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US Masters golf betting tips

Tuesday, 7 April 2009
Paul Krishnamurty
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Tiger Woods features in this week's golf betting tips for the 2009 Us Masters

Because we have to wait eight months between the last major of each year and the first of the next one, no golf tournament is as hotly anticipated as the US Masters. This year is no exception, with several interesting narratives competing for attention.

First and foremost, there’s the latest chapter of the Tiger Woods story, and his serene march towards Jack Nicklaus’ all-time majors record, to which I shall return shortly. Alternatively, there’s the battle between Woods and his closest rival, Phil Mickelson, which in world ranking terms has never been tighter. These two rivals have never fought out a really close finish in a major, but that outcome looks a distinct possibility this week.

For now, those two American superstars are dominating the headlines, but in a few days time the story could very easily focus on Europe’s finest. If Padraig Harrington can win his third consecutive major, he will be within touching distance of an improbable feat only ever managed by Tiger himself; holding all four majors simultaneously or as the media have clumsily named it, the ‘Paddy Slam’. And lets not forget of course that the ‘Big 3’ could well be upstaged by the man who will most likely catch up with them sooner or later, Rory McIlroy, or if not the brilliant teenager, one of a number of other exciting young prospects.

For now though, we must focus primarily on Tiger and his bid for a 5th Masters, and 15th major title. When the great man was sidelined for knee surgery, I genuinely wondered whether he would ever quite be the same again. 8 months without competition is a very long time for anyone at the peak of such a competitive sport.

Just ten rounds of competitive golf later, I’m quite happy to put that nonsensical idea to bed. Tiger is back as good as ever, if not better. When he was playing through the pain barrier, he was already a class apart. The fact he can now play all his shots pain free presents a daunting prospect to his would-be challengers. His victory at Bay Hill a fortnight ago was reminiscent of his finest hours, and must bode well for this challenge on another of his favourite golf courses. With an extra fortnight since to further sharpen up his short game skills, Woods should now be perfectly prepared.

So whereas I did doubt momentarily that he was quite the certainty to overhaul Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record of 18 major titles, now I reckon he’ll do it within a couple of years. Beyond this week, the 2009 campaign includes a US Open at Bethpage Black, where he won comfortably in 2002, and a USPGA at Hazeltine, where he lost by a whisker to Rich Beem in the same year with the third placed player four shots back. In my view, he’s every bit as good now, and once again we could be looking at a serious grand slam challenge.