The Masters is a big enough deal as is, but when the world’s No.1 player returns after a five-month scandal, you can bet that The Masters will be the most-watched tournament in recent memory, if not, in history.

Masters Odds and Pick

Tiger Woods (+400)

We won’t even go into what happened to Woods if you haven’t heard yet, but what you do need to know is that he essentially owns a deed to Augusta National. Woods has four wins here, he owns the course record with his demolition of the field in 1997 at age 21, and last year’s T-6 was his worst result at Augusta in his past five trips there. As for the time off, Woods doesn’t play that much anyway, so we know he can win a tournament cold.

Phil Mickelson (+1000)

It’s a wonder that Mickelson has sports betting odds as good as this, because “Lefty” has struggled this year, and especially on the weekend. But again, given his history at Augusta, you have to count Mickelson in the hunt. He has two wins here, and since 1999, he has fallen out of the top 10 just once. Still, Mickelson will have to put together four good rounds together to have a chance.

Ernie Els (+1100)

Els should definitely be ahead of Mickelson in your sportsbook with his two wins this season, that is, until you look at his history at Augusta. From 2000 to 2004, Els didn’t finish lower than T-6. Since then, he hasn’t finished higher T-27 and has missed the cut here three straight years. He should fare better this week, but we’re not too confident that he’ll break through for the win.

Paul Casey, Anthony Kim, Camilo Villegas (+2500)

Kim and Villegas have both won this year, while Casey had to withdrawal from his defense of the Shell Houston Open crown (which Kim won) due to a bad shoulder. Villegas finished T-13 here last year, while Kim was T-20 in his first trip to Augusta. Casey also finished T-20 last year, and that’s in addition to three previous top-10s he had at Augusta. At least one from this group should challenge, and we wouldn’t be surprised if it was Casey.

Pick: Our pick for the week is Retief Goosen at +2200, because he offers some value to players, but he’s also excellent at Augusta, even though he missed the cut last year. Goosen has five top-six finishes in seven events this season, but he still has to be more consistent with the putter. In NBA betting terms, Goosen would be Orlando: other teams (Cleveland, Boston) get the attention, but they’ll be there down the stretch. Go with Retief Goosen.

Some (me included) have never wavered in their prediction that Tiger will play in the 2010 Masters. Others have been more non-committal or even suggested that it could be a year or more before we see golf’s most exciting player back on the Tour.

A bevy of reports from this week, taken together, suggest an increasing likelihood that Tiger will be playing for the fifth Green Jacket in what will undoubtedly be the most hyped golf tournament of all time.

First, here every little bit of information you need to know about this year’s Masters, and then I’ll tell you why I am now about 99.9% convinced that Tiger will be teeing it up in Augusta this April.

2010 Masters Quick Preview:

• 2010 Masters Dates: April 5-11
• 2010 Masters Location: Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, GA (of course)
• 2010 Masters TV Schedule: Opening rounds on ESPN; Weekend Rounds on CBS
• Official Website: 2010 Masters
• StubHub: 2010 Masters Tickets
• RazorGator: 2010 Masters Tickets

Before we get into the specifics about why I think he is going to play, I want to restate the obvious just so we’re all on the same page: if Tiger Woods plays in this April’s Masters, it will instantly become the most hyped and anticipated golf tournament ever. I defy anyone to argue with that statement.

After what has happened over the past few months with not only golf’s biggest star, but the biggest star in all of sports, Tiger’s very public return to his profession will make even his practice rounds that week must-see viewing, even for people who aren’t golf fans.

We know that golf fans will be excited; it’s the Masters. Add Tiger’s return to the mix and you pull in even the more casual golf fans like me.

But what will make this year’s event transcendent is the housewife who couldn’t name one golfer but who will tune in because they followed the Tiger and Elin story on the news and in the tabloids and now want to check out the latest development.

Add to all of this the insanity and ubiquity of modern day sports media, and the level of coverage could reach a Super Bowl pitch.

Of course, this only happens if Tiger comes back and plays, which he has not yet announced that he will do. So why am I, along with so many others, becoming convinced that Tiger is going to be playing for the Green Jacket?

Here are five significant reasons:

1. He is reportedly practicing like a madman again

According to a TMZ report from earlier today, Tiger has returned to the golf course with a vengeance. Here is how they describe his practice session, which allegedly lasted from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and is pictured, “unstaged”, below.

