Bring on Saturday!

It was a crazy night in baseball Friday and we ended up on the wrong side three times. We’ll look to immediately change that with our Best System that is 82.2 percent. The Top Trend is perfect 13-0 in a NL matchup and Steve of the LCC is hot and offers his top play. Good Luck

What I’m letting you know today – I never thought I would see Tiger Woods look like such a hack on the golf course. Having spent a good portion of my life in the business, I know the game will eventually humble everyone and it has a strong hold on Mr. Woods presently. Nonetheless, sad to watch.

The GUARANTEED Plays hit the big play on Philadelphia, but Houston couldn’t hold 5-2 lead in the ninth and I suffered yet another extra inning loss (8-23 on the season) for a 2-2 day. Today I’m pulling out all the stops and have FIVE BIG PLAYS in baseball for under $10 per selection which is Guaranteed to show a profit.

On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/3Dailywinners

Free Baseball System -1) Play Against road underdogs with a money line of +100 to +150 like Houston, who are bad NL offensive team, scoring 4.1 or less runs a game, against an average starting pitcher (ERA=4.20 to 5.20), with a starting pitcher whose WHIP is 1.250 or better on the season. Read that again if you have to, but know this, 37-8 isn’t terrible.

Free Baseball Trend –2) The Phillies and Mets game isn’t on my radar; however hard to overlook Philly is 13-0 at home when the total is 7 to 7.5 over the last three seasons.

Free Baseball Pick -3) Steve is 6-0 the last two days and has Minnesota as his top Play for Saturday.

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Monday is light on quantity but not quality

Make it another 2-1 day for us, taking record to 83-43. With so few MLB contests, the pickings are slim, but decided to go ahead anyways. The Top Trend is in the state where the U.S. government is reportedly about to sue. Mark tries to deliver another free winner and our Best System is solid and improving of late. Good Luck

What I saw yesterday – So much for Dustin Johnson looking cool and collected, WOW! I thought Johnny Miller said it best about Tiger Woods “He plays like all the rest of the guys.”

On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/3Dailywinners

Free Baseball System -1) Play On home favorites with a money line of -125 to -175 like Washington, with a NL starting pitcher whose ERA is 3.00 or better on the season, playing on Monday. Dating back to 1997, this system is 70-22 and even better the past five seasons at 26-5.

Free Baseball Trend -2) The Yankees are 19-3 after shutting out their opponent over the last three seasons.

Free Baseball Pick -3) Mark picked up three more winners on Sunday taking him to 10-2 and is on Oakland this evening.

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Let's gitter done this Sunday

Bad luck more than anything caused us to go 2-1 yesterday, as the Phillies melted like the cheese on a Philly cheese steak. Our record now stands at 81-42 last 123 plays. Today we have Top Trend that is flat dead perfect with imposing score differential. The Best System is highly profitable 82.4 percent and Mark of the LCC has a Best Bet going today. Good Luck

What I saw yesterday – I don’t know about you, but it was fun to see Tiger Woods back on the prowl (on the golf course that is) playing with confidence and being a factor. That Dustin Johnson dude is long, just like Tiger used to be.

On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/3Dailywinners

Free Baseball System -1) Play Against road underdogs with a money line of +100 to +150 like the Orioles, an AL team with a low on-base percentage of .320 or less, against a team with a good bullpen (WHIP of 1.350 or lower), with a poor bullpen whose WHIP is 1.550 or worse on the season. Betting against teams like the Birds is profitable 82.4 percent of the time. (42-9)

Free Baseball Trend -2) The Halos are 9-0 vs. an NL team with an on-base percentage .325 or worse over the last two years clubbing them by 4.8 runs per game.

Free Baseball Pick -3) Ron suffered a tough loss with the Phillies and Mark’s recent 7-2 run has him on the Padres.

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Wednesday Wrap-up

When we last convened for plays it was a 3-0 Saturday, so let’s try and match it. The Best System is exceptional 87.1 percent, but read further because it comes with a caveat. The Top Trend is the ever popular reverse perfect in the NBA. My friend Slick Rick is making money like the airlines charging for bags and has MLB selection.

