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PGA Championship 2018: Vegas lowers Justin Thomas' odds, raises betting line for Tiger Woods
Sam Greenwood
While Justin Thomas cruised to a four-shot win at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Sunday, Tiger Woods did anything but cruise around Firestone in what could be his last-ever competitive round at the Akron course. Woods tied a career-low with five pars on his way to a bumpy final-round 73 that left him tied for 31st place at the event he's won eight times. Not surprisingly, these two performances were reflected in the new PGA Championship odds that came out Sunday night.
Las Vegas Westgate Superbook downgraded Woods to 20-to-1 odds to win this week at Bellerive Country Club. Meanwhile, Thomas' odds have been lowered to 14/1 entering the season's final major championship. The defending champ is now the third favorite behind Dustin Johnson (10/1) and Rory McIlroy.
Previously, Woods and Thomas were both listed at 16/1. Woods, a 14-time major champ, hasn't won one of golf's four big events since the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. He took the lead on the back nine in his last major start at last month's Open Championship before finishing T-6, three shots behind winner Francesco Molinari.
Jordan Spieth, who will be attempting to complete the career Grand Slam, is next at 16-to-1 odds. He's followed by Rickie Fowler at 18/1 and then a group at 20/1 that is comprised of Woods, Jason Day, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm, and Tommy Fleetwood. Molinari is listed at 25/1 and reigning Masters champ Patrick Reed is 30/1. Phil Mickelson is 50/1.
Neither Woods or Thomas has ever played competitively as a pro at Bellerive, which last hosted a major at the 1992 PGA Championship and was also the site of the 2008 BMW Championship, while Woods was on the mend from knee surgery following his playoff win at that year's U.S. Open. Woods was set to tee it up at Bellerive in 2001 for a World Golf Championship before the event was cancelled following the 9/11 attacks.
Woods, Thomas and Rory McIlroy will be paired together for the first two rounds. Here's how you can watch the final major of 2018.