Tiger Woods is golfing like a man possessed — hitting ball after ball after ball at the golf course near his home in Isleworth … and TMZ has obtained the first unstaged photos of Woods back in action.

We’re told Tiger’s session was uninterrupted — and he seemed completely focused throughout the entire grueling workout.

Obviously Tiger is not going to be hitting the links for an intense practice session without a goal driving him.

Considering that no goal drives him more than the numbers 6 and 18 – the Golden Bear’s records for Masters and total Major Championships won, respectively – I feel safe in assuming that he is working towards regaining his form so he can play in the Masters.

2. Hank Haney has been summoned to Orlando

In addition to the reports of Tiger’s day of practice, another interesting bit of news hit the Interwebs today. Sports by Brooks reported that Hank Haney has been summoned to Orlando to help Tiger retool his swing and get ready to resume his golfing career:

After Haney wraps up his responsibilities with The Golf Channel, I was told by a source today that he will travel to Orlando to begin assisting Woods with his golf comeback.

Why would Tiger bring Hank down to Orlando if he weren’t pretty serious about getting his groove back, and quickly?

3. Haney already making Augusta plans

Sports by Brooks is also reporting today that Haney has already made arrangements to be in Augusta for the Masters from April 6th through the 12th.

Now, in and of itself, this could mean nothing. Haney is one of the most famous swing coaches ever so it is reasonable to assume that he might attend golf’s greatest annual event whether he’s working with Tiger or not; but, coupled with the reports of Haney’s impending arrival in Orlando to work with Tiger, it does at least lend a smidgen more credence to the expectation that Tiger will return this April.

4. Tiger and his problematic knee are not getting any younger

An exchange from today’s Bill Simmons-Rick Reilly podcast made me even more convinced that Tiger will do whatever is necessary to play in the 2010 Masters.

I did not actually listen to the podcast, but I read Ty Duffy’s assessment of it at The Big Lead. The part where Simmons and Reilly discuss Tiger’s surgically repaired right knee is what hit me.

They both agreed his surgical repaired knee will be the determining factor for whether he passes Nicklaus.

Reilly: “The problem is that knee. He’s now had four operations on one knee.”

Simmons: “This guy had total reconstructive surgery on his knee…In golf you’re just pushing off the same parts of your legs, time after time after time. It’s like pressure over time and he’s already had some structural failure.”

For most of Tiger’s career, we’ve all viewed him as something more than human. His amazing feats on the golf course have compelled us to do this because, well, he has achieved things and done things that no other human who has ever played golf has even come close to achieving or doing.

The dominance of his first Masters victory. His ridiculous chip shot. His U.S. Open victory on one leg. His amazing overall consistency.

When Tiger enters a tournament we expect greatness and we expect him to win. We never, ever view him as vulnerable.

But now he is, and the knee is a major reason why. Reilly and Simmons hit the nail head with their comments.

I expect that in the back of his mind, maybe even in the forefront, Tiger is thinking something similar. He is no longer the invincible spring chicken who came storming out of Stanford dead set on breaking every golf record. He is older, more brittle, and will not recover from future injuries as quickly.

Tiger proved at the U.S. Open a few years ago that he has the mental and physical toughness to fight through pain and still win. At some point, however, especially if the chronically bad knee deteriorates, Tiger could – could – be in a position where no level of mental or physical toughness can overcome the knee.

His injury issues are not going to get better with age and he is still four Major victories away from tying Jack. Like women have biological clocks, Tiger probably has a similar feeling of wanting to achieve his goals while his body will still let him. Passing up a shot at the Masters while he still has his youth, strength, and health does not move him any closer to his goals.

For someone who has spent his entire life being driven by said goals, I can’t imagine him passing on this opportunity to potentially get one Major step closer to achieving them.

5. Tiger is “probable” for Bay Hill

Lastly, no one expects Tiger to make his first tournament appearance at Augusta. He will undoubtedly want to play in at least one Tour event as a warm up.

Another report from Sports by Brooks, which was posted yesterday, posits a few reasons why Tiger showing up to play at Arnold Palmer’s tournament in Bay Hill is looking more likely. The tournament is a few weeks away and a few weeks before the Masters, which would allow it to serve perfectly as Tiger’s official return and warm-up.

