always run the risk that he fades out of contention early. However, there is something about his current form that makes me think he will also be sniffing around the top of the leaderboard all week long.
If you are looking for a safer bet with a much smaller return on investment, there is some tremendous value in his +125 odds for a Top-10 finish.
Top-5 Finish Odds: Other Contenders
Adam Scott broke through his winless streak in Majors with a thrilling victory at Augusta early in the year at the Masters. He struggled to a 45th-place showing in the US Open but made his presence felt with a third-place finish in last month’s Open Championship.
He is another contender that offers some solid value for a Top-5 finish at +400, but the best play would be to go with the +150 odds he finishes in the Top 10.
Rory McIlroy comes into the PGA Championship as the defending champion, but he has looked nothing like the player that won last season’s tournament at Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course by a record eight shots. Whether it is the change in equipment or his lackadaisical attitude towards preparing for Majors, Rory is definitely a player to avoid altogether this week.
He has been opened at 35/1 to win, +550 to finish in the Top 5 and at +200 to finish in the Top 10, but I do not find value in any of these odds.
If you are looking for a player with longer odds to ride this week then take a closer look at Ricky Fowler. His current form has not been the best, but he did finish 21st last week and made it into the Top 10 in the US Open this year.
He has been opened at 80/1 to win, which to me would be a huge stretch, but a small play on his +500 odds to finish in the Top 10 again might make some sense. If you are feeling bold then go with his +1200 odds to make it all the way into the Top 5.
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