The unofficial event that is the 2011 Chevron World Challenge golf betting tees off on Thursday in California, with the host Tiger Woods looking to pick up his first title of the year. The tournament is hosted by the Tiger Woods Foundation, and is a small field of 18 golfers from around the world. All four of the current Major holders are in attendance as well as the top eleven players from the World Rankings (who are available). The defending champion naturally gets a spot, along with two special exemptions. However, defending Champion Graeme McDowell, who beat Woods in a play off last season, is not back to defend his title because of scheduling issues, so Woods will be in the driving seat with your golf betting this week. We saw Woods go very well at the Australian Open recently, as he looked to fully enact yet another comeback. We did see some of the best of him during the event, but one bad round cost him the title there. Woods will go as favourite naturally at his own event and he has won the event four times before as well (and has had four runners up places out of his nine starts). After coming close last season when he wasn’t playing well, it only makes sense that he is going to be strong in your Chevron World Challenge golf betting. While this is not an official PGA event, it is the season closer for the major tournaments in North America, but because the European Tour is still on going, it is why the actual top eleven ranked players are not in attendance. There are bigger fish to fry that winning the Chevron World Challenge. The Sherwood Country Club is a par 72 at just over 7,000 yards in total, designed by Jack Nicklaus. It is a stunning looking course with a lot of elevation changes just to add to the aesthetics.
There is a strong field, and while Woods is probably going to go well, there are some strong contenders. First of all, it is hard to look past Webb Simpson. It has just been a remarkable season for Simpson and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him cap it all off with a win here. What may count against him though is that it is his first time at the Chevron World Challenge. Still, he just has such remarkable form and control in all aspects of his game that he is going to be worth a shot. So too Keegan Bradley, who is kind of in the same boat as Simpson. Bradley hit a T16 at the WGC HSBC Champions recently, but the PGA Championship and PGA Grand Slam of Golf winner should be in pretty good shape for this one. Great distance off the tee and good enough to land this. You can look at the crop of consistency players like Hunter Mahan, Nick Watney, Steve Stricker and Matt Kuchar who are in the field. They have, by and large, been touring Australian in one way or another and you wonder about tiredness and motivation for the Chevron. It is more of a relaxed atmosphere and a change to play with a little pressure off here, although there is a large pot of a million dollars up for grabs for the winner. Out of this, would look at Mahan as the best option. The American is very comfortable around the course, and has yet to win, but has landed a couple of top fives there throughout his attempts. Will likely roll out the consistent game which should put him near the top of the main contenders here. While the new order, the likes of Bradley and Simpson looking likely to put in good challenges, weigh up the cases that it is their first attempts at the Chevron World Challenge, while Mahan is very familiar.
With so many first timers here would simply look for experience in your Chevron World Challenge golf betting. Woods is top there, but Jim Furyk, a winner in 2009 is a big part of the event at Sherwood. Knows his way around and is definitely worth a look. So too Paul Casey, who shot a superb third place finish here last year. Likes the event and always turns up when he can, so there is something there to warrant an outside bet on him. But as our main tips for your golf betting at the 2011 Chevron World Challenge this week, we are going to look for Hunter Mahan, Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and Paul Casey, going for track records over the maverick youth.
2011 Chevron World Challenge Golf Betting Odds
Tiger Woods: 3/1 at Bet365 (Place Market 4/5 at Unibet)
Webb Simpson: 11/1 at SkyBet (Place Market 9/4 at Bet365)
Hunter Mahan: 14/1 at Bet365 (Place Market 11/4 at Bet365)
Jim Furyk: 14/1 at Paddy Power (Place Market 11/4 at SkyBet)
Nick Watney: 15/1 at Boylesports (Place Market 3/1 at Boylesports)
Steve Stricker: 16/1 at SkyBet (Place Market 10/3 at SkyBet)
Jason Day: 16/1 at Totesport (Place Market 3/1 at BetFred)
Matt Kuchar 18/1 at SportingBet (Place Market 7/2 at Totesport)
Paul Casey: 20/1 at 888Sport (Place Market 7/2 at Unibet)
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