To sum everything up, no one can be 100% sure yet what Tiger will do. If we have learned anything over the last four months it is that we don’t really know anything when it comes to Tiger. However, there are many legitimate reasons for optimism if you are hoping to see Tiger at Augusta this April.

And if it happens, get ready for a media circus and a level of hype that will not only be unparalleled in the annals of golf, but that just might trump the build up and hype for any non-Super Bowl sporting event that we have ever seen.

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* – Tiger Woods in Green Jacket photo credit: Andrew Redington/Getty Images via Bleacher Report

* – Tiger Woods practicing photo credit: TMZ

* – Tiger Woods injury photo credit: Obit-Mag.com

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After admiring and defending Tiger from all the “playa haters” for years, after last week he’s officially out.

(I haven’t told him yet – I’ll probably hold a press conference next week)

His dismissal as my favorite golfer wasn’t due to the running around on his wife, or any of the cheating, lying, any of that.  I imagine he has women throwing themselves at him all the time and I’m not going to sit here and judge him.  I’m the guy who never thought he even owed the public an apology.

My decision came down to the BS he shoveled last Friday in his press conference, accompanied by his pompous expectation we would all just eat it up.  It was what he was ACTUALLY saying, if you listened closely to the press conference, and his God Complex that closed the door on Tiger for me.

What I got out of his press conference was the fact he can afford to have someone else write his ‘apologies’ and that he’s willing to try and use smoke and mirrors to fool us.  I think he has a future in politics.

It is insulting and infuriating when someone, anyone, pees down your back and then insists it’s raining. They are calling you stupid. (Buddhism?  Really?  A super bad case of Sexual Addiction that takes, like, three months to cure?  Really?)  Has anyone checked to make sure this facility doesn’t have a golf course AND a strip club on the property?

Last but not least, what I gathered during his press conference is – he’s mad at all of us for him getting caught. When he lashed out at the paparazzi for trying to get pictures of Elin and the kids I thought: dude! – YOU BROUGHT THIS ON THEM.

I call it the ‘blame game’.  And you can’t be my favorite golfer, nor garner any of my support, if you’re a blamer.

It’s like when Sergio Garcia strikes every single putt he hits over 18 holes. He mutters, swears, and gives dirty looks to the ground, his caddy and the gallery.  Sergio!  You can’t putt. Everyone knows it but you.  Quit.  Just STOP pounding down imaginary spike marks EVERY SINGLE TIME.

El Blamo is out of the running for my new fav golfer before it begins.  He was out before he needed 3 months of therapy for that ‘super bad addiction’ he had to his grips 3 or 4 years ago.  I hope Tiger has those same doctors, because that grip-regrip thing was just disturbing.

Before I get too far into it, let me give you some of the criteria and Tiger-like attributes that can help a candidate vying to be my favorite golfer.

• First, power.  I like the fact that Tiger SMASHED the golf ball.  Obviously a plus.
• Second – Tiger was/is crafty.  He has all the shots.  We’ve all seen the massive hooks and slices from impossible lies in the woods.  (ha – see what I did there?)  You get my point – the new guy’s gotta be an imaginative shot maker.
• Next – Normal size.  The PGA tour is filled with these hobbit and troll types.  Barely larger than their golf bag – midgets.  I can give to your charities, and help you up to get a drink from the drinking fountain – can’t support you otherwise.
• Lastly, QUIRKS.  There are good quirks and bad quirks.  An example would be ‘faking us all out like you’re gonna putt but you’re gonna step back and look at it again’ – a la Jim Furyk.  Bad quirk.

Getting right into my new fave golfer search, the obvious choice for Tiger’s replacement would seem to be Phil Mickelson.  He is the number two/three golfer in the world, and the heir apparent to Tiger’s throne.  I do like the fact that he’s a known gambler, both on and off the golf course.  (Most of the the straight laced, country club types are off the list too, btw.)

You’re not going to catch Phil laying up, and rumor has it, not afraid to roll the bones in Vegas.  Both definite pluses.

The trouble is, I wouldn’t feel like I’d done my due diligence stopping at number two/three.  I am going to have to pass on Phil as my favorite golfer for three key reasons:

1. His 25 pound golf shoes make him walk around..like he’s got 25 pound golf shoes on

2. The six inch vertical he displayed after sinking the putt to win the 2006 Masters – weak.  What’s the old saying?  “It’s better to appear athletic than spaz out on the 18^th at Augusta and remove all doubt”?