What I thought yesterday- Loved the joke about Tiger Woods having extra protection at Augusta and it showed two tanks, I think it was on Jay Leno.

On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/3Dailywinners

Free Basketball System -1) Play On road teams like Golden State scoring 103 or more points a game on the season, after trailing in their previous game by 20 or more points at the half. This electric system is 27-4 ATS, 87.1 percent, just be careful of all the Warriors injuries.

Free Basketball Trend -2) The Dallas Mavericks are 0-12 ATS at home versus teams averaging 20 or less assists a game this season.

Free Baseball Pick -3) Slick Rick is nailing over 68 percent of his plays the last 18 days and is on the Halos this evening.

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Tiger Woods betting favorite at The Masters

This past calendar year, the NFL, college football and college basketball have posted their best TV ratings in years. This has not been the case with the PGA Tour, down 15-20 percent in 2010 viewership. That all changes starting Thursday on ESPN and CBS pray’s it lasts deep into the weekend.

A fellow named Tiger Woods has been in the news since Thanksgiving for a lifestyle that brought unwanted attention to him. While he normally doesn’t play in many tournaments to start the year, Woods has been involved in many well-documented activities to alter his life and he hopes to be involved with his children and hopefully his wife looking ahead.

Tiger was well-known in the sporting world and most people that had no interest in golf were at least familiar with him as the best golfer in the world. That for now at least has changed.
Everyone knows about his escapades and he will be doing something that would be stupendous even for Tiger, winning the Masters with no prior tournament exposure since the end of last season.

Golf wagering is poised to see unprecedented numbers according to sources both off-shore and on the Las Vegas Strip. A good friend of yours truly who works at a sportsbook at the south end of the Strip said he’s “expecting record golf handle” for this Masters. He shared with me that the number of wagers placed is almost 40 percent higher than the 2009 Masters and that dollar volume was up nearly 30 percent as of this past Sunday evening.

Woods is a +350 favorite at DiamondSportsbook.com, well ahead of the second choice Phil Mickelson at +1000. I spoke to Chip Stewart, a professional gambler from Nevada, about what he thought of the odds for Woods to win.

“Tiger’s talent is immense, but to just walk out onto Augusta National and win with no prior playing pressure, that would even be a stretch even for him. Off the top that would be like Tim Lincecum throwing a complete game two-hit shutout with no spring training, just playing catch with friends in his first start of the year.”

Stewart went on to say we would play props, mostly against Woods. “I’d be amazed if he finished in the Top 10. He’s going to have to earn back his invincibility against the Tour. More than one tour player views him as just another “hound” that got caught and will not be above gamesmanship to see how Tiger reacts.”

Among the most disappointing players that have played this season is Mickelson, who wasted a perfect opportunity to be the best player in the world. Maybe he needs a foil like Woods to motivate him. Mickelson has one Top 10 finish (8th at AT&T Pebble Beach) in seven starts and has broke 70 once in last eight rounds.

Players garnering more of the attention are Ernie Els, Andy Kim and Camilo Villegas.

Els is No.1 on the money list, thanks to wins at the WCG at Doral and Arnold Palmer Invitational, along with three other Top 12 finishes. Els is healthier than he’s been in years and admits to attitude change, after “stinking it up” as he put it the last couple of years. Els is +1200 at the moment.

Kim has regained his touch and is a noted “hot” player who can stay in the zone for extended period. His last three starts are a second, 22nd and winner last week at the Shell Houston Open. Kim is 21st in driving distance on the tour and 14th in birdies. He’s an intriguing +2000.

Villegas started the year white hot, finishing 3rd and 8th in opening starts before winning the Honda Classic. He followed that up with 16th place finish at the WCG and took a few weeks off from the tour and missed the cut at Bay Hill. Maybe he will be recharged and he’s got the game to be a factor, ranking third in birdies and sixth in driving distance at 297.7 yards. Villegas is +2500 to win.

Others receiving hits are familiar names across the golf world if not necessarily in the United States. Padraig Harrington (+1500), Lee Westwood (+2000) and Retief Goosen (+2000) are the usual suspects whose names come up when the Majors start.

