PGA Betting – 2009 Tour Championship Predictions
NFL week 3 betting shows us that football season is in full swing. Meanwhile, The Tour Championship marks the last week of meaningful PGA golf in 2009. Time to make one last bet. Will Tiger stay hot? Will the Stricker show return?
Or will the year end with a shocker? Let’s make some sports picks.
When: Thursday Sept. 24 – Sunday Sept 27, 2009
Where: East Lake Golf Club · Atlanta, GA
Fed Ex Points: FEC Winner’s Share: 2,500
Purse: $7.5 Million
Winning Share: $1.35 Million
Course Yards: 7,154
THE ELITE – A.K.A. THE TIGER WOODS CATEGORY
Tiger Woods
Tour Championship odds: +125
It’s that time again. Fresh off a dominant performance at the BMW Championship, Tiger is back in the zone. It’s not a question of if you bet on him – only for which reason. You could pick him because he won the Tour Championship at East Lake two years ago; because he leads the Tour in scoring average, birdie average and par breakers; or because he’s hot, leading the FedEx Cup standings. What else can we say about him?
THE CONTENDERS
Padraig Harrington
Tour Championship odds: +1415
I guess all is not lost for Paddy in 2009. It looked like a year to forget after he went 15 tournaments without a top-10 finish, but he’s suddenly rattled off five straight top-10s. A good scrambler, putter and course manager, he can bail himself out of trouble at East Lake, so he’s a near lock to hang with the leaders. But can he conquer his bizarre case of Sunday mental lapses?
Steve Stricker
Tour Championship odds: +1615
Every time we doubt Stricker, he shocks us with another win. It’s been a banner year for him – three wins, 10 top-10s and a world No. 2 ranking. Thanks to his crisp ball striking and putting, he’s a safe play this week. Given his poor history at East Lake, however, he’s not the perfect pick.
SOLID PICKS
Zach Johnson
Tour Championship odds: +2050
East Lake has long rough and rewards accurate tee shots, meaning we have to consider the crisp-striking Zach Johnson this week. He has multiple top-10s and a pair of wins this season and the conditions are right for him to contend.
Sean O’Hair
Tour Championship odds: +2050
Under the radar, O’Hair has two straight top-10s during the FedEx Cup playoffs. He’s also accurate – did you know he hit 32 straight greens at one point this season? That bodes well for him at East Lake, though I wish he’d offer better value.
THE SLEEPER
Mike Weir
Tour Championship odds: +5250
Perhaps because he hasn’t threatened to win any tournaments this season, Mike Weir offers surprisingly good value this week. He’s accurate off the tee and a good putter; he also placed sixth at the Tour Championship last year. You could do a lot worse with a boom/bust pick.
Best betting management pick: Tiger Woods +125
One reply on “2009 PGA Tour Championship Preview/Picks”
Thanks for the great post! Looking forward to the Championship this year.