And more recently, #3.  His new ‘Garth Brooks Eyes’.  This ‘big-eyed, looking-around-in-wonderment-while-tipping-the-cap’ is just weird.  (I realize now that keys number one and two from above may be the same thing, but nonetheless the search for Tiger’s replacement continues.)

You’ve got Steve Stricker playing very well as of late.  I’m trying top get confirmation if he and Sean O’Hair are actually robots.  They definitely neck and neck in the running for ‘Worlds Boringest Robot Golfer’.

Padraig Harrington and Kenny Perry..?  Kenny was a real strong contestant had he not choked away the 2009 Masters, costing me $1200.  Padraig?  I heard his caddy got his paramedic certification in the off season due to his propensity to choke.

Going down the list, you come to Vijay Singh next.  And ‘next!’ it is – who can support anyone who fades the golf ball?  That’s LPGA stuff.  Hit it like you’ve got a pair.  Turn it over man.  VJ is also a hardcore egomaniacal blamer.  He can’t even line up his own putts, then blames his caddy when every one doesn’t fall.  And a new putter every week Veej?  Hint:  It’s not the arrow – it’s the Indian.  Next!!

Dallas’ own Justin Leonard?  Not just no, but HELL NO on this one.  I think Corey Pavin hits it further. Leonard fades it, wears hats that have bills shorter than his nose, AND is a blamer.  How many strikes is that?

Zach Johnson, Tim Clark, Rory Sabbatini?  These three finish close to the top in the “Midgets I can Stand” category.  Rory pounds the ball and he did tell Ben Crane he’s a “slow ass” at one point – because he is.  Tim Clark beat Tiger in the match play last year, and is pretty crafty.  Zach, of course, won the Master a few years back.

Alright, sifting through all the BS and cutting to the chase, I’ve cut it down to three golfers, three golfers on the PGA Tour who aren’t pompous assholes.  No blamers in this group.  These guys are calm, business-like competitors.  They don’t have a thug on their bag, or, for that matter, have caddies that low five when their guy high fives (Stevey).  They don’t weirdly stop their swing when someone takes a photo.  (You’re already fired Tiger, but – Pet peeve!  We regularly play at a course under DFW Airport.  747’s take off every 30 seconds, and not a single takeoff has ever affected my downswing.)

So here ya go : Lucas Glover, Chad Campbell, and the brand new David Duval are my new 1-2-3.  They can all smash it, they’re crafty, and I think they all chew tobacco.  A definite plus.  All are also very good putters, and take it easy on their caddies.

Campbell did cost me $1000 in last year’s Masters debacle, but he handled it the way he handles dropping a 60-foot eagle putt – calmly.  Duval cuts the ball, I know, but he also snowboards, so it evens out.

At the end of the search? I’m putting my money on Lucas Glover.  He has a simple swing, hits a big slinging hook and it didn’t take him 20 tries to win a major.

Sorry Tiger – tune in to my press conference to see yourself get fired.

I know it took me a good 5-6 days to find your replacement.  I guess you could say my taste in golfers is.. particular.  You should look that word up before heading back out on to the Tour.

It comes after ‘Partnership” and right before “Paternity Suit.”

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* – Tiger Woods photo credit: AP photo via Brisbane Times

* – Lucas Glover photo credit: AP Photo/Mike Groll via Penn Live

About the Author

Morgan Ryan is a special contributor to Midwest Sports Fans. A former All-American college football player at Montana State, Ryan currently lives in Texas and is an Account Executive with some of the top insurance professionals in Dallas. He also contributes as a writer to their blog, which features information and articles about commercial and personal insurance. Morgan is also, as you might have surmised, an avid golfer.

In a literal sense, however, the 2010 season is under way and it’s a free-for-all to win all those tourneys Tiger would’ve won if he played this year. Next up is the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Here are some golfers to watch this week and, for any bettors out there, odds are posted.

STEVE STRICKER (+1015 to win)

After Stricker’s whirlwind 2009, look how far he’s come: he’s the favorite this week. It’s tough to argue since he’s a smart player with a buttery-smooth short game. At Sony’s host course, Waialae, winds are strong, so course management and ball striking matter more than driving distance. Stricker has cracked the top four in two of his last three trips to Waialae.

