The Loop

Woods no longer a betting favorite

May 05, 2010

Tiger Woods' poor performance in the Quail Hollow Championship (missed cut) and reports of a pitiful practice round on Tuesday have resulted in his no longer being the betting favorite to win the Players Championship, according to odds posted by British bookmaker William Hill on Wednesday.

Phil Mickelson is now the 15/2 favorite. The odds on Woods have fallen from 7/1 to 8/1.

Who can remember the last time that Woods went into a tournament as less than the odds-on favorite? One story said that William Hill has reported "that it is the first time in 15 years that the world number one has started a PGA event as anything other than favourite." That isn't accurate; 15 years ago, Woods was a freshman at Stanford and about 16 months away from turning professional.

Still, it seems likely that he's been a betting favorite in every tournament he's played in this century.

The 8/1 odds are as good as one is likely ever to get on Woods.

-- John Strege