The players take a well deserved break for Christmas week so this is a good time to look ahead to next year's majors and pinpoint some value in the betting markets.
There was a massive gamble on a Tiger Woods grand slam in 2008 but he fell at the first hurdle when only second to Trevor Immelman in the Masters at Augusta. I say 'only' but it was still a great performance on a course that was playing harder than than it's ever done and he might be considered unlucky as the winner holed some key putts, while Tiger uncharacteristically missed a couple of three-footers that inevitably cost him victory.
He has to be a warm favourite to regain his green jacket in April, but with uncertainty over the date he will return to action after knee surgery, there are some serious discrepancies in his price. Skybet clearly believe he will be too rusty to contend, even if he does manage to start, and go a standout 5/2, while bet365 offer a more cautious 6/4 about the four-time champion. The 5/2 is tempting, but at this stage I would rather back dual-winner Phil Mickelson at 10/1 with Paddy Power.
Lefty nearly always contends at Augusta and I doubt he'll be much bigger than 10/1 when he tees off, even if Tiger makes it back fit for the fight. Unlike backing horses ante post, you are almost certain (barring injury) to get a run for your money, so don't be afraid of getting stuck in now. Certainly, he makes more appeal than Sergio Garcia (20/1 Coral), whose recent Augusta record is poor and cannot win a major for love nor money.
Moving on to the Open and there is less variation in Tiger's price, with quotes ranging from 5/2 to 3/1 (Skybet, totesport). It would be crazy to even contemplate backing him now at that price, but Anthony Kim is worth a flutter at Chandler's 40/1 (only 25/1 with Coral and 29 on Betfair). The swashbuckling American is improving at a rate of knots and took to links golf like a duck to water when finishing tied-7th at Royal Birkdale last July, so 25/1 is a more likely price in seven month's time.
Padraig Harrington will of course be going for a hat-trick of Open wins at Turnberry in 2009 and he's unlikely to be much bigger than the current 14/1 (Coral) when he tees off, while I wouldn't put anyone off backing him at 16/1 (Chandler) for the Masters as the Irishman is a frequent contender and will surely be donning the green jacket at some stage in his career.
If he won at Augusta, what price would he be to successfully defend his US Open title at Bethpage State Park in June? A lot shorter than the current 16/1 with Paddy Power that's for sure, who go the same price on him winning the final major of the year, the US PGA.
Recommended Bets:
Phil Mickelson (Masters) 1pt each way @ 10/1 Paddy Power
Anthony Kim (Open) 1pt each way @ 40/1 Chandler
(both 1/4 odds, 1.2.3.4.5)