For those that follow the PGA Tour more regularly, Jim Furyk (+2500) has the grinder mentality needed to play four days of pressure-packed golf and won the Transition Championship three weeks ago and has five rounds in the 60’s out of previous eight.

Steve Stricker is second on the money list, with his career rejuvenation. The 43-year old has four Top 10’s, with a win at the Northern Trust and can get white hot with the flat stick.
If Tiger is not as sharp as many experts believe, here are value priced matchups to consider.

Els +130 vs Woods -160
Mickelson +125 vs. Woods -155

Because of Tiger’s return, the prop bets this year are out in record numbers, many centered on Eldrick. Here is a list of some of the possibilities besides winning The Masters.

* Making the Cut
* First hole score (Par or other)
* Leader at the end of any round
* 1st Round score (72)
* 1st round score on front or back nine
* How many holes before first birdie or eagle
* 1st round position, plus highest and lowest round, along with Over/Under on final total strokes

Woods has only missed one Major cut in his career, but brings a real unknown into his initial appearance of 2010, even as the betting favorite. The Masters is annually the most watched golf event on TV and this one could break all the records.

Super Duper Saturday

Delighted to be back and have a prefect reverse Top Trend to get things started. Could not find any systems that crawl over the 80 percent mark, thus went with the best one I could find in college basketball for today. Free Play has arrived from Nick. Good Luck

What is going on- For those that arrive here several days a week, you will have noticed the three picks were sparse this week. As what happened about a month ago, additional workload was assigned to me. This time it really cramped my style and I honestly didn’t look at any basketball lines all week except for Thursday about 25 minutes before the first games. I am sorry, but have to pay the bills first; I know you can appreciate that. Anyway, this might go on another week or two, but without question I will try and jump in where possible, however the weekend and football will still be here, as will daily articles. Thanks and keep reading.

Of everything I’ve either heard or read about Tiger Woods, this is the most accurate assessment of the situation based on my knowledge of big time athletes/celebrities that come thru Scottsdale.

I really like to read Pete Fuitak of College Football News but I don’t completely agree with his thoughts on Brian Kelly hired as Notre Dame coach. He said Kelly is a good hire, but Notre dame should have aggressively gone after Urban Meyer and paid him what it took, considering all the circumstances. I know Mr. Fuitak is well connected, but Notre Dame like all colleges today have companies that make contact thru different people to test the waters to find level of interest. I’d heard from people I know closer to the athletic department that Meyer had politely say he wasn’t interested and short of driving a Brink’s truck into Meyer’s driveway, I don’t know what else they could have done.

I believe Kelly was the best hire Notre Dame could make. In retrospect, Bob Davie was an assistant coach before landing South Bend job and hasn’t been in coaching since. Tyrone Willingham was a better person than a head coach and seemed better suited for underdog role as coach instead of top dog. And Charley Weis showed he could recruit skill position players and put together an offense and not much else. Kelly has built three distinct college programs at different levels. He’s not going to be warm and fuzzy, but gives them the best chance to succeed.

On Twitter at: www.twitter.com/3Dailywinners

Free Basketball System-1) This won’t be a qualifying play, but one that is noteworthy. Play Against home teams like George Mason where the line is +3 to -3, off a cover where the team lost straight up as an underdog, with a winning percentage of between 40-49 percent on the season. Over the last five years this comes in at 52-16 ATS.

Free Basketball Trend-2) The Oregon Ducks are 0-10 ATS versus teams shooting 45 percent or higher with a defense that holds opponents to 42 percent or lower over the last two seasons.

Free Basketball Pick -3) Nick of the LCC loaded up on Utah Jazz at -1 in revenge spot against Lakers.

Do yourself a favor for the Bowl Season, order this guide, you will thank me.

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Do it up this Monday

Similar to the public backing a team, sometimes professional bettors are too smart for themselves and I felt it coming on Tennessee yesterday, which ended our streak of 2-1 days. One of the guys from the Left Coast Connection was extra sharp on Sunday and goes for perfect NFL weekend with his Free Monday night play. The Top Trend is in college hoops at over 85 percent and the Best System is in the NBA and just misses as qualifying. Good Luck

What I’m thinking today- I’m starting to think I’m in the minority on this topic, but I don’t know any female that Tiger Woods has slept with. I’m starting to feel a little self conscious.

