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It’s a week before the British Open, and once again we’re forced to deal with the typical pre-major field.
None of the stars are playing this week – no Tiger, no Phil, no Vijay, Retief or Ernie. The battle for the field’s biggest draw looks to be between Chris DiMarco (+3518) and David Duval.
Oh wait. There’s also Michelle Wie.
The John Deere Classic just got a lot more interesting.
The 16-year-old prodigy is competing in her fifth career PGA Tour event, and her second this year.
She’s missed the cut in her first four tournaments with the big boys, but did set the record for lowest round ever shot by a woman in a tour event with 68s in both the 2004 and 2006 Sony Open, an event she’s played three times. She also competed in last year’s John Deere Classic.
Betting markets are uncharacteristically silent on Wie’s chances this week. Most books have her simply listed as a member of the field, and there are is only one shop offering a prop on whether or not she will make the cut.
“When she initially started in the Sony (Open) days there was a lot of interest,” says Jason West, managing director of golf betting specialist GolfingGods.com. “Now that she’s playing in her fifth (men’s pro) tournament, the interest has died down.”
GolfingGods.com has Wie listed as a +15100 favorite to win the tournament – better odds than 33 golfers in the field – and +150 to make the cut (-200 to miss the cut).
“We have about $5,000 on her to make the cut this week,” says West.
Sean O’Hair (+3013) is the defending champion at the 7,183-yard TPC at Deere Run course.
Zach Johnson (-120) vs. Steve Stricker (+110) – Stricker (tournament matchup)
Steve Stricker is back. The former World Match Play champion has made the cut in eight of the nine tournaments he’s played in this year, and missed the cut by just two shots in the other.
He’s matched up against Johnson, who’s doesn’t play well at the Deere Run, missing the cut in two of his four starts and never finishing inside the top 20.
Stricker has historically performed well at Deere Run despite recent struggles. He finished T-4 there in 2004, far and away his best result of that season.
Billy Mayfair (-115) vs. John Senden (+105) – Senden (tournament matchup)
Mayfair’s play is plummeting the last two months. The 39-year-old has failed to crack the top 30 since finishing T-3 at the Verizon Heritage in mid-April and has seen his scoring average drop from 70.4 to 71.9.
He’ll face Senden, a long-hitting Australian who’s made the cut at Deere Run in three of his last four starts.
Ryan Palmer (+167) vs. Heath Slocum (-177) – Palmer (tournament matchup)
You know what? Slocum probably deserves to be favored over Palmer here. But really, does he deserve to be this big a favorite over anyone?
Palmer isn’t that bad. He finished T-20 at Deere Run last season and his scoring average (71.22) is actually better than Slocum’s (71.24).
And Slocum isn’t that good. He’s made the cut in 12 of 19 tournaments this season and has just four top 20 finishes.
Pick to win
Picking Wie provides a potentially exciting weekend, but there’s a reason most books aren’t even offering her as an option.
With a weak field this week, how about Jeff Sluman (+3164)? He has 16 career appearances at the John Deere, and five top 10 finishes.
The 48-year-old is also playing well coming in. His recent play includes a sneaky T-6 finish at the U.S. Open and a T-5 the week before at the Barclays Classic. Overall, he’s made the cut in 14 of 16 tournaments this season.
None of the stars are playing this week – no Tiger, no Phil, no Vijay, Retief or Ernie. The battle for the field’s biggest draw looks to be between Chris DiMarco (+3518) and David Duval.
Oh wait. There’s also Michelle Wie.
The John Deere Classic just got a lot more interesting.
The 16-year-old prodigy is competing in her fifth career PGA Tour event, and her second this year.
She’s missed the cut in her first four tournaments with the big boys, but did set the record for lowest round ever shot by a woman in a tour event with 68s in both the 2004 and 2006 Sony Open, an event she’s played three times. She also competed in last year’s John Deere Classic.
Betting markets are uncharacteristically silent on Wie’s chances this week. Most books have her simply listed as a member of the field, and there are is only one shop offering a prop on whether or not she will make the cut.
“When she initially started in the Sony (Open) days there was a lot of interest,” says Jason West, managing director of golf betting specialist GolfingGods.com. “Now that she’s playing in her fifth (men’s pro) tournament, the interest has died down.”
GolfingGods.com has Wie listed as a +15100 favorite to win the tournament – better odds than 33 golfers in the field – and +150 to make the cut (-200 to miss the cut).
“We have about $5,000 on her to make the cut this week,” says West.
Sean O’Hair (+3013) is the defending champion at the 7,183-yard TPC at Deere Run course.
Zach Johnson (-120) vs. Steve Stricker (+110) – Stricker (tournament matchup)
Steve Stricker is back. The former World Match Play champion has made the cut in eight of the nine tournaments he’s played in this year, and missed the cut by just two shots in the other.
He’s matched up against Johnson, who’s doesn’t play well at the Deere Run, missing the cut in two of his four starts and never finishing inside the top 20.
Stricker has historically performed well at Deere Run despite recent struggles. He finished T-4 there in 2004, far and away his best result of that season.
Billy Mayfair (-115) vs. John Senden (+105) – Senden (tournament matchup)
Mayfair’s play is plummeting the last two months. The 39-year-old has failed to crack the top 30 since finishing T-3 at the Verizon Heritage in mid-April and has seen his scoring average drop from 70.4 to 71.9.
He’ll face Senden, a long-hitting Australian who’s made the cut at Deere Run in three of his last four starts.
Ryan Palmer (+167) vs. Heath Slocum (-177) – Palmer (tournament matchup)
You know what? Slocum probably deserves to be favored over Palmer here. But really, does he deserve to be this big a favorite over anyone?
Palmer isn’t that bad. He finished T-20 at Deere Run last season and his scoring average (71.22) is actually better than Slocum’s (71.24).
And Slocum isn’t that good. He’s made the cut in 12 of 19 tournaments this season and has just four top 20 finishes.
Pick to win
Picking Wie provides a potentially exciting weekend, but there’s a reason most books aren’t even offering her as an option.
With a weak field this week, how about Jeff Sluman (+3164)? He has 16 career appearances at the John Deere, and five top 10 finishes.
The 48-year-old is also playing well coming in. His recent play includes a sneaky T-6 finish at the U.S. Open and a T-5 the week before at the Barclays Classic. Overall, he’s made the cut in 14 of 16 tournaments this season.