ZACH JOHNSON (+1615 to win)

The diminutive Johnson strikes balls like a young Kenny Perry, so it’s no surprise that he won this tournament last year. His game fits the course and we can never count the defending champ out.

RORY SABBATINI (+1850 to win)

Sure, he left a bad taste in our mouth with his anti-Tiger sentiment a couple years back, but (a) we don’t have to like a golfer to believe he’ll play well and (b) maybe Sabbatini was right? Naw. Anyway, Rory has two runner-up finishes as Waialae, so he’s due.

JUSTIN LEONARD (+2550 to win)

Returning to the wind factor, former British Open champ Justin Leonard is one of the best wind players on Tour. Sure, he hasn’t played this event in almost 15 years, but he offers pretty good odds to win compared to the other favorites.

DAVID TOMS (+3250 to win)

The sportsbooks give Toms little love, making him a +3250 underdog to win, but that doesn’t mean we can’t love him this week. We should. He won the Sony Open in 2006 and finished second last year. He was fourth on Tour in fairways hit last year – a stat that should be important this week. Toms always brings it at Waialae.

JERRY KELLY (+6550 to win)

Speaking of bringing it at Waialae, Jerry Kelly would win the Mr. Waialae pageant if it existed. With a 2002 Sony Open win, six top-25s in his last seven starts there and three top-five finishes, is there any doubt that Kelly contends this week?

SONY OPEN PICK

Johnson and Kelly should be in the mix but I’m feeling Toms on multiple levels. He has the right makeup, he’s due for a victory and he has history on his side at Waialae. He also gives any bettors out there a solid return on their investment. Go for David Toms.

Five players hold their fate in their hands and can win the $10 million prize by winning here, so let’s check out their scenarios and the standings after we bring you the particulars for this weekend’s event:

TOUR Championship Preview

• TOUR Championship Dates: Thursday, September 24th through Sunday, September 27th
• TOUR Championship Location: Atlanta, Georgia
• TOUR Championship Course: East Lake Golf Club
• TOUR Championship Purse: $7.5 million ($1.35 winning share)
• TOUR Championship Length: 7,154 Yards
• TOUR Championship Thursday-Friday TV Schedule: GOLF Channel 1 pm – 6 pm ET
• TOUR Championship Saturday TV Schedule: NBC 2 pm – 6 pm ET
• TOUR Championship Sunday TV Schedule: NBC 1:30 pm – 6 pm ET
• Official Website: TOUR Championship
• StubHub: Great deals on TOUR Championship tickets
• StubHub: Great deals on all PGA Tour tickets

Current FedEx Cup Standings:

1. Tiger Woods (16 events) – 2,500 points
2. Steve Stricker (21) – 2,250
3. Jim Furyk (21) – 2,000
4. Zach Johnson (24) – 1,800
5. Heath Slocum (26) – 1,600

Tiger Woods (TOUR Championship Odds: +100): The world’s No.1 romped to an eight-stroke win at Cog Hill two weeks ago, but with the reseeding that gives everyone in the field a chance to win, his lead fell to 250 points over Steve Stricker. That’s no matter, though. The last time he was at East Lake, Woods won.

Steve Stricker (TOUR Championship Odds: +1600): Stricker is coming off his worst result of the season, a T-52 at Cog Hill, and he was T-24 here last year. If he is going to overtake Woods, he’ll need the tournament of his life this weekend.

Jim Furyk (TOUR Championship Odds: +1400): Furyk is a steady play for online sports betting players, and he racks up top-10s like it’s going out of style. He was T-3 at East Lake last year, and he finished second to Woods at Cog Hill (albeit a distant second). With six top-10s at East Lake, look for Furyk to be there on Sunday afternoon.

Zach Johnson (TOUR Championship Odds: +2200): Johnson was fifth at Cog Hill, and he certainly likes East Lake: he has the course record there with his 60 in 2007. He has four top-20s in his last five events and he’s improved his score each week in the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Heath Slocum (TOUR Championship Odds: +10000): Slocum is used to being a darkhorse in your handicapping software, because quite frankly, he wasn’t even supposed to be here at this point. He jumped from 124^th in the 125-player FedEx field to third with his surprising win at Liberty National in the first event, but has since cooled off with a missed-cut and a T-38. In his last East Lake appearance in 2007, Slocum came in T-17.