On Twitter at: www.twitter.com/3Dailywinners

Free Basketball System-1) See Spurs and Jazz system below.

Free Basketball Trend-2) The College of Charleston is 18-3 ATS in road December games since 1997.

Free Football Pick -3) Nick of the LCC was 5-0 yesterday in the NFL and looks to make it a perfect weekend with the Packers tonight.

Do yourself a favor for the Bowl Season, order this guide, you will thank me.

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It's rare that most people in the world are having a better week than Tiger Woods

Sorry I had to miss you yesterday, too much to do. When we last posted these we went 2-1 and today have CBB system that is 84.6 percent. The Top Trend is in the NBA at sparkling 11-1 and Steve of the LLC looks to nail yet another winner, this time in the NFL. Good Luck

What I thought today – The whole Tiger Woods thing is amazing. People wonder how he could do such a thing and it’s just another in the never ending line of athletes who believe after time they are infallible. His modest contrition was followed like usual blaming of the media for making his life awful and the rumors being unjust and unfair. Though I have always been a Tiger supporter, I’m disappointed not only with his infidelity, but his apology has to come with blaming someone else. Of course if he hadn’t been hawking around, this wouldn’t have happened, every think of that Eldrick? I guess he’s given the name “Tiger” a whole new meaning.

On Twitter at: www.twitter.com/3Dailywinners

Free Basketball System-1) I know this system isn’t going to make everyone run right out and play it based on the team; however it is the best of the bunch today. PLAY AGAINST underdogs of 10 to 19.5 points like Marist, after trailing their last two games by 10 or more points at the half, with just two starters returning from last year in the first 10 games of the season. It’s comforting to have 22-4 ATS record to back you up.

Free Basketball Trend-2) Denver is 11-1 ATS after three straight games where both teams scored 100 points or less over the last two seasons.

Free Football Pick -3) Steve is playing the Under is NFL contest tonight.

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Monday wagering offerings

Offered up a rotten 0-2 day, yet still had very good week and have 192-135-3 record since the first part of April for 58.7 percent. Today we have excellent Top Trend in the Windy City. Sal is back off a hot weekend for Free Play and though we lack official Best System, found the best on the board for today. Good Luck

What I saw yesterday – Tiger Woods is human after all. Did you get the impression like I did he was trying too hard.

Now on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/3Dailywinners

Free Baseball System-1) PLAY AGAINST all underdogs with a money line of +100 or higher like San Diego, with miserable offense (4.1 or less runs per game), against a good NL starting pitcher with ERA of 3.70 or less, with an overused bullpen that pitches more than 3.2 innings per game. This unofficial play is 133-38, 77.8 percent, however has been quite good this season at 22-5.

Free Baseball Trend -2) Mark Buehrle and the Chicago White Sox are 21-2 in home games vs. teams outscored by 0.5 or more runs a game in the second half of the season. (Sox Record)

Free Baseball Selection -3) Sal nailed 9-3 in all sports since Friday and likes the Cards and Chris Carpenter to dodge defeat against the Dodgers.

New Guaranteed NFL Picks - Special NFL Preseason Offer

New StatFox Football Annual on Sale – A must for Every Sports Bettor

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British Open Betting Preview

The oldest and most prestigious major golf championship to those golfers around the world commences Thursday, with Tiger Woods commanding the lion’s share of attention, but not all of it. Though Mr. Woods is a decided favorite, several other top golfers are being considered for this weekend’s action, as potential champions in the third major tournament of the year.

Woods has three wins and eight top 10 finishes since returning to stroke play events in 2009, coming off knee surgery. It has been evident Tiger has not always trusted his full arsenal of shots this year, however with each tournament played; his confidence in different aspects of his game has grown.

DiamondSportsbook.com has Woods as +180 money line pick and links golf plays into his greatest strength, his mind. No professional golfer has a better imagination to develop shots and with his ability to execute; this is the reason why he is always the top choice to be champion. Don’t look to see the driver much from Woods, looking to keep the ball out of the deep rough.

Maybe it’s because Tiger hasn’t nailed down a major in 2009, but several different golfers are being given a chance to win the British Open.

