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It was only a few years ago that betting on golf failed to draw much interest. More recently, major PGA tour golf events have drawn in significant wagering.
The 2009 US Open Golf betting frenzy has started off early, according to Payton O'Brien of Gambling911.com.
"We're seeing strong early traffic numbers related to the 2009 US Open Golf Tournament," she said. "We expect this US Open to be the most bet on yet despite the recession."
Much of the interest in golf betting has come as a result of huge payouts for long shots winning. Angel Cabrera, Padraig Harrington are examples of golfers who have entered their respective tournaments with payout potentials of $6000 and up for every $100 bet.
On the other end of the spectrum is the "Tiger Woods" factor. More than half the gamblers bet on Tiger, who is always posted as the favorite to win no matter his recent performance and regardless of the tournament he's playing.
"People see Tiger Woods as a ‘lock'," says Don Shapiro, Sports Writer for the Gambling911.com website. "Because he hasn't been winning, his payout odds tend to be more reasonable."
At SBG Global, for example, Tiger Woods would pay out $200 for every $100 bet if he were to win the 2009 US Open.
The next shortest payout odds were placed on Phil Mickelson - $800 for every $100 bet. Everyone else pays $1000 ore better.
Heading into the weekend prior to the 2009 US Open, these were your odds available at SBG Global.
5841
Tiger Woods
+200
5842
Phil Mickelson
+800
5843
Padraig Harrington
+2500
5844
Geoff Ogilvy
+2000
5845
Jim Furyk
+2500
5846
Retief Goosen
+3000
5847
Paul Casey
+3000
5848
Sergio Garcia
+3500
5849
Anthony Kim
+5000
5850
Lee Westwood
+6000
5851
Angel Cabrera
+4000
5852
Rory McIlroy
+4000
5853
Ernie Els
+4000
5854
Camilo Villegas
+4000
5855
Kenny Perry
+4000
5856
Vijay Singh
+4000
5857
Nick Watney
+4000
5858
Steve Stricker
+5000
5859
Sean O'Hair
+5000
5860
Hunter Mahan
+5000
5861
Zach Johnson
+5000
5862
Justin Rose
+5000
5863
Henrik Stenson
+5000
5864
Adam Scott
+5000
5865
Ian Poulter
+5500
5866
Luke Donald
+5500
5867
Stewart Cink
+6000
5868
Robert Karlsson
+6000
5869
Mike Weir
+6000
5870
Tim Clark
+6000
5871
Justin Leonard
+7000
5872
Rory Sabbatini
+7000
5873
K.J. Choi
+7000
5874
FIELD (Any Other Player)
+200
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