Prediction: Padraig Harrington (+1400) should win the event as he has five top-10s in a row, including four in the top-six, but he needs to win and for Woods to finish third or worse, which isn’t the best scenario. Woods to win the FedEx Cup is one of the easiest sports picks of the weekend.

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* – Tiger Woods photo credit: TopNews.in

NCAA football betting

This week’s FedEx Cup “playoff” stop is the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Here is all of the need-to-know information:

• Deutsche Bank Championship Dates: Friday, September 4th through Monday, September 7
• Deutsche Bank Championship Location: Norton, Massachusetts
• Deutsche Bank Championship Course: TPC Boston
• Deutsche Bank Championship Pursue: $7 million (Winning share: $1.26 M)
• Deutsche Bank Championship Length: 7,207 Yards
• Deutsche Bank Championship Friday / Saturday TV Schedule: Golf Channel 3pm – 6pm ET
• Deutsche Bank Championship Sunday TV Schedule: CBS 3pm – 6pm
• Deutsche Bank Championship Monday Labor Day TV Schedule: CBS 2pm – 6pm
• StubHub: Deutsche Bank Championship tickets
• StubHub: All PGA Tour tickets

So who are the top picks to win?

Tiger Woods (+150 odds to win)

BOOM: I’m sorry, but he’s not “slumping” as so many pundits claim. The guy has back to back second-place finishes and five wins in 2009. Let’s get serious.

BUST: As much as he isn’t slumping, the heebie-jeebies with his usually money-in-the-bank putts inside 10 feet are worth monitoring. Since Tiger rewards you so little for your investment, I always say you should only pick him when he’s a sure thing. This week doesn’t qualify.

Padraig Harrington (+1600 odds to win)

BOOM: Paddy’s finally showing signs that his nightmarish funk is over, having cracked the top 10 in three straight events. His scrambling and putting will keep his game consistent throughout the Deutsche Bank.

BUST: As much as he’s “back,” he melted down in two of his three “good” performances over the last few weeks. If he gets a lead on Sunday, there’s no guarantee that he won’t collapse again.

Steve Stricker (+2000 odds to win)

BOOM: After Tiger, no golfer has been better in 2009. Stricker has two wins and four more top-four finishes this season and his scoring average ranks second on Tour, reflecting how consistent he’s been week to week.

BUST: Stricker only seems to win the little tournaments where he’s the big fish in a small pond. He often wilts under pressure in the high-profile events, as he did last Sunday on the 18^th hole at the Barclays when he plugged his tee shot in the bunker.

Vijay Singh (+3300 odds to win)

BOOM: No golfer has a better history at this tournament. Vijay won it in 2004 and 2008 and owns both the single-round course record and the aggregate score record.

BUST: Few golfers are struggling as badly as Vijay this season. He looks like a shadow of his former self. If you like his Deutsche Bank Championship odds because he’s the defending champ, flash back to last week; he was the defending champ at the Barclays and missed the cut.

Heath Slocum (+10000 odds to win)

BOOM: He’s swinging a mean stick right now, ranking seventh on Tour in proximity to hole and 12^th in ball striking. He also won the Barclays last week, so he has momentum. More importantly, he offers insane value compare to other sports picks at +10000 – a number almost unheard of for a guy coming off a win.

BUST: Last week’s win was his first in almost four years, so he’s still a long shot to do it again against such a rich field.

Best betting management pick: Padraig Harrington. He seems to have fixed his swing and he deserves a pass for his recent mistakes since he’s won big tournaments before.

• The Barclays Dates: Thursday, August 27 through Sunday, August 30
• The Barclays Course: Liberty National
• The Barclays Location: Jersey City, NJ
• The Barclays Purse: $7.5 million ($1.35 million to winner)
• The Barclays Total Course Yardage: 7,400
• The Barclays Thursday-Friday TV Schedule: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm on The Golf Channel
• The Barclays Saturday TV Schedule: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm CBS
• The Barclays Sunday TV Schedule: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm CBS
• StubHub: Great deals on tickets to The Barclays
• StubHub: Great deals on all PGA Tour tickets

Note: The Barclays can be viewed online at PGA.com

The Barclays Preview: Betting Odds and Prediction

As we’re seeing with NFL odds in the preseason, this week’s PGA Tour stop, the Barclays, carries lots of question marks with it. Can Tiger Woods bounce back from the first true collapse of his career? Can Phil Mickelson finally win another tournament? Does anyone care about the FedEx Cup “playoffs”? Let’s review a few possible picks to win this week.

