British bookmaker William Hill has cut the odds on Tiger Woods
playing at the Masters.
The world's No. 1 golfer is taking an indefinite break from
the game since a November car crash outside his home in Florida and
reports of marital infidelity. Shortly after the crash, William
Hill was giving 4-6 odds that Woods would be back in time for the
Masters in April. On Wednesday, the company cut the odds to 1-4.
"We've only taken money on the one side that he will be
playing there, so that's why we shortened it right up," William
Hill spokesman Rupert Adams said. "Everybody who's had a bet seems
absolutely certain that he'll make it to Augusta."
Adams said they have taken 224 bets and 217 of them are that
Woods will be playing at Augusta National. At 1-4 odds, a $4 bet
returns $5; at 4-6 odds, a $6 bet returns $10.
Adams said the bets have come from all over the world, with
at least one coming from Dubai via the Internet.
Although Woods has not spoken publicly since the Nov. 27
crash, a celebrity Web site reported last week that he was at a sex
addiction clinic in Mississippi. Other reports say Woods and his
Swedish wife Elin Nordegren, who have two children, were trying to
work things out.
"Within the British press there's a suggestion that Elin has
been to see him for a week. Apparently they are getting along quite
well, or rather better," Adams said. "Therefore, obviously if on
the private side things start perking up, then what better
rehabilitation to him than getting on the golf course."
Woods has won the Masters four times. Adams said it's the
"perfect" tournament for Woods to make his return.
"In terms of security and everything else like that, the
Masters is perhaps the perfect place. Not just any old chap can get
there. The crowds are pretty quiet," Adams said. "They aren't the
sort who are going to start giving him a bit of the old leg-pulling
halfway through.
"I really can see why everyone's backing it."
William Hill is also offering 5-2 odds that Woods will win
this year's Masters, making him the favorite. But bettors will get
their stake back if the American doesn't play. Phil Mickelson is
the second favorite at 11-2.
"He's the favorite for every tournament he plays in," Adams
said. "It's as simple as that."
Woods has won 14 major titles, and he needs four more to
equal Jack Nicklaus' record of 18.
William Hill is offering 33-1 odds that Woods will win all
four majors in 2010, 16-1 odds that he will win three, 4-1 for two
and 11-8 for one. Bettors can also get 5-4 odds that Woods will not
win any of the majors, but he has to play in all four for the bets
to be valid.
