Tiger Woods odds on his first official PGA Tour event in 17 months show the continued belief Las Vegas sports bettors have in the golfing great. The Farmers Insurance Open comes with the most competitive field of the young 2017 season, but that isn’t stopping many from taking a rusty 14-time major champion.
The Westgate SuperBook believes Woods will at least make the cut (Yes -175/No +155), but doesn’t possess much faith in a top 20 finish (Yes +240/No -280). However, golf futures show plenty of enthusiasm for Tiger.
Of the more than 150 players in the field, Woods comes tied for the seventh-best odds at +3000 to win the tournament per the online sportsbook Bovada. Only Dustin Johnson (+800), Jason Day (+1000), Hideki Matsuyama (+1200), Brooks Koepka (+2500), Justin Rose (+2800), and defending champion Brandt Snedeker (+2500) have smaller lines.
Phil Mickelson makes his second consecutive start after finishing T21 last weekend. Bovada has Lefty at +3500 for the Farmers.
Woods hasn’t won a sanctioned PGA Tour event since the 2013 Bridgestone Invitational. Regardless, he says he’s finally injury-free and ready to play.
“I’m excited about getting started on the season,” Woods told reporters this week. “I’ve missed playing. I’ve missed competing.”
Woods has won at San Diego’s Torrey Pines eight times, which includes the 2008 US Open, his last major victory.
Busy Schedule
Woods is seemingly going all-in on 2017 and has already committed to four tournaments. After playing the Farmers, he’ll travel to Dubai for the Omega Desert Classic, then return to California for his foundation’s Genesis Open at Riviera in mid-February.
The following week, Woods will head from California to Florida to cap off a busy month with The Honda Classic. It’s unclear whether he’ll play in March ahead of an anticipated return to the Masters in April.
“I saw out long enough. My body is in a pretty good state where I feel I can handle the workload,” Woods explained. “It is a concern, no doubt.”
The odds on Woods winning his fifth green jacket at Augusta will fluctuate based on his performance over the next month. Vegas currently has him at 22/1 to win the Masters.
Novelty Factor
Woods’ first Tour event came at the young age of 16 back in 1992. Now 41, Woods is one of the most recognizable sports figures in the world.
But after a nearly year-and-a-half absence from the game that made him famous, a certain novelty has returned. Woods will likely receive more betting action than any other player this week, and online bookmaker Paddy Power is ready to capitalize off his play.
The Irish betting site lists a series of Tiger Woods odds specials. The platform asks if his first tee shot will hit the fairway (Yes 4/6, No 11/10), whether he’ll lose a ball or hit a shot out of bounds during the event (4/1), and even if he’ll withdraw from the tournament (20/1).
And for only the most devout Woods fans, Paddy Power is offering a Farmers and Masters double special. The bookmaker puts odds of Tiger winning both tournaments at 300/1.