I am NOT an expert on betting on golf. So please take this edition of my betting blog with a shakerful of salt. But I’m going to have a few big bets over the summer. I hope that even if they don’t “cop”, the thought process for coming to the bet might be interesting.
There’s one player that I plan to back for every major this year:
Back Luke Donald in the 4 Golf Majors
If you hadn’t ever looked at them, which golfer would you think was atop the world golf rankings? The Northern Ireland wunderkind Rory McIlroy? The super cool major winner Martin Kaymer? The newly resurgent Tiger Woods? The boaty Adam Day? The strapping Adam Scott? The long-haired boomer Bubba Watson?
Phil Mickelson? The major-winning G-Mac? Sergio? The ladies’ favourite Camilo Villegas? Goosen? The “American McIlroy” Rickie Fowler?
No. It’s England’s Luke Donald. Not that you’d know for the hype before the tournament every week. And he’s not just top – he’s clear at the top. Look at the points for the top four:
1. Donald – 498.56
2. McIlroy – 393.00
3. Westwood – 339.16
4. Kaymer – 311.18
Donald is DOMINATING the golfing world and yet he gets no respect. This guy is 20-1 for the US Open! My golfing friends tell me that with his accurate driving, Donald should actually suit the US Open.
So what’s the knock on Donald? Why isn’t he 8-1 for the US Open? Apparently it’s because he hasn’t won one of those tournaments that someone has decided are “majors”. That’s right, in the last year he’s only won the WGC-Accenture Match Play, the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, the BMW PGA Championship, the Barclays Scottish Open and lost the Heritage in a playoff.
It’s not as if he’s beating a bunch of club pros on the European Tour or the US Tour. He’s playing the best players in the world week in week out and making them look ordinary. Oh and he was the top money earner on both tours last year (the first time anyone has ever done it).
But yeah he hasn’t won a “major” so he can’t have any bottle. Can’t win the big one. Can’t handle pressure. I bet there wasn’t much pressure when he beat world number 2 Lee Westwood in a playoff for the BMW. I bet he’s terrified standing over a big money putt having banked over twelve million last year alone.
Well I’ll take my chances at 20s thanks. I’ll be backing him for all four.