One difference is just the fact it is a links course, making it more difficult to predict a winner by the ever-changing conditions one could see at Turnberry. Those who arrived early to play practice rounds have seen the weather fairly normal (sun, rain, sun and more rain), however the wind has blown from three different directions in three days.

Retief Goosen, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia are listed as +2000 choices to walk away with the Claret Jug. Goosen is always mentioned in any major, since his game is steady and he’s always at or near the top of the leaderboard. Poulter has been a little more erratic this season, with four Top 10 finishes, yet he’s finished below 50th in two of his last four starts. What can you say about Sergio? He’s only had one Top 10 finish in the States this season, as his balky putter continues to haunt him. One aspect in his favor, the greens at Turnberry are relatively flat, which should help, as he strives to finally win the “big one”.

The next group at +2500 is a cauldron of players and styles, which is as perplexing and wonderful as you will find. Padraig Harrington tried to improve his swing after winning the British Open and PGA Championship last year. To say it hasn’t worked as planned is similar is to saying former baseball star Lenny Dykstra has a few financial difficulties. Harrington recently won the Irish Open and even he wasn’t sure what this has done for his confidence, as he has two Top 20 (no Top 10’s) finishes in 13 other starts, with seven missed cuts.

Hunter Mahan is being given a chance to be solid contender, based on his last three tournaments in which he’s finished in order T6th, T4th and 2nd. The 6th place finish was at the U.S. Open and he fired a closing round 62 at the AT&T National, having the clubhouse lead until Tiger passed him with birdie late in his last event.

Rory Mcllroy gathers a great deal of attention as a young golf prodigy at 20 years old. Mcllroy has immense talent and if he can play well for first three days, he’s shown the pedigree of being able to knock down a good number on Sunday’s.

Lee Westwood has been playing consistent golf for over a year and is off two Top 10 finishes, making him a contender.

Martin Kaymer of Germany falls into the darkhorse category at +3000. Kaymer has quietly moved up to 11th in World Rankings with consecutive wins in the French Open and Barclays Scottish Open this past week. Kaymer’s short game is Top 10 material and he’s shown grace under pressure when leading.

Though 18 years older, Steve Stricker has a lot in common with Kaymer, besides the same odds to win the British Open. Sticker has four Top 3 finishes in 2009, including winning two of his last four starts. His win at the John Deere continues his career resurgence and he can roll the ball with the best of them with flat stick when confidence is at top level.

Geoff Ogilvy, Henrik Stenson, Jim Furyk and Paul Casey all deserve mention; nonetheless it all starts with El Tigre.

Tiger has won three previous British Opens, but as Mark Reason writes in the Sunday Independent, Woods’ wins have come on dry and more burned-out links courses. Turnberry has thick, lush rough and similar courses like Birkdale, Lytham, Troon, St George's and Carnoustie, have all kept him out of the winners circle.

Turnberry is in a remote part of Scotland and was used as an air-base for World War II. Now it will face the assault of the world’s best golfers, hosting the Open Championship for only the fourth time.

From the House of Sports - June 18

Does The Punishment Fit The Crime?

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter and was sentenced yesterday in Florida to one month in jail. Before you go ballistic over what initially appears to be a slap-on-the-wrist miscarriage of justice, let’s take a closer look. Stallworth was also sentenced to two years’ house arrest, eight years’ probation, loss of his drivers license for life, 1,000 hours of community service and an undisclosed financial settlement with the family of the man he killed, Mario Reyes. Let’s be honest here: what good would be served by locking up Stallworth for five or ten years? At least he remained at the scene of the crime when countless others would have fled, he took responsibility and admitted his guilt, and has agreed to the Reyes family’s desire to avoid a protracted legal proceeding. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Rundle emphatically stated, “He is being punished appropriately. This is what the family wanted.” Even a representative for Mothers Against Drunk Driving said the deal was the best outcome. “I think there are a lot of kids as well as adults who will listen to his message,” said Miami-Dade MADD Director Janet Mondshein. “I think he’ll do more good being out of jail and being active in prevention.” Now Stallworth must await further punishment from the NFL, usually meted out in the form of game suspensions.

