Tiger Woods back as favourite for Chevron World Challenge
Published:Tiger Woods heads into the Chevron World Challenge in a position that was all too familiar until a few years ago – as the overwhelming favourite.
The 14-times major champion never slipped too far down the betting despite his personal problems, injury problems and caddy problems, but it’s been a while since he’s been as short as 3/1 to win a tournament.
He hosts the event at the Sherwood Country Club in California which usually features the four Major winners, the top 11 available from the World Rankings, the defending champion and two invites.
However, defending champion Graeme McDowell and Major winners Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke and Charl Schwartzel are all playing in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa this week.
That leaves USPGA Championship champion Keegan Bradley as the only Major winner, while the highest ranked player is World No.6 Steve Stricker.
It’s a great opportunity for Woods to get his first win in over two years, but there is plenty to suggest others further down the betting are in with a great shout of winning.
Tiger’s third place finish at the Australian Open was an encouraging sign but, when it came to really stamping his authority on the tournament after leading at the half-way point, he went and shot a 75 in the third round.
The last time Woods finished a tournament having shot four rounds under par was the 2010 Masters.
Therefore, it is well worth looking at the likes of Webb Simpson at 10/1. The American has been in fantastic form in the second-half of the season and has already won the Wyndham Championship this year.
Elsewhere, Stricker is 14/1 to win the tournament, while Matt Kuchar – who helped win the World Cup for America on Sunday – is out at 16/1 to stop Woods.
