2011 PGA Sony Open Betting Odds and Predictions

Question

Golf betting is a profitable way of earning extra bucks. I plan to bet on 2011 PGA Sony Open. Can I have 2011 PGA Sony open, betting odds and predictions?

Answer 1

The PGA stays in Hawaii this week, but this is the first full field open event of the season. Last week’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions was only open to tournament winners from 2010. This week a field of 144 players takes on the Waialae Country Club in Hawaii. The 7,068 yard Par 70 course ranked as the 21st most difficult course out of 52 on the PGA Tour. It has been extended by 24 yards this year. The course was built in 1927, 32 years before Hawaii even became a state. It has hosted a PGA event for 47 straight years. Nine former winners of the event are in the field, including, Ryan Palmer, K.J. Choi, Vijay Singh, Jerry Kelly, Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, Paul Goydos, Ernie Els, and Paul Stankowski. The field also includes Jonathan Byrd who won last week’s event to get an early leg up in the Fed-Ex Cup standings. Here are a list of the odds and some props and match-ups I like. All odds courtesy of Bodog.

1. Steve Stricker (8/1) Though Stricker has never won this event, he has 3 top four finishes in the last 4 times he has played here. This could be the year Stricker breaks through with a win. All Stricker does is just play consistently. He is usually among the leaders in top 5′s and top 10′s on the tour. Last week he was tied for the lead after 3 rounds but faded to a tie for 4th in the final rounds. Waialae is the most difficult course for hitting the fairway and 11th most difficult for putting. Stricker is very good at both, so he has the tools to conquer the tough course. You can wager on him to win, but I feel a better bet on Stricker is to finish in the top 10 this week. A yes wager on that prop is -125, a bargain when you consider how well Stricker usually plays this course.

2. Jim Furyk (11/1) Furyk won this event in 1996 but hasn’t played here since 2008. He does have 5 top 10 finishes on this course. He tied for ninth last week. Like Stricker, Furyk has the tools to do well on this course. Furyk won the FedEx Cup last year so obviously he will be one of the favorites in any event he plays. He could be worth a play to win the event, but I like him better head-to head against Ernie Els. Both are -115 in the match-up.

3. Ernie Els (12/1) Els won this event in 2003 and 2004 and has 5 career top 10′s here. He tied for 17th last week, a disappointment since he was one of the favorites, and there were only 34 players in the field. He certainly could contend in this tournament but I just don’t think it is his week.

4. Robert Allenby (25/1) Allenby has made 6 starts since the PGA Tour ended last season in October. He was a runner-up last year at this event and has 3 top 10′s in his last 5 starts at this event. He is a good dark horse candidate to win. He is +250 to finish in the top ten and I like those odds.

5. Charles Howell III (20/1) Though Howell is one of the worst at driving accuracy on Tour, he loves this course. He has played the event 9 times and has 9 top ten finishes, including 5 top 5′s. He is my pick to break through and finally win the event. Howell also is +250 to finish in the top 10, so that is another good play. You can also bet Howell -125 in a match-up against Jonathan Byrd. That is also a good play.

Other notable players and their odds are Matt Kuchar (16/1), Adam Scott (18/1), Jonathan Byrd (28/1), Zach Johnson (28/1), Jason Day (33/1), Justin Rose (30/1), K.J. Choi (25/1), Tim Clark (33/1), Carl Pettersson (30/1), Anthony Kim (50/1), Stuart Appleby (66/1), Vijay Singh (66/1), Davis Love III (80/1), Jerry Kelly (50/1), David Duval (150/1), and the field is 10/1.

It should be a great tournament and I hope everyone enjoys it. Our sports handicappers are off to a great start in 2011. We are releasing winners every day.