Tiger Woods (+185 to win)

BOOM: Well, he’s Tiger Woods. He’s the best in the world, so much so that his current five-win season is labeled an “off” year. The Barclays lost course, Liberty National, is reasonably long, so Tiger could take advantage.

BUST: After choking against Y.E. Yang in the PGA Championship, Tiger is in uncharted territory. How can we know for sure that he’s handling the loss well and will bounce back strong? Considering that you get a small return on your investment with him compared to other sports picks, it’s worth waiting a week to see how he plays.

Phil Mickelson (+1850 to win)

BOOM: He’s long enough off the tee to score well at Liberty National and his birdie conversion percentage is the fourth-best on Tour. He’s also a member at Liberty National, giving him intimate knowledge of the course. That’s gold for an aggressive player like Phil, as he’ll know when he can afford to try a hero shot.

BUST: He still hasn’t really found his rhythm after his hiatus, so we can’t assume he’ll magically snap out of his funk this week.

Hunter Mahan (+2250 to win)

BOOM: He’s the definition of rock-solid this season. Always in the hunt, he has four top-10s in his last six starts. He also ranks highly in scoring average and greens in regulation, so his Barclays odds are good.

BUST: As well as he’s played, he hasn’t broken through for a win this season; what if he can’t handle the pressure with a lead on Sunday against a field of superstars? Also, his driving accuracy leaves a lot to be desired, ranking 85^th.

Jim Furyk (+5250)

BOOM: Here’s a guy with a similar skill set and 2009 performance to Mahan’s, yet who offers more than double his value. Furyk could be the best sleeper according to stats from betting services; he has seven top-10s this season and cracks the top 10 in scrambling, putting average and proximity to hole.

BUST: While he’s not senior Tour material just yet, he may be past his prime at age 39, not having won a tournament since 2007. What if he simply doesn’t have that extra gear that propels him to victory anymore?

THE PICK

Go with Phil Mickelson at +1850. He’s long overdue, he knows the course better than anyone else in the field, and the course should suit his game.

Here are the particulars for this weekend’s Wyndham Championship:

 

• Wyndham Championship Dates: Thursday, August 20 through Sunday, August 23
• Wyndham Championship Location: Greensboro, NC
• Wyndham Championship Course: Sedgefield Country Club
• Wyndham Championship Thursday-Friday TV Schedule: The Golf Channel
• Wyndham Championship Saturday-Sunday Weekend TV Schedule: CBS

 

Wyndham Championship Odds and Prediction 

Tim Clark is a co-favorite with US Open champion Lucas Glover at +1600, and he’s finished T-6 at Sedgefield Country Club in two of the last three years. Clark’s consistency is what makes him one of the more attractive sports picks of the weekend: he’s made the cut in 15 of his 17 starts in 2009, he’s seventh in driving accuracy, and 34^th in putting. You also need to shoot a low score to win this event, as six of the last seven winners have posed a score of -18 or better. Clark is fourth on the PGA Tour in scoring average.

Glover should push Clark for a Sunday duel, and the US Open champion is coming off an impressive top-five at the PGA Championship at Hazeltine. Glover is having a brilliant season, leading the Tour in total driving, he’s fifth in driving, 15^th in sand saves and 23^rd in putting. He finished a respectable T-20 in last year’s Wyndham Championship, and a win would give him some momentum heading into the FedEx Cup playoffs.

A good longshot bet for your gambling software is John Senden, who comes in at +3300, and he would be a much smarter wager than Sergio Garcia at +1800. Senden hasn’t shot over par in eight straight rounds at this event, and even though he’s missed the cut in three of his last four starts, his irons will give him a chance this week as he leads the Tour in greens-in-regulation.

However, Clark is the pick when doing your online betting this weekend. He’s been called the best player on the Tour who has never won, which tells you about the level of competition in the PGA. With a weak field, there’s no better place for him to break his duck. Go with Tim Clark when making your sports bet online. 

