McIlroy ready to roar

Sports betting:

WHO wants it then? Tiger looks determined to get shut, Lee is sidelined with injury and Phil seems to turn to jelly at the prospect.

The prize to which I am referring for Messrs Woods, Westwood and Mickelson is the World No. 1 spot which the latter would have grasped from Tiger had he not imploded during the final round of the latest world championship event at Firestone, Ohio.

Westwood packed in halfway through the event with a recurrence of a calf injury, while Woods – clearly a man tormented by problems on and off the course – looked a shadow of the golfer who once thrilled and amazed us with his skills.

It is to this backdrop that the final major of the season, the USPGA Championship, gets under way at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, tomorrow.

And who would ever have thought that Woods, so long the dominant player in world golf, would be 18-1 to win a major?

But such has been Woods’ fall from grace that he has attracted little or no support from punters who, even if they are Tiger fans, acknowledge that Woods is in a very bad place at the moment.

I tried to justify backing Woods at the Open, but am not prepared to make the same mistake twice, having watched him finish much nearer last than first in Ohio.

Neither can I recommend Mickelson at 14-1. When the prize was there to be taken and with Woods nowhere to be seen, Mickelson’s game went to pieces at Firestone.

Ironically, Westwood would have been a strong fancy to win this major but for the injury which could yet keep him out of next month’s Ryder Cup.

So who will win this weekend? Well, it seems to me that the likes of Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Retief Goosen and Jim Furyk – all major champions in their pomp – cannot hack it when it comes to the crunch these days.

Paul Casey flattered to deceive once again, while Ian Poulter has lost his form and Ross Fisher seems destined to come up short at this level.

Ohio champion Hunter Mahan, on the other hand, showed nerves of steel to come out on top with a final-round 64 at Firestone and is no forlorn hope at 40-1.

Fellow US players Ryan Palmer, Bo Van Pelt, Shaun O’Hair, Jeff Overton and Dustin Johnson were others to demonstrate the quality of their game and at least one of these hungry performers is likely to make an impact at Whistling Straits.

But the two players I like from a betting perspective are Northern Ireland aces and good friends Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.

The former had no luck with the putter last weekend, but his tee-to-green play was a joy to behold.

Normally good with the flat stick, Rory is arguably the best player in the world at the moment and will not back away if he gets the chance to win. Of all the favourites, he is the most likely at current odds of 18-1.

As for McDowell, I can’t understand why he is available at 60-1.

The US open champion understandably lost his focus for a while after winning at Pebble Beach, but his game looked in good shape at Firestone and he is a proven winner.


RECOMMENDATIONS: USPGA Championship, Rory McIlroy, each-way, 18-1 (general); Graeme McDowell, each-way, 60-1 (totesport, William Hill).