Would You Bet Against This Man?

From The Globe and Mail (March 31, 2009) GOLF» 2009 MASTERS Would you bet against this man? ourlte? Again, no. He has not won the Masters "~~ since 2005. That might make it appear Woods Is destined to do so next week. But each LORNE RUBENSTEIN Masters tournament Is an in· dependent event, like the flip fube@Sympaliroca ora coin. For the sake of argument PASADENA, CAUF. and debate as the Masters ap proaches, consider some gol he big sporting event in fers who are, in horse-racing these parts is saturday's pariance, overlays. Further, T72lld Santa Anita Derby, consider golfers who not only for which Pioneerof the Nile haven't won a Masters, but and The Pamplemousse are any major. Such a golfer surely the favourites in one of the can't win, can he? major stepping stones to the Yes, he can. Kentucky Derby. Mike Weir of Bright's Grove, At least people know there's Ont., won in 2003, Zach John more than one horse In the son in 2007, and Trevor 1m race. Folks here and elsewhere melman last year. Each made who are contemplating next the Masters his fitst major. week's Masters have already Yes, they did. And someone handed the green jacket 10 TI might do so again next week. ger Woods, golf's ace thor Start with Sean O'Halr, who ougtibred. led Woods by five shots before Woods is the overwhelming the final round last Sunday at favourite to win his fifth Mas the Arnold Palmer Invitation ters title. Various: wagering es al. Woods made another one tablishments have made him of "those" putts that have be the 2-to-1 favourite, ridiculous come his trademark on the ly low odds for anybody, even last green to win. Woods, to win any tourna But O'Hair is a player. He's ment, even the Masters. Pa no dog. He's a horse. (Dog draig Harrington won lasl lovers, please forgive the refer year's PGA Championship and ence, but sports people talk Brlllsh Open, the most recent like this.) majors, and he's 14 to 1. O'Hair could cross the finish Then there's Phil Mickelson llne on top In a major, as early at 10 to 1. He's won two Mas as next week. O'Hair is listed tcrs and a PCA Championship, at 55 to 1 for the 2009 Masters.. and the recent CA Champion Paul casey Is another long ship in Miami. Mickelson has shot who shouldn't be such a won 36 PCA Tour events, in long shot. The 31-year old Eng cluding his three majors. lishman lost to Geoff Ogilvy In That's a Hall of Fame career. this year's Accenture Match Bul Woods, who won his 66th Play Championship. He tied PCA Tour event (lncludlni 14 for sixth in the 2004 Masters, majors) last week at the Ar for 10th in 2007, and for nth nold Palmer Invitatlonalln Or last year after a nasty 79 in the lando, has (ast a tota! eclipse last round. Casey is 40 to 1 across Mickelson's accom-' And we haven't even men- plishments. tioned Stephen Ames of Calga Woods has eclipsed most ev ry, an 80-to-l outsider. Ames erybody, although he still has won the 2006 Players Champl· a ways to go before reaching onship. the next best thing to Jack Nicklaus's record of 18 a major. majors. Nicklaus won 73 PGA Probability and history say Tour events. including the rna TIger woods celebrates after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational toumamentlast Sunday. Odds O'Hair, Casey, Ames or some tors, while Sam Snead has won lINkers have pegged Woods as II 1-to-t favourite for the uj)<omlng Maslers, but lie's far from a sure bet, body else, but not Woods, will a record 82 PGA Tour events, Lorne Rubenstein says. JOHN Ro\OUXIi\55OC....TEO PRESS win next week. including seven majors. You can't argue against logic Woods should pass Nicklaus No. Philadelphia, explained the But he doesn't win 70 per and history, can you? In m.:Ijon::md total wins. and wood~ shouldn't be 11 2-t0-1 distinction in this sp;u;e last cent of the time. ~ he's not Yes. you can. you say. also Snead's record if he re faVOUrite to win the Masters. year. likely to win any specific tour Go right ahead. But consider mains motivated. But does It's the difference again be Aquick review wlll under nament. The field against yourself warned. this mean he's a lock for the tween being the golfer "most score the point: Woods is most Woods is always a better bet Masters? Is he golf's Secretar likely" to win a particular likely of all his colleagues to Woods has piayed 12 Masters globesports.com iat, the powerful Big Red who tournament and "likely" to win any tournament he enters. and won four, or 33 per cent of won 16 of his 21 races and was win the speclflc event. John He wins nearly 30 per cent o( them. Canada's Mike Weir keeps his all but sure to run down his Allen Paulos, professor of those he plays; nobody else is Does his winning percentage routine the same heading into opposition down the stretch? math at Temple University in near that winning percentage. justify his belni the 2-10-1 fav- the Masters nex! week. .

Load more