The European Tour stages the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship this weekend, with many of the world’s top international golfers taking part. The tournament takes place in Scotland, on the St. Andrews, Kingsbarns, and Carnoustie courses, and includes both professional and amateur players. Past winners include Colin Montgomerie (2005), Stephen Gallacher (2004), Lee Westwood (2003), Padraig Harrington (2002), and Paul Lawrie (2001). Prior to 2001, the tournament had been a three-man team competition.
Golfers rotate through the three courses over the first three days of the tournament, with one professional player and one amateur making up a team. The field is then reduced to the top teams and players for the final round (which will be played at St. Andrews) – and both an individual champ and a team champ will be crowned on Sunday afternoon.
Harrington and Montgomerie might be former winners of this event, but it’s Ernie Els who is the oddsmakers’ current pick to win the tournament. Els is listed at +600 to pull out the victory, while Harrington is pegged at +1600 and Montgomerie is at +2800. Other top odds have been given to David Howell (+1800), Vijay Singh (+1800), Henrik Stetson (+1800), and Ian Poulter (+2000).
Here are the rest of the top tournament odds:
Odds to Win the Dunhill Links Championship
Ernie Els +600
Padraig Harrington +1600
David Howell +1800
Vijay Singh +1800
Henrik Stenson +1800
Ian Poulter +2000
Paul Casey +2800
Darren Clarke +2800
Jose Maria Olazabal +2800
Colin Montgomerie +2800
Thomas Björn +3000
Angel Cabrera +3000
Robert Karlsson +3000
Lee Westwood +3000
Bradley Dredge +4000
Niclas Fasth +4000
Back in North America the PGA Tour stages the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro this weekend at Forest Oaks Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. K.J. Choi won this event last season, while Brent Geiberger picked up the victory in 2004, and Shigeki Maruyama was the winner in 2003. Choi is pegged as the favorite to be a repeat champ this year, at +2000 odds, while each of Maruyama, Tim Clark, Lucas Glover, Davis Love, Justin Rose, and Steve Stricker are listed just back at +2500.
The other top odds:
Odds to Win the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro
K.J. Choi +2000
Tim Clark +2500
Lucas Glover +2500
Davis Love +2500
Shigeki Maruyama +2500
Justin Rose +2500
Steve Stricker +2500
Brett Quigley +2800
Mike Weir +2800
Jonathan Byrd +3000
Kenny Perry +3000
Carl Pettersson +3000
Ryan Moore +4000
Nick O'Hern +4000
Ted Purdy +4000
Camilo Villegas +4000
Tiger Woods picked up yet another tournament win last weekend, rolling to a victory in the WGC-American Express Championship at The Grove in Hertfordshire, England. He’s off this weekend though – which gives everyone else a chance to grab a win. But Woods’ scorching stretch has everyone thinking about next season – and the number of major tournaments he might be able to win.
Here are the current odds for ’07 Woods:
How many Majors will Tiger win in 2007?
Exactly 1 +125
Exactly 2 +275
Exactly 3 +800
Exactly 4 +2500
Exactly 0 +200
Before getting to his grand-slam quest, though, Woods will have to complete his 2006 schedule. Woods is next expected to compete in the HSBC Champions Tournament at Sheshan Golf Club in Shanghai in early November, with the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, and the Target World Challenge also penciled into his schedule. Watch for Woods to be the big favorite in those tournaments.
