Western Open Betting

A solid field of big names and Ryder Cup hopefuls hits Chicago-landthis weekend for the PGA Tour’s $5 million Cialis Western Open.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson,playing in their first tournament since the circus that was theU.S. Open three weeks ago, top the Western Open betting boardsat 9/2 and 8/1, respectively. Woods won this event in 2003 andfinished second, two strokes back, to defending champion JimFuryk last year.

Furyk, who is 10/1 to win this weekend, shot a final-round69 last year to win this tournament, hitting 75% of his greensin regulation (tied for the best) along the way. Furyk has madethe cut in this tournament eight straight years, and has six Top10 finishes in that span.

The Dubsdread course at Cog Hill (in Lemont, Illinois) has beenthe home of the Western Open since 1991. The course will playat just over 7,300 yards, par 71. Last year, Dubsdread playedto a 71.9 strokes per round average during the Western Open.

Mickelson is the PGA Tour’s money leader, and despite his hiccupat the U.S. Open is still probably the best player in the worldat the moment.

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After Furyk on the betting board comes Vijay Singh at 11/1,Adam Scott and Luke Donald at 18/1, and Davis Love III (who finishedsecond at this tournament in both 2001 and ’02) at 20/1. Loveis ranked 11th in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings; the Top 10 automaticallyqualify for the U.S. team.

Chad Campbell, who ranks fourth in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings(behind Woods, Mickelson and Furyk), is listed at 40/1 to winthis weekend.

Zach Johnson, who ranks seventh in the Ryder Cup points race,is posted at around 40/1 at some sportsbooks, and is includedin the field at others.

Jerry Kelly, who won this tournament in 2002, is listed at around30/1 at some sportsbooks to win this weekend, and is included in the field at others. Kellyranks 18th in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings.

There are only seven more tournaments, running up through thePGA Championship the weekend of Aug. 18-21, at which players canaccumulate Ryder Cup points.