On the PGA golf tour this season, Tiger Woods has had the worst year of his career, and on Thursday, he attempted to start turning around his fortunes. Woods started strong at the Barclays golf tournament this weekend, fresh off his divorce to Elin Nordegren.
With a score of -6, the number one player in the world completed the first round. On Thursday, he shot the sixty-five and has him in a tie for the lead, somewhere he has not been often this year. With his divorce finalized, analysts have already begun their analysis that Woods may now be more focused.
Gaming Analyst Steve Schwartz said, “With everything that he (Woods) has been through in his personal life in the past year, it was expected that there would be some drop off in his level of play. As his life starts getting back to normal and his focus again turns to golf, we should see more scores like the one Woods posted today.”
To convince skeptics that the world’s best golfer is back, it will take more than one round. He would solidify his position on the US Ryder Cup team, if Woods goes on to win the Barclays and he also would swing odds makers back in his direction when it comes to determining future betting odds.
On the betting list week, Woods has remained near the top of the choices after week this season despite his poor showings. By betting on Woods, gamblers who have in the past feasted on sports books are now suffering along with the best golfer of a generation.
Last November, Woods ran his SUV into a tree on Thanksgiving night and he was surging towards Jack Nicklaus’ major titles record. Since then, for his continuous infidelity, Woods has been outed, and he has been a shell of his former self on the golf course.
On August 19 at Sedgefield Country Club, the PGA Wyndham Championship begins in Greensboro, NC.
With the winner receiving $918,000, the 2009 purse is $5.1 million. For the PGA Tour, the Wyndham Championship is the final regular season tournament. On Monday August 16, the event qualifying round takes place at Forest Oaks Country Club, also in Greensboro, NC. For members of the PGA tour, this is an exclusive event. A player must pre-qualify for the qualifying round on Thursday August 12, if a player is not a member. By Friday, August 13 at 5pm, the players need to confirm their spot. Before players play their first round, they may also withdraw anytime, if they chose not to compete.
Ryan Moore is the current champion, who won in 2009, with a score of 19 under par. He is also a favorite candidate for online casino sports betting. The golfing community looking forward to the number 14 ranked golfer in the world, Anthony Kim play, for the 2010 tournament. So far, to enter the tournament, he has the highest rank of any player. Tiger Woods may participate, as per speculations, although he is not confirmed yet.
In the days before the final tournament begins, there are many events taking place at Sedgefield Country Club. On August 17, there is a youth golf clinic and on August 18, there is a Pro-Am tournament. There is a Kool & the Gang concert to kick off the festivities, also on August 17.
