Presidents Cup: golf betting guide

This week, a strong USA side lines up against a non-European International team in the Presidents Cup at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Muirfield Village in Ohio

Presidents Cup 2011

Presidents Cup: golf betting guide

This week, a strong USA side lines up against a non-European Rest of World team in the Presidents Cup at Muirfield Village in Ohio.

The Americans currently lead the contest - inaugurated in 1994 - 7.5 - 1.5, and they will be confident of notching a fifth successive victory this time around.

The International side, though, is packed full of experienced campaigners, major champions and a selection of rookies who have played exceptional golf this season.

Much will depend on the performance of the seven rookies in the International side, but I'm not convinced the USA's 2/7 victory odds are wholly justified.

Still, it'd take a brave man to back the Internationals on American soil, given recent results and the relative strengths of the two sides.

To that end, I'd be tempted to steer clear of the Outright market in favour of Correct Score betting.

I think this contest will be more closely contested than many are anticipating, so USA to win 18-16 or 19-15, both 10/1 with Ladbrokes, look tempting.

In the Top USA Point Scorer market, I think Steve Stricker and Jordan Spieth are two good options.

Stricker - at 7/1 with Ladbrokes - is expected to be employed alongside Woods or Spieth, so should play in most, if not all, of the sessions.

I'm also expecting Spieth - at 12/1 with Ladbrokes - to be used frequently by Fred Couples, and no one is coming into the tournament with more confidence.

In the top International Points Scorer Market, the two stand-out options are Jason Day and Graeme DeLaet.

Day - at 6/1 with Ladbrokes - is a fearsome competitor. He's grown significantly as a player since his debut two years ago and he makes his home in Ohio, so he's familiar with the golf course and popular with the local fans.

DeLaet - at 12/1 with Ladbrokes - showed in the FedEx Cup play-offs he's not overawed by the big occasion. He's one of the best ball strikers on tour and arguably the form player of the International Team.

Presidents Cup advised bets:

2pts on USA to win 18-16 at 10/1 with Ladbrokes 3pts on Steve Stricker: Top USA Points Scorer at 7/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts on Jordan Spieth: Top USA Points Scorer at 12/1 with Ladbrokes 2pts on Jason Day: Top International Points Scorer at 6/1 with Ladbrokes

Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x