Big bet on Tiger Woods

Here's the latest from the bookmakers on Tiger Woods. Punters are willing to gamble, as we suggest they should, on a remarkable Tiger comeback.

Maybe the bet was an insurance premium by the folks at sportsbet who've agreed to refund all bets if Tiger wins.

$80,000 BET AS PUNTERS GO TIGER CRAZY

One punter is very confident Tiger Woods will return to golf at the US Masters in top form after backing him to collect nearly $500,000 at Sportingbet Australia.

The punter had $80,000 on Woods at $6.00 and Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said punters were backing Woods heavily in the 24 hours before tee off for the Masters.

“Tiger had been a little easy but punters have really stepped into him now with the bet of $400,000 to $80,000 joined by plenty of other bets including one of $10,000 and another of $7000 at $5.50” Sullivan said.

“Tiger had drifted from $4.50 out to $6.00 but within minutes of posting the $6.00, the punters absolutely smashed us.”

“Tiger’s involvement in the tournament has seen turnover on the golf go through the roof after we had seen a notable absence while he was away from the game.”

Sullivan said Woods had to respected but after nearly six months away from competitive golf, he was happy to take the big bets on fourteen time major winner.

“Tiger has achieved many things that no one else has ever been able to do but this is a huge ask and I am keen to take him on,” he said.

“The flip side of that is this is the most backable price Tiger has been for years, he was $3.00 for the Masters last year so $6.00 is big odds for the greatest golfer of all time.”

2010 US MASTERS
Sportingbet Australia Market
Tiger Woods 5.00
Ernie Els 12.00
Phil Mickelson 12.00
Padraig Harrington 17.00
Retief Goosen 23.00
Steve Stricker 23.00
Lee Westwood 23.00
Paul Casey 26.00
Jim Furyk 34.00
Geoff Ogilvy 34.00
Ian Poulter 34.00
Camilo Villegas 34.00
Dustin Johnson 41.00
Martin Kaymer 41.00
Anthony Kim 41.00
Hunter Mahan 41.00
Rory McIlroy 41.00
Nick Watney 41.00
Angel Cabrera 51.00
Sergio Garcia 51.00
Sean OHair 51.00
Vijay Singh 51.00
Henrik Stenson 51.00
Charl Schwartzel 51.00
Others 67.00 Plus

Tiger Woods tee off times

Tiger Woods tomorrow morning will tee off for the first time in 144 days.

And it will be an early start for most Australians, timed to roll down the first fairway at 3.42am (EST).

Australians kick off a bit earlier. Geoff Ogilvy is at 10.56pm, Robert Allenby at 12.25am, and Adam Scott at 3.53am.

Padraig Harrington, who at $17 isn't a bad bet, is two groups ahead of Woods, and reportedly glad to be slightly away from the circus.

Woods is at between $5 and $5.50. Centrebet is offering to return all bets on other players if Tiger wins the tournament.

Tiger Woods refund

It's not often you get two bets for the price of one. For example, take Reteif Goosen or Padraig Harrington. If Tiger wins, you get your money back. I'm not sure whether it's to attract more turnover on the field, or that the bookies are genuinely keen to back Tiger out of the Augusta race.

Note that somebody at sportsbet.com.au has a good sense of humour: Tiger is at $41 to be back at the clinic sometime during the tournament.

BOOKIE TO REFUND ALL BETS IF TIGER WINS THE MASTERS

Leading online bookmaker Sportsbet.com.au will refund all bets placed on the outright winner of the 2010 US Masters if Tiger Woods wins.

“It’s fair to say Tiger’s preparation hasn’t been ideal and we’re happy to take him on this week, so much so that we’re prepared to refund bets on everyone else in the field if Tiger wins,” said Sportsbet.com.au’s Haydn Lane.

“Taking a stance against Tiger is normally folly for a bookmaker, but we see this as our chance to finally get one back on him.”

Sportsbet.com.au is also offering the best price available on Tiger to win the Masters, currently at $6, with some other bookmakers posting as little as $4 on a Tiger victory.

In novelty markets, Sportsbet.com.au is offering $3 on Tiger to score 16 or more birdies at Augusta, $15 on him leading from start to finish, and $41 on him re-entering the clinic during the tournament.

Note: In November last year, Sportsbet.com.au paid out early on Tiger Woods to win the Australian Masters after two rounds when he was three strokes ahead. Woods faltered in the third round to share the lead with two others, before he shot clear on the final day to win the tournament.

All markets courtesy of Sportsbet.com.au. Prices are subject to fluctuation.

2010 US Masters Outright Winner
$6 Tiger Woods
$14 Phil Mickleson
$15 Ernie Els
$17 Padraig Harrington
$23 Retief Goosen
$23 Lee Westwood
$26 Steve Stricker
$31 Paul Casey
$34 Jim Furyk
$34 Camilo Villegas
$34 Ian Poulter
$34 Anthony Kim
Others quoted
-------------------------------------
Australians
$41 Geoff Ogilvy
$71 Robert Allenby
$81 Adam Scott
$201 John Senden
$251 Mark Leishman
$351 Nathan Green

TIGER SPECIALS

Will Tiger Woods make the cut at Augusta?
$1.15 Yes, he will make the cut
$5.25 No, he will not make the cut

Where will Tiger finish at Augusta?
$1.80 First to fifth
$4.50 Sixth to 10th
$7 11th to 20th
$3.75 21st of worse
$41 Back at the clinic during the tournament

Front-running Tiger
$15 Tiger to lead after each round and win the tournament

Tiger’s Round 1 score at Augusta
$19 64 or less
$15 65-66
$4.80 67-68
$3.50 69-70
$3.75 71-72
$4.25 73-74
$4.50 75 or more

Tiger Woods vs The Field
$6 Tiger Woods
$1.11 The Field

How many Birdies will Tiger hole at Augusta?
$17 0-6
$6.50 7-9
$3.50 10-12
$2.85 13-15
$3 16 or more