Dan Roebuck’s US Money List Preview: Johnson long-odds value

The market makers have once again framed the entire PGA Tour season around Tiger Woods, with the world number one favourite to earn the most dollars in the United States by some distance. The Money List in America is slightly more defined this term, with the new wrap around season already underway. But remember, Henrik Stenson, who won the Fedex Cup in 2013, did not make the most on course cash – Woods did.

It was almost inevitable, after he won four of his first seven Stateside starts, but his failure to capture a Major title had the naysayers in full voice, claiming he had lost the mental ability to win the very biggest tournaments. The detractors even pointed to his failure to defeat Zach Johnson down the stretch in his own tournament – the World Challenge in December – as recent evidence that he had lost the knack of winning.

However, 2014 will see him have the opportunity to get back in the winners enclosure in a Grand Slam event. Woods is always a live contender at the Masters, as four Green Jackets in his wardrobe testifies to, the Open in 2014 is at Royal Liverpool, venue for his imperious 2006 triumph when he battled baking conditions, while the USPGA Championship, staged at Valhalla Golf Club, will see him hope to repeat his success of 2000, when he downed Bob May after a playoff. At odds against, Woods looks well placed to end his major drought in the up coming campaign.

For those looking for a bigger priced runner for the US Money List, Dustin Johnson fits the bill. Already on the board with a stunning victory in the HSBC Champions tournament in China, Johnson has a head start on many of his rivals, and with a huge chance to follow up with another win in the 2014 opening event in Hawaii – where he is the defending champion – the American Ryder Cupper looks set for a stunning season. Injury problems affected him for two months of the summer in 2013 but with a clean bill of health he’ll be competitive in more of the big events this time around. His early season form will be key, as he’ll no doubt target the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in February, and two months into the season it’s conceivable he’ll be half the odds he currently is.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date

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