Golf / Editor / 10 November 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

On face value, $2.70 for a golfer to win a tournament that is 150-odd deep seems like madness. And before Tiger Woods it would have been. But reason and time-held betting beliefs can be discarded when you are dealing with the world's best (ever?) golfer. By Will Hamer

Woods goes into Thursday's Australian Masters at a skinny quote - like he always does - yet in the eyes of this pundit, it represents a degree of value.

Woods will usually tee off at $3 or greater in a US PGA event.

In those, he'll be facing a field just as large but far deeper in talent. There's no Mickelson, Harrington or Els at Melbourne's Kingston Heath this week.

Instead, Geoff Ogilvy ($13.50), Michael Sim ($18), Robert Allenby ($20) and Adam Scott ($21) are the next four lines of betting. And, yes, that last name and price was not a typo. Add a zero to Scott's price and you still wouldn't get this punter going near it.

Woods comes off a somewhat disappointing equal sixth in Shanghai, after an even par final round, but none of those who finished above him will be hitting off on Thursday.

Ogilvy, as his price suggests, is the biggest threat despite a sub-par season that started so brightly. His closing rounds in Shanghai (65 and 67), where he had a chance at equalling the course record, indicate he might be regaining some of his Major-winning form.

But while the quote for Ogilvy is still a little skinny given recent form, you can be sure that he is one player who is less likely to buckle if he finds himself in the final pair with Woods on Sunday.

Making a case for others in the field is difficult. Aaron Baddeley ($24) will no doubt appeal to some but he's another who has disappointed recently and would need to be double his current quote to be considered value, despite seemingly saving his best for his home city of Melbourne.

Allenby, meanwhile, will need to bring his best putting game to be in contention on Sunday and even then might struggle with 30 degree temperatures all week likely to make the greens fairly unforgivable.

Tip: Take Woods to win with a small saver on Ogilvy. If Woods is anywhere near the leader after the first round, you should be able to sell enough of him to cover your outlays.