Tiger Time

A fully recovered Tiger Woods can make history by winning this week’s U.S. Open in Farmingdale, NY. Playing on a course that will include THREE par-4 holes of 500 yards or more for the first time ever, Woods will try to become the first man since Curtis Strange in 1988-89 to win back-to-back Opens. Already the owner of a whopping 14 Major championships at age 33, Tiger modestly summed up the possibility of taking home the 109th Open trophy by saying, “I like my chances in any Major.”

Someone Finally Said It FINALLY!

A professional tennis coach has spoken out on an aspect of the game that we’ve felt needed to be addressed for quite some time. Nick Bollettieri believes some sort of action should be taken against touring players who GRUNT loudly during matches! “There is a need for some sort of regulation,” declared Bollettieri. “Players on both the men’s and women’s tours grunt. Something eventually needs to be done.” We couldn’t agree more, Nick. In fact, we’d like to see Maria Sharapova and other main offenders play a match with their mouths taped shut so they can’t bellow like farm animals on every serve and shot.

NBA Wipeout

No surprise here. The five NBA Finals games just shown on ABC between the Lakers and Magic recorded a viewer loss of 10% compared to last season’s matchup between the Lakers and Celtics. May not sound like much to the average Joe but to the NBA, ABC and the game advertisers, the dropoff was HUGE.

Danica, Danica...

Here’s the most interesting news we’ve heard in awhile. Even though she says she won’t make an announcement about her future in racing until after the current IndyCar Series season ends in October, Danica Patrick is supposedly gathering info about a possible switch to NASCAR! Although many Sprint Cup drivers have dismissed Patrick’s abilities with comments like, “You’ve got to DRIVE these cars, not just point ‘em straight ahead,” the fact is NASCAR is struggling in a major way this year and the addition of a mega-star like Patrick would give stock car racing a desperately needed boost in 2010.

Thoughts from the House of Sports.com.

The 2009 U.S. Open Preview

The favorite for this year’s United States Open championship is – surprise, Tiger Woods at +125. El Tigre showed the world he is pretty all the way back with his brilliant come from behind win at the Memorial. After not trusting his surgically repaired knee, Woods showed himself and everyone else he’s back, as his previously erratic driver nailed 49 of 56 fairways at Jack Nicklaus’ tournament.

The Open returns to Bethpage Black, after being highly successful there in 2002. This is a public golf course that people arrive at 4 AM in the morning to secure an open tee time. Make no mistakes, this is a great track and it will play 200 yards longer then it did seven years ago, meaning you have to get off the tee or be incredibility accurate with long irons, hybrids and fairway woods.

Is Tiger a shoo-in to win his 15th major?

Though Woods has had great success on public golf courses like Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach, he’s not a lock, despite playing well. This week’s wild card in hardly a longshot, (second betting choice at +1000) but Phil Mickelson has many hats to wear this week. Lefty was a tremendous crowd favorite here in 2002 and that doesn’t figure to change this year, especially with what has gone on with his wife Amy’s breast cancer diagnosis.

Though many golf pros don’t like Phil’s act, New Yorker’s embraced him immediately, consider it like a Mets and Yankees thing. Woods is like the Yankees, big and powerful and always lets you know who is in charge. Mickelson plays to the crowd and though the second best player in the world, he’ll always be in Tiger’s shadow, making him the classic underdog.

Will Mickelson have the patience to play 72 holes of golf under control, with what is swirling around in his head? The crowd will help, but it seems unlikely.

Padraig Harrington (+4000) won the last two major titles of 2008 and has worked to get better; however his swing adjustments have not panned out to date. Angel Cabrera (+7500) won The Masters in overtime in April and is wholly capable of putting up black numbers or shooting 79 twice to start The Open. Sergio Garcia (+4000) is playing with broken heart, having split up with Greg Norman’s daughter. Just wait till he gets within earshot of a New Yorker with a few Bud Light’s in his belly. As Mr. T once said, “I pity the fool.”

