PGA Championship Preview

This weekend, Tiger Woods has his lost shot at capturing a Major Championship in 2009.  After disappointing finishes at The Masters, The U.S. Open, and The British Open, Tiger appeared to be “reeling” (at least by his own lofty standards).  

However, two straight victories have Tiger right back where he normally is: firmly atop the favorites board heading into a Major.

The 2009 PGA Championship will be held this weekend, and here is everything you need to know heading into the tournament:

• 2009 PGA Championship Dates: Thursday, August 12th through Sunday, August 16
• 2009 PGA Championship Course: Hazeltine National Golf Club
• 2009 PGA Championship Location: Chaska, Minnesota
• 2009 PGA Championship Purse: $7.2 million
• PGA Championship Official Website
• 2009 PGA Championship Tee Times
• StubHub: 2009 PGA Championship Tickets

And the 2009 PGA Championship TV schedule / viewing information:

• Thursday TV Schedule: 2-8 pm on TNT
• Friday TV Schedule: 2-8 pm on TNT
• Saturday TV Schedule: 11 am – 2 pm on TNT | 2 pm – 7 pm on CBS
• Sunday TV Schedule: 11 am – 2 pm on TNT | 2 pm – 7 pm on CBS
• Watch the 2009 PGA Championship Live Online

PGA Betting Odds and Prediction

Navigating through PGA Championship odds to find a potential winner seems like a daunting task, as the 2009 golf season has been quite unpredictable, particularly in the first three majors. However, the trend should stop this week. The PGA Championship’s host course, Hazeltine, is playing longer than any major in history at 7,678 yards. The course clearly favors long hitters and it’s thus easier to predict who should make a splash. Can you guess who tops our list of potential picks?

PGA Championship Odds: Tiger Woods (+140 odds to win)

BOOM: If you’re a fan of our sports predictions, you’ll notice that Tiger wins just about every time we say he will and loses when we say he will. The reason: Tiger’s success in 2009 directly coincides with playing on courses that favor long hitters. The Memorial, the Buick Open, the Bridgestone Invitational – you name the tournament Tiger won this season and it had a history of rewarding long drives. Hazeltine has three holes 600 yards or longer and a 518-yard par four. How many other golfers can get on in two shots on holes like those?

BUST: Once in a blue moon, Tiger’s putter eludes him for a weekend, so I suppose it could happen, but I wouldn’t count on it. He’s fresh off two straight wins, for cryin’ out loud.

PGA Championship Odds: Phil Mickelson (+2200 to win)

BOOM: it’s been a tough year for Lefty, but he could finally contend again this week. His long drives and, more importantly, his aggressive style, could give him an upper hand on the long course. Even if he’s errant off the tee, he’s long enough to get on in regulation.

BUST: He’s played just one event since taking an extended hiatus to be with his ailing wife and mother. He looked rusty and tired last weekend, finishing with two straight over-par rounds at the Bridgestone. Will he just magically go from rusty to not in one week?

PGA Championship Odds: Padraig Harrington (+2200 to win)

BOOM: The defending champ is a popular pick at most books this week. Though betting services don’t recommend him, some sharps are swayed by his past major success and good scrambling. He also flashed his former brilliance at the Bridgestone last week.

BUST: Three quarters of a good tournament doesn’t constitute a comeback. Paddy collapsed last Sunday and Is still having a brutal year, as the Bridgestone yielded his only top-10 finish in 2009.

PGA Championship Odds: Angel Cabrera (+4500 to win)

BOOM: Boom is the right word indeed. Cabrera hits a long enough ball to have a solid advantage at Hazeltine. He also excels under pressure, as he showed in winning the 2007 U.S. Open by a stroke and the 2009 Masters in a playoff. He’s hot at the right time, having shot three straight rounds in the 60s to close out the Bridgestone last week.

BUST: Accuracy isn’t his forte, so he’ll have to keep his drive inbounds to be effective. He’s also not most consistent golfer out there,

PGA Championship Odds: Anthony Kim (+5000 to win)

BOOM: If the kid had a win this season or a major under his belt, I’d fully endorse betting on him. He’s a long enough hitter with a sweet putter (first on the Tour in average) and the ability to convert birdies (second on Tour).

BUST: He’s had jitters on Sundays this season and a lead in a major would do nothing to calm those nerves. Is he ready?

2009 PGA Championship Prediction: Tiger Woods. You don’t mess with him when the course favors him this much. Chalk up another major for the greatest of all time.

* – Tiger Woods photo credit: NBC Sports