PGA Betting – Hyundai Tournament of Champions Preview & Pick
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We’ve barely finished digesting our turkey and eggnog but, believe it or not, the 2011 PGA season has arrived. The campaign opens Thursday with an elite field of 34 winners and 34 winners only of the 39 eligible from last season. The Hyundai Tournament of Champions thus lives up to its name.
Let’s get this party started.
THE CONTENDERS
Geoff Ogilvy
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +725
Often a strong starter to his PGA seasons, the Aussie Ogilvie is the two-time defending champion at the Plantation Course. Can he make it a three-peat? If his putter gets hot, as it often does, it’s very possible.
Ernie Els
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +1015
Els is consistently a strong performer at the Hyundai, posting five top-six finishes in six tries there. He also has some solid momentum after winning the South African Championship. Still – Els tends to run hot/cold. Are we totally sure the “hot” Els will show up?
Graeme McDowell
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +1015
If it weren’t for Ogilvy’s two straight wins, McDowell might be the favorite to win the Hyundai. He has four wins in seven months, the latest of which came at the Chevron World Challenge, and the Irishman turned North American heads with his U.S. Open win and outstanding Ryder Cup performance last year. 
Dustin Johnson
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +1015
He won’t be everyone’s favorite pick because he hasn’t played in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions before. But Johnson’s length off the tee could really come in handy on a 7.400-yard course with often-extreme conditions.
Jim Furyk
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +1215
The 2010 Player of the Year has to be included among the top contenders. He won at Maui in 2001 and has seven top-10s in his last nine starts at this tourney. He’s a solid, safe play but you never know when age will start affecting the master of the waggle.
SOLID PICKS
Steve Stricker
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +1615
Stricker is certainly due to win here. He lost in a playoff in 2008 and, last year, went 15-under over his final 43 holes. But his lack of distance could still hold him back if the weather doesn’t co-operate this week.
Matt Kuchar
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +1615
You could make a case that Kuchar actually played better golf than anyone else last season. He’s just entering his prime now. Also, he finished third at the 2010 Hyundai. We should expect another year of good golf from him; will it start on Thursday?
THE SLEEPER
Justin Rose
Hyundai Tournament of Champions odds: +3250
The course definitely suits Rose’s game. It has huge greens and Rose was third on Tour last year in putting from 15 to 25 feet. The only thing possibly in his way: has one start in three months. Is that a good thing (rest) or a bad thing (rust)?
THE PICK
You could make a strong case for picking Rose. In a field of 34 winners, can you really go wrong with anyone? Should you therefore pick a guy who gives you more bang for your buck? Maybe. But, in a more educated sense, I like McDowell. He’s the highest-ranked guy in the field and is arguably playing better right now than anyone else in the field.
Hyundai Tournament of Champions pick: Graeme McDowell +1015
