Tiger Woods will be aiming to get back to winning ways in this week's Chevron World Challenge, the tournament he hosts annually at Sherwood Country Club, California.
Tiger hasn't won an event of any nature since his personal life hit the buffers two years ago almost to the day, but will be hopeful of putting that right on a course he loves. In the nine editions of the Chevron, he has finished out of the first two just once, winning four times (the last time in 2007), and only lost out to an inspired Graeme McDowell in an epic playoff 12 months ago. That was at the end of a poor season for the American and, while this one hasn't been much better, with the highlight being his fourth place in the Masters, he's found some form in recent weeks with third place at the Australian Open and a comfortable singles success in the Presidents Cup, prompting bookmakers to price him up at 3/1 to beat just 17 rivals.
However, it's a case of quality over quantity this week with his Presidents Cup team-mates Webb Simpson, Jim Furyk, Bill Haas, Steve Stricker, Nick Watney, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar in opposition, not to mention the likes of Jason Day, Paul Casey, Gary Woodland and KJ Choi. Apart from Casey, all finished higher than Woods on the 2011 US Money List and the fact the former world No.1 has now slipped to 51st is a measure of how much his game has deteriorated, while the fear factor he held in his pomp has long gone. I'm sure he will win again and it could happen this week, but the price on offer is not a true reflection of his chances and he looks a favourite to take on.
Webb Simpson is nearly three times the price at 11/1 (Paddy Power) and, when you consider what he has achieved this season, it makes Woods' price look even more skinny. As regards a bet, though, there is even better value in backing HUNTER MAHAN at 14/1 with bet365, who are betting down to four places at one fifth the odds. With just 18 players competing for those four places, there's scope for a decent each-way punt and not many are playing as well as Mahan right now. An unlucky defeat at the Tour Championship, has been followed with a seventh in the Champions and third at the Shanghai Masters, and most recently he secured four out of five points in the Presidents Cup. This is a home tie for the California native and he clearly likes the course too as he has finished fifth and third in his two starts here. He's as short as 10/1 in places so snap up the 14s while it lasts.
There are plenty of other potential winners including Jim Furyk (14/1 Stan James), who will be suited by course, which at just over 7,000 yards, is far from a power test, and last week's heroes Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland, who will be on a high after winning the World Cup for the USA. RICKIE FOWLER could be a bigger threat, though, after securing his first victory as a professional recently when beating Rory McIlroy in the Korean Open and he was far from disgraced in last week's Australian PGA Championship. At 22/1 with Stan James, he's an each-way interest.
Recommended Bets:
Hunter Mahan 2.5pts each-way @ 14/1 bet365 (1/5 odds, 1.2.3.4)
Rickie Fowler 1pt each-way @ 22/1 Stan James (1/5 odds, 1.2.3.4)
