US PGA Championship / Editor / 22 July 2007 / Leave a Comment

You would have got good odds on Tiger Woods not winning a Major in 2007 at the start of the year but that is exactly what will happen if the world number one fails to deliver the goods at the US PGA Championship.

Two seconds and a 12th place hardly represent a poor year in the Grand Slams for Woods but his failure to add to his tally of 12 Majors so far this year means he is trading at a longer odds than usual in the betting market as the PGA approaches.

Woods will still start the week as the overwhelming favourite in the betting as his odds of 4.1 indicate, but his odds looks longer than usual and he could be a good bet in an event he will be desperate to defend after romping to a five-shot victory 12 months ago.

The American was pushed hard by Luke Donald last year before pulling away on the final day and the Englishman, who eventually finished third in 2006 and is available at attractive odds of 42 to win and 10.5 to place in the top five betting, will be anxious to make amends after a disappointing display at last month's Open Championship.

This year's PGA venue at Southern Hills should be to Donald's liking. The Oklahoma course is not long, being a little over 7,000 yards but, with tight fairways and thick Bermuda grass, those making a betting selection may be advised to concentrate on the straighter hitters in the game when they make their bets.

However, the betting reflects that no European has ever won the event and the likes of Sergio Garcia who shot to fame in the 1999 PGA when runner up to Woods after a miracle shot at the 16th will, like Donald, be looking to change that statistic. The Spaniard must bounce back from after last month's play-off defeat in The Open at but could represent attractive odds in the betting as will the man who beat him at Carnoustie Padraig Harrington. The Irishman is always a popular bet among his compatriots but even more so as he bids to secure a double of Majors.

Retief Goosen was the last player to win a Major at the course when he claimed the 2001 US Open title but the South African, trading at the same odds as Donald, has struggled to produce his best form over the last two months and his inconsistent play is reflected by his position in the betting.

World number three Phil Mickelson, champion in 2005 and placed in the top in the years each side of his win, makes more appeal and is likely to be a popular bet, where he is available at odds of 17 to win and 4.8 to finish in the first five.

Jim Furyk would be a lot shorter in the betting than 22 to win if doubts didn't persist about his fitness after pulling out of the WGC-Bridgestone International with a back injury.

But the world number two is currently in the middle of his best run of the year, he is one of the straightest hitters in the world and has finished in the top five in four of his last five events and those looking for a bet are rewarded with inviting odds of 4.8 to make it five out of six.

Vijay Singh and KJ Choi, trading in the betting at 26 and 46 respectively, have both won twice on the PGA Tour in 2007 and may be considered good bets while Ernie Els' odds of 20 also make appeal after placing in the top five twice in the last five years.
Keep an eye, too, for 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir and Steve Stricker - who were both in contention on the final day of the Open Championship last month, finished in the top ten in the tournament in 2006 and are available at inviting odds of 90 to win, 18 to come in the first five and 7 to finish in the top ten.

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