PGA Betting: Northern Trust Open Preview
They say the West Coast is the best coast and we’ll find out this weekend as the PGA Tour heads to the outskirts of Los Angeles for the Northern Trust Open. As we get set to tee off, here’s a six pack of golfers who present decent odds for PGA betting:
Before we get started, it’s surprising to see Phil Mickelson as the favorite for the tournament right now. He’s currently at 14-1 but he might not even make the cut. He’s been struggling right now, yet the public has bet him down from 18-1. Mickelson would be lucky to have a Top 25, let alone a win.
Jim Furyk
Northern Trust Open Odds: 25-1
It’s a tough field but Jim Furyk has as good a chance as anyone. We can’t keep saying he’s due for a win because we’ve been saying that for a long time. He had nine Top 10s in 2008 and is as due as anyone can get. 25-1 is a good price tag for a player of his caliber. Now let’s hope he finally breaks through.
Mike Weir
Northern Trust Open Odds: 16-1
Along with Padraig Harrington, Weir is the No. 2 in command as far as the favorites go. Both Weir and Harrington sit at 16-1 to win the tournament.
Weir plays pretty well at Riviera, so you should be tempted with his odds. He’s won twice previously at Riviera but the weather this weekend isn’t expected to be great, which might help Weir. He’s developed a little bit of a niche as a bad-weather golfer.
Luke Donald
Northern Trust Open Odds: 22-1
Great things have been expected from Luke Donald but he hasn’t exactly broke into that premier tier of golfers. But last year was an injury-plagued season for him, which stunted his growth.
This year, Donald has been fairly consistent and could be ready for a win. He’s made the cut in all three tournaments he’s played in this season and he’s finished Top 25 in all of them as well. He also tied for seventh at the Buick Invitational. +2200 is pretty good value for a confident golfer flying below the radar.
Zach Johnson
Northern Trust Open Odds: 28-1
It’s hard not to like Zach Johnson this week, especially at +2800. He’s played three tournaments this year and he’s finished 12th or better in each of them, winning the Sony Open. If he’s on his irons, this course fits his skill set pretty well.
Johnson has yet to miss a cut at Riviera, so expect him to be near the top of the leader board on Saturday and Sunday.
Aaron Baddeley
Northern Trust Open Odds: 40-1
Most of you probably don’t have an Aaron Baddeley poster hanging in your bedrooms but this is a player capable of winning from time to time. He is a very solid putter and is playing fairly well right now – by his standards.
He has never missed the cut in seven tries at Riviera and does have one top-10 finish here. He’s a long shot but, considering he’s played decently here, he could break through.
Charles Howell III
Northern Trust Open Odds: 40-1
Reaching deep into our bag of tricks here, but Charles Howell III might be worth a shot. He’s made it into a playoff twice at Riviera and won once, so course history is on your side if you’re backing him at +4000. He has three top-10 finishes here and he’s never missed a cut. He’s worth a play even though he’s clearly not expected to win.
