2009 Players Championship Betting Odds

Written by Jason Lowry on May 5, 2009

 

Players ChampionshipThis week the PGA Tour heads to one of its more famous stops of the year, as the best golfers in the world get ready to take aim at the 2009 Players Championship at TPC at Sawgrass. While this even isn’t officially labeled a major, its about the closest thing there is to one of the 4 majors. One of the big reasons that so many of the best golfers are driven to this event, is the huge payday that comes along with winning this event, as this tournament has the highest prize fund of any tournament in golf. Last year it was Sergio Garcia who came out and won this event, but repeating will not be an easy task. Not because Garcia simply isn’t playing that well this season, but no golfer has ever repeated as champion since the tournament first got underway back in 1974. With the tournament just a couple days away, I have broken down the field based on the favorites, guys in the middle of the pack, and the long shots I feel have a legit shot at winning this weekend.

Favorites: Tiger Woods +300, and Phil Mickelson +1000

No surprise here that these two guys are at the top of the oddsmakers charts to win this weekend, but I wouldn’t go betting the bank on these two guys winning this weekend. Both of these guys have won this event before, but only once and Phil was the last to do so in 2007, with Tiger winning in 2001. While Tiger is the overall favorite to win this weekend, I think Phil has a much better shot at holding up the trophy, as his short game is perfect for the small greens. Tiger seems to be close to regaining his form of years past, but still lacks the consistency we were so use to seeing, and you never know what you will get from Phil. I look for players to have a pretty solid week, and if one of them gets it going on Thursday or Friday, I think it will go a long way in winning this event. 

Middle of the Pack: Geoff Ogilvy +2500, Sean O’Hair +2500, Jim Furyk +3000, Kenny Perry +3000, Padraig Harrington +3000 and Sergio Garcia +3000

There is plenty of talent in the middle of the pack this week, as you not only have defending champion Sergio Garcia, but a couple of the fastest rising stars in Ogilvy and O’Hair. Not to mention an old timer that has found his game in his late 40′s in Kenny Perry, who showed everyone he is capable of playing well at the big events. I also think a close eye needs to be on Harrington, who is due for a great start this season. If I had to pick just one guy out of this group it would be O’Hair, as he is not only coming off another win last week at Quail Hollow, but has really played well in the big events this season. 

Long Shots: Camilo Villegas +4000, Anthony Kim +4000, Ernie Els +4000, Paul Casey +4000, Retief Goosen +4000, Rory McIllroy +4000, Boo Weekley +5000, Nick Watney +5000, Zach Johnson +5000, Stephen Ames +6000, Rory Sabbatini +6000, and Adam Scott +8000

The way that this tournament plays out, you can’t count anybody, as even the best players in the world can have a bad couple of days and miss the cut. While Ames and Scott aren’t having a real breakout year by any means, the have won this event in the past, and could surprise once again. I also like the youngster McIllroy to have a strong showing, while I don’t think he will come away with a win. The guys I really like out of this group are Weekely, Watney, and Sabbatini, as I expect one of these three players to sneak there way into the top 10, and have a real legit shot to take home the win with a solid final round on Sunday. 

For a complete list of odds for each golfer this weekend, head to Sportsbook.com today.