My golf kick continues as I try and avoid getting too hyped up about the Super Bowl, but I promise you there is some good Super Bowl stuff coming but there are a lot of prop bets to sift through before making any final decisions. So stay tuned and enjoy some golf stuff as I can’t resist getting too hyped up about the upcoming golf season.

 

Honorable Mention

Matt Kuchar 8-1

The value isn’t there but the talent certainly is. I wouldn’t suggest betting him at 8-1 to win at least one of the four but I will suggest betting him in every major until he actually wins one.

Best/Worst Names Without a Chance on Sportsbook.com’s List

Kiradech Aphibarnrat 75-1

75-1 for a barn rat, no thanks.

Jason Kokrak 100-1

Is this pronounced coke rack or cock rack? Neither makes for a fun youth.

Jbe Kruger 125-1

Jbe? That qualifies as a first name?

Not Worth Betting Now

Rory McIlroy 3-1

 

While he was on fire in Dubai today, posting a round of -9 (63) good for a three shot lead, he just can’t be trusted enough to bet him at 3-1. Those odds are insane. He could shoot 80 tomorrow and then you’d feel like an idiot.

Adam Scott 3-1

 

These past few years Scott has shown the ability to compete in every major but the US Open. Can you really trust a guy at 3-1 odds that only has a chance to win in 75% of the major tournaments? Either wait for those odds to go up quite a bit or just bet him individually in the other three majors.

Jordan Spieth 5-1

 

I’m a big fan of this kid, and I think he might just grab his first victory in a major this year, but there is too much hype and 5-1 for a 20 year old kid to win his first major tournament in his first full time season is a ridiculous thought. Most of these guys need to face some adversity by losing a close one before they are able to get over the hump and this kid hasn’t faced that yet, not on that level anyway.

Justin Rose 5-1

 

Another case of odds that have absolutely no value. Obviously he is capable of winning a major tournament, but do you really feel confident in 5-1 odds for him winning one in back to back years? I didn’t think so.

Charl Schwartzel 8-1

 

Since he won the Masters in 2011, he has only finished inside the top 10 in one other major tournament… the US Open in 2011. 8-1 for that track record?… pass.

Rickie Fowler 15-1

 

Rickie is a great young golfer, but I’m not sure he has what it takes to get over the hump and win one of these things just yet. He has finished inside the top 10 just twice in the past 12 majors, meanwhile he has been cut three times. He is certainly talented and young enough to eventually grab one, but I just don’t think this is his year, not without having been at least close before.

Hideki Matsuyama 15-1

 

There is a lot of hype around this kid too, but you can’t take a virtual unknown guy with no real history of competing in these things to win one at 15-1. There’s just no way he wins a major even this year, it’s not happening.

KJ Choi 25-1

 

KJ Choi is one of the aces up my sleeve in fantasy golf against AP3. He always seems to finish well when I take him, but he never comes out on top. 25-1 is decent odds, but this 43 year old has been cut in four out of the past eight majors and has just one finish inside the top 20.

Worth Betting Now

Keegan Bradley 10-1

This kid can flat out play. He won his first ever major event and made a run at winning the PGA Championship back to back years, before finishing 3rd in 2012. But he is coming off a mediocre year for him. He will be looking to bounce back this year with some strong golf and another major victory is well within his reach at all four courses this year.

Steve Stricker 15-1

This is strickly, see what I did there, a value bet on one of the best golfers of my lifetime. Stricker is just too good to end his career without winning a single major tournament.

Zach Johnson 15-1

ZJ is playing some of the best golf of his life right now. He has figured out his own game and is staying well within himself, resulting in some of the most consistent golf on the planet.

Ryo Ishikawa 30-1

This kid is due to burst onto the scene. He has quietly had a nice young career but hasn’t been able to deliver the goods. Eventually he is going to win something big and become a household name. This might be his year.

Fred Couples 75-1

In all likeliness Freddy Couples won’t win anything this year. But every once in a while he pops up and competes in one of these big tournaments. 75-1 for an all time great is very nice odds to grab a hold of now.  

My Picks

Masters: Tiger Woods  

US Open: Dustin Johnson

British Open: Keegan Bradley

PGA: Matt Kuchar

mlz

Thursday, January 30, 2014