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Featured Sport News

Tiger back in the hunt

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 08/04/2009

The online betting bookmakers are running scared of Tiger Woods ahead of this week's Masters following the world number one's return to the winner's circle.

Woods, who only recently returned to action following knee surgery, shot a final round 67 to edge out overnight leader Sean O'Hair by one shot to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill last month.

The result is a universal slashing in the odds that Woods will win his fifth Masters title at Augusta and, at around 7/4, there appears little value in backing the resurgent world number one.

Instead there are plenty of other bona fide alternatives for victory in the season's first Major Championship - and all are available at much better odds.

Phil Mickelson (9/1) is the obvious choice as the two-time Masters champion has looked a more focused contender this season.

The 2004 and 2006 Masters champion has already won the Northern Trust Open and WGC-CA Championship on the PGA Tour this season and now in tandem with coach Butch Harmon, appears to have finally tamed his wild long game.

Padraig Harrington (18/1) arrives in Georgia on the back of some shaky early-season form but the fact that the Irishman has won the last two Majors to be contested - the 2008 Open Championship and PGA Championship - cannot be underestimated.

Defending champion Trevor Immelman (66/1) offers value on paper but it's hard to ignore the South African's dramatic decline since winning so impressively at Augusta 12 months ago.

Instead, KJ Choi (66/1) appears a better gamble as the Korean has a superb Masters record and always seems to rise to the occasion at Augusta.

Choi has missed just one cut in six career appearances and has finished in the top 15 on two occasions.

Paul Casey (40/1) is also one to watch as the in-form Englishman has featured in the top 11 in three of the four years he has qualified and is comfortable playing in America where he went to college.

Zach Johnson (40/1) has shown flashes of the form which propelled him to the title in 2007 as the American finished third behind Woods in Orlando.

Big names to avoid are Adam Scott (66/1) as the Australian's Major record is nothing short of shameful for a player of his stature and Angel Cabrera (100/1), whose career has taken a nosedive since winning the 2007 US Open.

However, one tip from out of left field for an each-way bet is Alvaro Quiros (200/1) as the Spaniard has been in electric form during a breakthrough past 18 months.

The 26-year-old is making his first appearance at the Masters but the longest hitter on the European Tour in three successive seasons also has the short game required to score well at Augusta.

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