2009 Northern Trust Open Preview and Picks
Golf Betting Odds at Bodog
This week’s PGA Tour stop takes us to Riviera Country Club for this year’s Northern Trust Open. Phil Mickelson will be here trying to repeat his two shot win over Jeff Quinney last year. This will be a pretty strong field as all 2009 PGA winners and 11 past champions of this event will be here. Nine of the top 10 players on this year’s money list will also participate.
This week’s biggest attraction, however, will be 17-year old Japanese prodigy Ryo Ishikawa. He will be making his PGA Tour debut. Ishikawa already has 3 professional wins under his belt. At the end of 2008 he became the youngest golfer ever to crack the top 100 in the World rankings. He sits at #64 right now which would be good enough to get him into next week’s WGC-Accenture Match Play event. Riviera Country Club is anticipating 100 Japanese media this week. He will be playing this week thanks to a Commissioner’s Foreign Exemption.
Let’s take a look at the favorites and other golfers to watch this week.
The Favorites:
Mike Weir 10-1: I recommended taking him last week and he finished 2nd in the rain-shortened Pebble Beach Pro-Am. This is another course that suits his game and he’s won this tournament twice before. I’m going to take another shot with Mike Weir even though I rarely play anybody less than 15-1. Play
Phil Mickelson 14-1: Phil is still struggling this year. His best finish in three starts is a t42 at the Buick Invitational. He won here last year, but I’m still not confident enough in his game to bet him at 14-1. Pass
Players I’m taking a shot on:
Jim Furyk 25-1: Furyk missed the cut here last year, but made the previous 7. He tied for 3rd in 2007 and t12 in 2006. His kind of game is like Mike Weir’s. Precision.
Geoff Ogilvy 25-1: Geoff hasn’t had much success here, but is having a good start to his 2009 season. Winning the Mercedes-Benz while making the cut in all 3 events he’s played this year. He’s definitely worth the shot.
Zach Johnson 28-1: Zach is another guy whose game fits this course. It’s also hard to go against this guy anywhere right now. He’s finished 1st, t6, and t12 in his three events this year. Please, 28-1 for Zach Johnson? Take it.
Long Shot:
Matt Kuchar 66-1: Matt is on the top of his game right now with 3 consecutive top 25 finishes after missing the cut at the Sony Open. He’s made the cut here 4 straight years and is due for a win. He’s worth a unit at 66-1.
Hopefully this week we will have 4 full rounds of golf and we’ll get to see at least one shot from the winner. Last week’s winner, Dustin Johnson didn’t have one shot seen by viewers on TV. CBS’ coverage on Saturday only showed amateurs, celebrities, and Phil Mickelson. Poor Dustin. I’m sure he’s not complaining, though.
Good luck to everyone and enjoy the Northern Trust Open.
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