Tiger Woods Odds to Win US Open Offered Great Value

At even odds to win the 2008 US Open, Tiger Woods looked like a solid bet.  Coming into Friday and down quite a bit, oddsmakers at online gambling firms like SBG Global began listing Tiger Woods with 3 to 1 odds of winning the US Open - a $300 payout for every $100 bet.  Savvy gamblers were quick to jump on this one.

Tiger Woods will always be a good bet no matter how far behind he falls it seems. 

By Sunday, Tiger led the pack. 

Tiger Woods has a spectacular record when leading a major championship after 54 holes - he has never lost on 13 such occasions, according to Phillip Howley of the Bangkok Post. The question being asked at the US Open at Torrey Pines on Sunday afternoon was how he will do when he trails after 55 holes.

Of course, Tiger Woods was not out of the woods just yet.  Rocco Mediate had regained the lead by Sunday evening with even more impressive payout potential.  Even on Saturday, Mediate promised a $3000 payout for every $100 bet, trying to become the oldest US Open winner at 45.

Mediate was a "field" option heading into the US Open. 

Mediate's career has been dogged by back trouble and he started using a long putter early on because of this. In 1991 he became the first player to win on the PGA Tour using a long putter when he won the Doral-Ryder Open. He picked up another victory at the 1993 KMart Greater Greensboro Open, but he then had a long lay off due to a ruptured disk, but returned to the Tour in 1996 playing under a special medical extension and performed steadily. He picked up wins on the Tour in 1999, 2000 and 2002. He worked hard to improve his fitness to minimise his back problems, and in 2003 returned to using a conventional putter. He has featured in the top 20 of the Official World Golf Rankings. At the 2006 Masters, Mediate was in contention to win the event on the final day until he took a septuple-bogey ten on the par three 12th hole.