Navigation

AT&T Pebble Beach pro-am betting guide

Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Paul Krishnamurty
0 Comments

Canadian Mike Weir a 20/1 shout for the AT&T pro-am at Pebble Beach

AT&T Pebble Beach pro-am betting guide

Several of the biggest names on the PGA Tour line-up for this long-standing pro-am that they’ve tended to dominate over the years. In the last decade, Phil Mickelson and Davis Love have each won twice, Vijay Singh once, and if it wasn’t for a completely unpredictable disastrous finish, the Fijian would have added a second last year. Other top-class Pebble Beach champions during that period include Tiger Woods and the late Payne Stewart, and even when an outsider has won, its tended to be a course specialist like Aaron Oberholser or Matt Gogel. Vijay’s 2008 conquerer Steve Lowery was very much the exception to the rule.

That would suggest that, unlike other pro-ams, this one is fairly predictable. Even if that is the case, its as difficult as any to follow, played over four different courses with the classic US Open venue, Pebble Beach Links, hosting the final round. Nevertheless our task is helped by that substantial bank of course form, though it may be of less relevance than usual given the weather forecast. With heavy rain forecast throughout, an extension or shortened event are distinct possibilities.

At the very least, rain-soaked conditions should offer a marked advantage to long-hitters where usually there is none. For that reason, several high-class, shorter-hitting candidates are written off; most significantly Jim Furyk, Tim Clark and KJ Choi. In addition, joint-favourite Phil Mickelson did nothing at Torrey Pines last week to dispel my view that he is very much a man to oppose at the moment. In both 2009 starts to date, Lefty has registered a miserable driving accuracy percentage below 50%, and the putter has been anything but hot. All of this would appear to strengthen the already serious claims of big-guns Singh, PADRAIG HARRINGTON and MIKE WEIR.