Players with the right game or playing well have to be strongly considered. Jim Furyk (+1500) is always a threat and tends to hang around the leaderboard at most majors with is steady play and is solid head to head wager. Geoff Ogilvy (+2000) and Sean O’Hair (+4000) have the length needed and are stable personality-wise to go through the grind that is the U.S. Open. One player that sticks out is Paul Casey (+2500), three wins (two in Europe) this year and a batch of other top finishes. Steve Stricker has played as consistently well as anyone on tour the last 18 months and the same no-name feel another Madison, WI. golfer by the name of Andy North had, being a two-time Open champion. (Ironically, North’s only two wins on the PGA Tour)

In looking over the head-to-head matchups, found a few that will be on my list of wagers at DiamondSportsbook.com.

Steve Stricker -220 over Adam Scott
Retief Goosen -105 over Sergio Garcia
Paul Casey -130 over Angel Cabrera
Vijay Singh -115 over Ernie Els

The U. S. Open is the sternest test in golf. If you like a player who is capable of being a “birdie machine”, save your money. This major is won by players who have the mental capacity to grind through 18 holes, four consecutive days. The course is set up to ensure par is a good score on every hole. The rough was believed to be a little too long right off the fairway seven years ago and Mike Davis of the USGA, the person who sets up the Open courses, went to graduated levels of rough, too truly punish the player who hits it wide.

The greens will be lightning fast, though relatively flat. Professional players are used to seeing breaks and will sometimes “over-read” these greens, believing there is more break than it looks.
Since Davis has taken over course management, the U.S. Open has become watchful again and the theatre spectacular. Expect more of the same in New York starting Thursday.

The 2009 Masters Preview

The premier golf event on the calendar arrives this week, with its emerald green fairways, blooming azaleas and its other colorful array of flowers and shrubs. The golf course that is The Masters at Augusta National is like no place on earth. On windier days, you can hear the whistling of the dogwoods and pines trees and if you watched any college basketball the last three weeks, the promos read on ESPN or CBS had announcers going from excitable voices from the games to hushed monotone deliveries in promoting this year’s event.

The Masters this year has a different feel and anticipation from the last several for reasons outside of the tournament. The defending champion Trevor Immelman is trying to become just the fourth back-to-back champion. Rest assured he will draw little if any wagering action at Bookmaker.com and other wagering locations at +10000, since he all but disappeared after winning at Augusta. He tied for second in Memphis, but didn't have another top-10 finish until the Tour Championship, where he was 10th in a 30-man field. His best showing was 19th at the Transitions Championship this season, not exactly the description of a hot golfer.

One story almost nobody is talking about is Padraig Harrington. He has won three of the last six majors, including two in a row and is halfway to the Paddy-Slam. Why Harrington isn’t receiving his just due is because a certain Mr. Woods was recuperating from knee surgery having won the previous major, the U.S. Open, before being forced to shut it down. In some circles, though it is ludicrous, Harrington being the reigning British Open and PGA champion, is viewed like the Houston Rockets winning back to back championships when Hall of Famer to be Michael Jordan was finding out he couldn’t hit the curveball during a two year hiatus. Harrington is +1500 wager to snare a third consecutive major.

A couple of oldies but goodies will be playing at The Masters, with one such golfer making first appearance in some time. Fred Couples is almost eligible for the senior tour, (fine, Champions Tour) and was in the hunt at the Houston Open last week until he played the last three holes, three over. Maybe its wedded bliss, tired of being successful at everything he touches or just has a bit of the golf bug back, but Greg Norman returns to Augusta for the first time in seven years. Neither player is expected to be in contention; nevertheless, seeing them even at advanced ages is like watching your favorite rock band from 12-20 years ago. Older yes, but still fun.

While nostalgia has its place, eventually everybody is replaced by a younger more skilled competitor. Two that fit this mold are Anthony Kim and Rory McIlroy. Kim (+3000) was the best player last fall and has been globe-trotting a little too much to likely be a factor. McIlroy (+2500) is 19 and has serious game, as he proved at WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.
Everybody wants to find that long-shot which could come in, yet still is considered a very good player that offers value. Sergio Garcia (+2500), Camilo Villegas (+4000) and Ernie Els (+3000) are ranked in the top 20 of the World Golf Rankings and would be the type of players that would make sensible wager. One problem, this trio has failed to make the cut each of the last two years in Georgia.

