PGA Betting – Sony Open Preview/Pick
Time to dust off the clubs and land in your wife’s doghouse every weekend from now until September. Golf is back. The PGA kicks of 2010 with the Sony Open and the field is strong.
Date: Jan. 14 – 17, 2010
Event: Sony Open in Hawaii
Course: Waialae CC, Honolulu, Hawaii
Purse: $5,500,000
Defending Champ: Zach Johnson
FedEX Cup Points: 500
Hey – the field is strong. The prevailing theme this year will of course be “Life Without Tiger” but let’s remember that he didn’t win a major last season. The field around him in 2009 was never better and the emergence of Tiger’s competition has, in a way, prepared us for this crisis. There are plenty of great golfers to watch – and wager on.
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Here are some picks to consider for the Sony Open.
THE ELITE
Oops. This used to be Tiger’s category. Moving on.
THE CONTENDERS
Zach Johnson
Sony Open odds: +1615
Try this tongue twister on for size: Waialae rewards the wily. The beautiful Hawaiian course plays best for crisp, savvy ball strikers as opposed to grip it-and-rip-it types. That’s why Zach Johnson, as solid a ball striker as you’ll find on Tour, won last year’s event. That’s also why he’s an excellent pick to do it again.
Steve Stricker
Sony Open odds: +1015
The odds-on favorite after his memorable 2009 season, Stricker has as good a chance as anyone thanks to his strong shot selection and short game. His last three Sony Opens include two top-fours. Still, it’s just not the same seeing Stricker as the favorite to win it all. The fun of 2009 was winning big on Stricker’s relative underdog value. Is +1015 a strong enough return on your investment?
SOLID PICKS
Justin Leonard
Sony Open odds: +2550
The name of the game is wind at Waialae and Leonard is known for his ability to overcome windy conditions and make good shots; it’s pretty much a prerequisite for British Open winners. Even though Leonard hasn’t played here since 1995, he has the makeup to win and offers decent value.
Rory Sabbatini
Sony Open odds: +1850
Historically, there are few more consistent golfers at Waialae than Sabbatini, who placed 12th last year and has two second-place finishes there. Here’s certainly due. 
SLEEPERS
David Toms
Sony Open odds: +3250
There may be no stronger sleeper than Toms this week. Let’s go through the laundry list of reasons to pick him: (a) good sportsbook value; (b) fourth in fairways hit on Tour last year; (c) finished second at Waialae last year; (d) won this tourney in 2006. Give Toms a long, hard look.
Jerry Kelly
Sony Open odds: +6550
Look at that value! For a guy listed at +6550 to win, you’d never know Kelly won the Sony Open in 2002. He also has six top-25 finishes at the event since that victory, including three top-fives. The guy lives to play at Waialae.
THE PICK
The fun part about the beginning of the golf season is that the sportsbooks don’t have the players figured out yet. In my mind, the top three picks this week are Johnson, Toms and Kelly, yet the latter two offer major underdog value. It feels like taking candy from babies. If you like the home-run swing, Kelly gives you a legit shot at a big payday. If you play it super safe, go with Johnson. But the happy medium – and the best pick – is Toms. His game is built for Waialae.
Pick: David Toms +3250
