Betting on Tiger Woods at the FedEx Cup Playoffs?
by Richard Gardner | Bookmaker, Bodog Sportsbook - 8/26/2009
Golf bettors in search of value need to look no farther than this week's FedEx Cup, which is the PGA Tour's version of a playoff system. And the good news for the betting public is that Tiger Woods is in the field and plans to play in all four Cup events taking place over the course of four consecutive weeks - something that Woods prefers not to do.
Broken up into four tournaments, this year's FedEx Cup begins at The Barclays tournament in Jersey City, New Jersey. Woods will start the playoffs with a lead of 1,276 points, but a victory in any of the first three events of the FedEx Cup is worth 2,500 points - guaranteeing anyone who wins The Barclays, Deutsche Bank Championship or BMW Championship an automatic in for the 30-man-field at the Tour Championship.
With Woods in the field, over at Bodog we can expect to see at least a 20 percent increase in betting volume. Naturally, Tiger also is always an overwhelming betting favorite, rendering him not great value. Therefore, bettors looking for value should turn to the next-best priced guys rather than betting on Woods.
Vijay Singh is the defending champ of the playoffs after winning the first two events of the Cup last year. The Fijian started the season slow off knee surgery but has played much better of late. Singh hasn't missed a cut since early June and was T16 at the PGA Championship. And of course he is the defending champ at the first two events of the FedEx Cup; Singh is +700 to win the opening Barclays tournament.
Still, having gone 0-for-4 in the majors this year, Tiger Woods will likely be extremely motivated to win this first tournament of the FedEx Cup.
An interesting note: the field also will see its points reset before the Tour Championship, which means any player who might win that tournament at East Lake in Atlanta could be crowned the FedEx Cup champion and be awarded the $10 million prize. Only the top five in points entering the Tour Championship are assured of winning the FedEx Cup with a victory at that tournament, however.
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