Tiger Woods Looks for Win at 2009 Buick Open

If you did any golf betting on Tiger Woods at the British Open a couple of weeks ago your bankroll is now a bit lighter. Woods will be looking to redeem himself for that tournament stumble when he hits the links this week at the Buick Open at Warwick Hills. Click here to bet on the 2009 Buick Open at BetUS online sportsbook

Woods began The Open Championship at Turnberry with a first-round 71, shot a 74 on the second day, missed the cut, and then headed home early. The world’s top-ranked player had finished in the Top 10 in his eight tournaments prior to the British Open, winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Memorial Tournament, and the AT&T National.

And Woods has also won the Buick Open in the past – he finished atop the leaderboard in the event in both 2006 and 2002. In 2006 at Warwick Hills Woods shot four consecutive scores of 66 to beat Jim Furyk by three strokes. Back in 2002 Woods built up a huge lead with his first two rounds of 67 and 63, then shot 71 and 70 on the final two days to top Fred Funk by four strokes. Woods didn’t play the Buick in 2007 or 2008.

Last year’s Buick Open was won by Kenny Perry, who won’t be in the field this week. Perry closed the tournament with a final-round 66, edging both Woody Austin and Bubba Watson by a single stroke. Bob Tway, Ken Duke, and Matt Jones were two strokes back of the leader, and Brian Gay and Lucas Glover finished three back of first.

Little-known Brian Bateman, the 2007 Buick Open champion, will be back looking for his second title this week. Bateman shot a 15-under 273 to edge Austin, Jason Gore, and Justin Leonard by one stroke in that tournament. Furyk, Steve Elkington, John Rollins, Marco Dawson, and Scott Verplank all ended up at 13-under to tie for fifth at the event.

But of course it’s Woods that’s listed as the oddsmakers’ favorite this week – he’s pegged at +120 to win the event. Furyk is next at +1000 odds, with Leonard at +1500. Verplank and Gay round out the first five on the odds list at +2000 to come out on top.

Elsewhere, British Open runner-up Tom Watson is back at +1400 odds to win this week’s U.S. Senior Open at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana. Bernhard Langer is the tournament favorite at +500, with Fred Funk at +900, Loren Roberts at +1000, and Greg Norman at +1200. Jay Haas is also listed at +1400 to grab the trophy.

As well, Cristie Kerr and Lorena Ochoa are the +800 co-favorites to claim this week’s Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club in Lancashire, England. Paula Creamer is next at +1000 odds, with 2008 champion Ji Yai Shin tied with Ai Miyazato at +1500. In-Kyung Kim, Karrie Webb, and Sophie Gustafson follow the top group at +2000 odds, with Michelle Wie pegged at +2200 to win the major tournament.

Looking ahead, Woods is pegged as the +200 favorite on the BetUS golf odds to win the final major tournament of the season, the PGA Championship. Phil Mickelson, who is expected to return to action on the tour next week, is next at +1200, followed by each of Furyk, Padraig Harrington, and Sergio Garcia at +2500. Perry, Henrik Stenson, Geoff Ogilvy, and Paul Casey round out the top tier of contenders at +2800 to get the victory.

Check the BetUS golf lines section for the latest odds on upcoming tour tournaments.