Tiger Woods at 2011 Masters Press Conference
Tiger Woods is back in contention and is listed on most golf sites to win the 2012 Masters, but he is also being shunned beacuse of inconsistent putting and long-term physical and emotional injuries. Although Woods is also a favorite on many a bookmaker's web site (some sites with odds as low as 4-1), not far behind is Rory McIlroy with Phil Mickelson galloping close behind. Is the new and improved Tiger Woods finally ready to win a major tournament?
SportsBettingOnline.com has Woods' odds at a respectable 5-1 with head odds maker Dave Johnson stating that Tiger's win this year at Bay Hill gave him a "mental edge" but that the only thing that could possibly defeat Tiger is, well...Tiger. Woods downplayed his recent victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitiational in spite of the fact that it was his first in over 900 days on Tour, noting that his win was not in a major championship; this statement in itself may reveal a weakened mental state. In my opinion, a PGA Tour win is a win and should be lauded and built upon for the next competition.
Mike Colbert, risk director for Cantor Gaming added Rory McIlroy's name to Woods' as contender for the coveted Green Jacket. "Of course it's a golf tournament and anyone could win, but two guys stand out," Colbert said. "The fact that Tiger Woods obviously hasn't been himself this year, but now is starting to come into his own, can't be ignored."
In stark contrast, golf portals like Bleacher Report are taking a different approach, telling bettors not to take a gamble on Tiger Woods when making a Masters pick because of his putting maladies, "ranking 67th across the PGA Tour with 1.768 across 2012."
Rory McIlroy, because of his big collapse in Augusta 2011 and a lack of accuracy should also be avoided for all of you Fantasy Golf aficionados. Probably the worst choice to lay your money on according to B/R is Adam Scott, yes even though Steve Williams will be by his side.
Other naysayers from Devil Ball Golf conclude that, even though Woods may have one or two good rounds in him he will not win this event, to ...
...sports "know-it-all" Sportige who believe that "more than two year's of injuries and simply playing bad doesn't disappear into thin air" may have to go head-to-head against ESPN Senior Golf Analyst Michael Collins whose position is simply, "How could you NOT make Tiger Woods the favorite to win the Masters?"
Who do I believe will win the Masters this year? Although I am not really a gambler (unless you consider my $2 Nassaus and occasional trotters picks at Empire Raceway in Yonkers, NY), I'll take Phil Mickelson as my pick but I'm certainly not saying that Tiger Woods can't win.
Many of my golf and social media friends call me "predictable" because I always root for Phil or Tiger but, the reason I'll keep both names at the top of my very short list is as Ovid stated,
"A horse never runs so fast as when he has other horses to catch up and outpace." Woods and Mickelson are two golfers that take this saying seriously.
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