Tiger Woods Still Has Plenty of Fans in Las Vegas, Wants to Make Himself “Great Again”

Posted on: January 8, 2017, 07:48h. 

Last updated on: January 8, 2017, 07:50h.

Casino.org Staff Writer Read More

Expertise: Commercial Gaming.

Tiger Woods says he’s finally healthy and injury-free, and those in Las Vegas are taking him at his word. The golfing great hasn’t won a PGA Tour event since the Bridgestone Invitational in 2013, and his last major came in 2008 at the US Open.

But that isn’t stopping bettors from lining up in Nevada and taking their chances on the game’s second all-time winner. At Las Vegas sportsbooks, more money has been wagered on Woods for the 2017 Masters than any other player according to Forbes.

Though he’s ranked 652nd in the world, the Westgate SuperBook has Tiger at 20-1 to win his fifth green jacket. A bettor earlier placed a $1,000 wager on Woods when the odds were at 50-1.

Bovada has the 14-time major champ at +2000, meaning a $100 bet would return $2,000 if Woods prevails.

“I am working hard to sharpen my game for 2017, and my goal is simple: to win,” Woods wrote in a recent post on his website. “I know many people doubted whether I would play competitive golf again, and to be honest, even I wasn’t sure.”

“But after a year of working harder than I’ve ever worked to get back, I knew it was possible,” Woods continued. “Combine that with the amount of support I have received from so many people, and the help I’ve had from players and friends, and there is great reason for optimism.”

Farmers First

Woods’ first official PGA Tour event is the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines January 28-31. Tiger has won the event seven times, and his 2008 US Open victory also took place on the Southern California track.

Tiger will then play at Riviera Country Club, the site of his first PGA Tour appearance back in 1992. He’ll then head back home to Florida for the Honda Classic before going to Augusta, Georgia.

As to who will finish the entire PGA Tour season with the most money, Bovada likes Dustin Johnson’s chances of repeating as the top earner. The online sportsbook lists DJ at +350, tied with Rory McIlroy and followed by Hideki Matsuyama (+550), Jason Day (+600), and Jordan Spieth (+800).

Woods is at +3300 to win the money title.

Make Woods Great Again

Woods was just steps away from President Barack Obama when he was inaugurated in 2008, but the golfer is apparently willing to cross party fairways. In December, Tiger and President-elect Donald Trump played a round together at the billionaire’s Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

“Our discussions were wide-ranging,” Woods said of the experience. “I’ve now had the privilege of playing golf with Mr. Trump, George HW Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.”

Tiger also revealed that his Ryder Cup teammates gave him a t-shirt reading “Make Tiger Great Again” last fall, an obvious ode to Trump’s campaign slogan.

Oddsmakers didn’t have much faith in Trump prevailing over Hillary Clinton. We’ll see if they get it right with Woods in 2017.