There are a number of other players with golf skills that have to be considered like Retief Gossen and Paul Casey at +2500. Jim Furyk (+3000) always gets a look as a grinder and Luke Donald and Lee Westwood are renowned players and are part of a group at +5000.

The second choice is Phil Mickelson at +800 and he expects to be in the hunt for third green jacket since 2004. Mickelson appreciates the history and has learned to build himself towards this invitational. Lefty has been hitting irons brilliantly all year, including adding a draw from distance since the off-season. His driving has been more erratic (even for Phil), but that has to do with mindset. Like the Nike commercial from a few years ago, “Chicks dig the long ball”, Mickelson has always been obsessed with distance and it costs him often. With the length of Augusta National today, you have to get off the tee, nonetheless a playable second shot is as important. If the driver is working, definite threat.

Lastly is Tiger Woods at +220 to win a fifth green jacket. Woods added to his ever growing legend at Bay Hill with long birdie putt to win, which pronounced him as back. Tiger is a rare athlete, always able to find the slightest motivation to create burning desire and though some way work as hard today, nobody works harder in golf to be their best.

After Woods won in 2005, those in charge of the course made more adjustments to “Tiger-proof” the course. They effectively changed the best theatre in golf to the U.S. Open. The Masters has never been about surviving, it was been grabbing history by the throat and claiming it. Sometimes this has led to colossal failure, like Greg Norman and Curtis Strange felt. But to legislate players from making stirring comebacks by posting a 32 or 33 on the backside on Sunday, because few were given too much power thinking this tournament could turn into the Bob Hope, well that is preposterous.

Trevor Immelman deserved to win last year’s Masters, but his final round 75 marked the first time in 26 years the champion shot over par in the final round and it was the highest final round by a winner since Arnold Palmer had the same score way back in 1962, which he later won in playoff.

It’s no fun to pick Tiger Woods or even Phil Mickelson, but on golf’s grandest stage, it is the safest bet.

World Golf Championship Betting Blog –Thursday

If you just flipped on the Golf Channel for a few minutes or a few hours, it was nice to something in the world not crumbling around us, as Tiger Woods is back. He made spectacular shots, knocked in a few long putts and used a few choice words as he is wont to do when he doesn’t hit the shots he wanted. One of the more interesting aspects of Tiger’s match with Brendan Jones was Jones demeanor. After losing 3 and 2, he was much more euphoric about playing with the living legend than actually trying to defeat him.

I got beat up pretty good with 1-5 record, and was particularly surprised Rory Sabbatini lost, since I had him playing Tiger down the line. I thought Retief Goosen would defeat Tim Clark, who is a very solid player and though there is no way ever to know, you have to wonder if Goosen wanted to avoid El Tigre, since he was the one who questioned if Mr. Woods was really hurt at the U.S. Open and might have been playing martyr to the crowd. Clark will instead get the assignment of facing Tiger as the day’s biggest underdog at Bookmaker.com at +230.

The biggest upsets of the day went completely unnoticed, as top seeded Sergio Garcia and Padraig Harrington both lost in first round matches 1up. Second seeded-Phil Mickelson had to go 19 holes to hold off Angel Cabrera. Camilo (Spiderman) Villegas gave the most dominate performance, winning 7 and 6.

I have my eye on six more plays today. Pat Perez who earlier won the Bob Hope Classic, came in as 16th seed and took down Harrington. I’m going with the oddsmakers who actually have him as -120 favorite today.

Hunter Mahan is a big strong guy and I like his game to take out Rory Mcllory as -105 underdog.

Though I picked against Steve Stricker yesterday, he convinced me he hot, nearly winning the L.A. Open last week and had five birdies and an eagle yesterday. Ernie Els doesn’t much care for these events anyways; I’ll take Stricker at -110.

Lee Westwood and Luke Donald are veteran match play competitors and both should advance as favorites. Though Ian Poulter is anything but a household name unless you are a big golf fan, he is way more well-known then 16th seed Charl Schwartzel. Poulter has six birdies in 15 holes yesterday, thus I’ll lay the -160 on him.

See you tomorrow.