{"id":9570,"date":"2010-03-11T09:34:44","date_gmt":"2010-03-11T14:34:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thesandtrap.com\/?p=9570"},"modified":"2010-03-11T09:35:13","modified_gmt":"2010-03-11T14:35:13","slug":"my_dough_is_on_tiger_woods_even_if_my_heart_isnt_","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesandtrap.com\/b\/thrash_talk\/my_dough_is_on_tiger_woods_even_if_my_heart_isnt_","title":{"rendered":"My Dough is On Tiger Woods, Even if My Heart Isn’t"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ThrashAs I prepare for a week in Las Vegas and the chance to place a wager on just about anything, I’ll be on the lookout for golf in the sports book. As if this sport isn’t maddening enough, why not combine it with another completely futile hobby – handing over my hard-earned cash so they can buy another chandelier for the lobby.
\n
\nHow Many Majors Will Tiger Woods Win in 2010?<\/strong>
\nSince I’m convinced Woods will be back in time for the Masters, I have four shots. My bet is he’ll win two this year, based on a few factors. First, this year’s rotation includes Augusta National, Pebble Beach, and St. Andrews, three courses he’s dominated in the past. He’s had a few months away, and will have the chance to get focused on golf again. As much as the family issues will continue, the course and the range can be Tiger’s safe zone and I don’t think you become the legendary player he is without being able to compartmentalize. And given all that, maybe he’ll replace the time spent juggling a double life with a few more hours straightening out his driver.<\/p>\n

How Many Majors Will Phil Mickelson Win in 2010?<\/strong>
\nIt’s the chalk, but I have to go with zero, zilch, zip, nada. It wasn’t a surprise to read this week that Mickelson’s swing coach Butch Harmon thinks Phil’s heart isn’t into golf right now. It makes sense, and certainly explains what’s easily one of the most mediocre and disappointing stretches of Phil’s career. This season shaped up as the chance for him to carry golf on his shoulders. Instead, the only headlines he steals are for his public squabble with the PGA Tour over grooves. It’s obvious that there’s something missing, and Harmon’s explanation puts into words the personal grind that cancer can be. Phil’s got the talent to toss up results such as his strong finish to 2009, but without being 100 percent focused on the task at hand, a major title simply isn’t going to happen.<\/p>\n

Who Will be the 2010 PGA Tour Money Leader?<\/strong>
\nAny other year you’d feel like Tiger is a lock, and Vegas would set the lines accordingly. But with the mystery surrounding his situation, I’ll take it as a chance for a value play. Even if Woods misses the Masters, it’s hard to imagine that once he comes back he won’t go full steam ahead. That doesn’t mean playing every week, because that’s never been his strategy. But even if he gets 15 starts in this year, he’ll qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs, and I’d never bet on anyone else to knock him off in a four-tournament points event, even if he isn’t atop the standings coming in.<\/p>\n

Who Will Win the 2010 Masters?<\/strong>
\nThis one’s fun because you can toss a few bucks on a few different guys and if one puts on the green jacket, you’ll be way ahead. Here are a few long shots I would love to root for (as opposed to picks to realistically win, which we’ll revisit in a few weeks):<\/p>\n

Alvaro Quiros (75-1):<\/em> If I can get these odds on a Spaniard who hits the ball a mile, I’m jumping all over it. Here’s a guy ranked 31st in the world, and his finishes this year include a runner-up, a top 10, and nothing worse than 14th. Compare his odds to some others: Goosen 20-1; McIlroy 14-1; Adam Scott 30-1. Would I expect Augusta to dig out a 46 extra, extra long for the lanky Quiros? Not really, but at that price I love the value.<\/p>\n

Fred Couples (80-1):<\/em> I don’t care if he’s beating old men or little kids. He’s roared onto the Champions Tour and I’m convinced that he can still compete on Tour (even if he isn’t). If you don’t think a guy his age can win the Masters, just ask Kenny Perry. The difference is that Couples has the guts to finish it off.<\/p>\n

Matt Kuchar (50-1):<\/em> He’s not the kid who smiled his way around Augusta a decade ago, but he’s playing the best golf of his pro career, and if he manages to contend, he could ride the magic again.<\/p>\n

Keep An Eye Out for Kim<\/h3>\n

Because of his recent play, everyone’s been quick to anoint Camilo Villegas as the next savior of golf. Rich Lerner was scarily excited talking about the Colombian during an episode of Golf Central. Sure, he’s young, brash, dapper, and all the things that I’d love to see out there. But for my money, Anthony Kim brings everything to the table, but a more solid, complete golf game, and I expect after a downer of a 2009 (and seeing his buddy Tiger’s party lifestyle cause such harm), Kim has gotten his focus back and will build upon his solid results of late. Sure, he hasn’t been able to finish, but my hunch is once he gets back over that hump, he’ll become one of the few guys out there who can enter nearly every tournament as one of the week’s five favorites, regardless of the field.<\/p>\n

Don’t Sleep on Euro Tour<\/h3>\n

The Golf Channel’s coverage of the European Tour has the low-budget feel of an indie movie, but boy can it be fun. Last week’s stretch run was great theater. In case you missed it, K.J. Choi was in the clubhouse tied for the lead. Last guy would could beat him was an 18-year-old fellow Korean Noh Seung-yul, who hit it so far left on par-five 18th he had to take a series of drops to get away from a cart path and the hospitality tents. The teenager composed himself and pitched over a bunker and within a couple feet, making the birdie to become the youngest professional victor on the European Tour.<\/p>\n

Poulter? Yay or Nay?<\/h3>\n

I can’t decide if I love Ian Poulter or can’t stand him. He’s one guy I reserve judgment on. Flipping off the stadium crowd was classic, and not the horror so many made it out to be. Plus, the guy can flat out play, and he’s not afraid to tell you how good he is. Now that he’s spending more time in the States, I’m sure we’ll get a better feel before long.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the land of legal sportsbetting, now’s the time to plunk down a few bucks on 2010 being the Year of Woods afterall<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[98,22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9570","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hot_topics","category-thrash_talk"],"yoast_head":"\nMy Dough is On Tiger Woods, Even if My Heart Isn't (Hot Topics, Thrash Talk) - 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