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* – Tim Clark photo credit: The Sybil Speaks

If you follow golf betting or just enjoy hitting the links, you’re probably looking ahead to next week’s PGA Championship. Not so fast. This week’s Bridgestone Invitational is a World Golf Championship event and features a truckload of elite competitors. Can Tiger hold off the powerhouse field for a second straight win? Let’s look at some of the top candidates to make a splash.

 Tiger Woods (+150 odds to win)

BOOM: I shouldn’t have to tell you why you should bet on Tiger, but I’ll do it anyway. He’s won the Bridgestone six times in the last 10 years and he’s fresh off a win last week. Need I go on?

BUST: The host course, Firestone Country Club, doesn’t really punish poor driving accuracy. It favors long hitters. So Tiger’s “weakness” shouldn’t even come into play this week.

Phil Mickelson (+1600 odds to win)

BOOM: Phil is a long hitter, aggressive enough to score well at Firestone, and he’s cracked the top 10 in half his starts this season.

BUST: He’ll be rusty after taking several weeks off to be with his ailing wife and mother. Also, he hasn’t made the top 10 at Firestone since 2003. There are better picks out there this week.

Anthony Kim (+3300 odds to win)

BOOM: There’s plenty to like about Kim this week. His game is where it needs to be, as he’s made the top 20 in four of his last five starts. He has the distance needed to succeed at Firestone and some of his other ranks – second in birdie average, first in putts per GIR – bode well for his chances of posting low numbers.

BUST: I wouldn’t call Kim a choker per se, but he has struggled on Sundays all year. If he gets to the final pairing with Tiger again – and I think he will – will he wilt once more?

Vijay Singh (+4000 odds to win)

BOOM: He’s the defending champion, so you have to consider his Bridgestone Invitational odds. Thanks to his long drives, he can always compete at Firestone.

BUST: 2009 just isn’t Vijay’s year. He has no top-five finishes and, considering he also had knee surgery a few months ago, you have to wonder if his best days are behind him.

Lucas Glover (+6600 odds to win)

BOOM: It’s always fun to include one deep sports prediction sleeper, and Glover may fit the bill this week. He proved he can hang at tough courses when he won the U.S. Open in June and he’s long off the tee like everyone else on this list.

BUST: Though he stayed hot for a few weeks after his U.S. Open title, Glover has stumbled recently, missing the cut in his last two starts.

Pick: Tiger Woods. This isn’t the week to overthink your pick. He has phenomenal history at this tournament and he’s fresh off a win. It’s smart betting management to play it safe this week.

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1. I am not a “gamer”, per se. And by that I mean that while I enjoy video games, and have at times been quite into EA Sports games like NCAA Football and Madden, as well as 2KSports titles like College Hoops and the MLB 2K series, I’ve also gone entire calendar years without picking up a video game controller.
2. I’ve never owned a copy of any previous Tiger Woods game for any system, though I’ve played it from time to time.
3. I’m not into PS3s or XBOXs. I play the Wii exclusively when I play video games because I love the physical activity required.

And now with that said, you can take my next statement for whatever you feel it is worth: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 for the Wii is the best sports video game experience ever. It has to be. I simply do not see how any other sports video game experience could compare.

I realize that, scientifically speaking, you cannot prove a hypothesis simply by saying that you cannot imagine an alternative; but I’m not trying to be scientific here. I am offering my visceral reaction to my first week of playing Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, based on my relatively limited knowledge of the overall video game landscape.

Allow me to now list of some of the reasons why I am so fond of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 for the Wii, as well as offer you a pretty good deal on the game bundled with the Wii Motion Plus extension that I’m about to discuss:

• Click here: Buy.com Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf 10 Bundle (includes Wii MotionPlus) for $58.99 + FREE SHIPPING! Exp 9/30/09

[Editor's Note: A reader updated me in the comments section that Buy.com may currently be out of stock if you use the link above. I'd still try there first, but if they are out you can always try Amazon at the following link: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 Wii Motion Plus Bundle]

(And for whatever it’s worth, I did not initially write this review with the intention of dropping the above affiliate link. I wrote it because I am madly in love with this game. But once I realized there were affiliate links available, I figured why not. Gotta start adding a few bucks to the coffers here and there to save up for next year’s version!)

The Wii Motion Plus controller extension is like magic

I have played Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 with the regular Wii remote, with the Nerf extension for Wii Sports that turns the Wii remote into an actual physical golf club, and with the Wii Motion Plus extension attached. There is absolutely no comparison. You get a completely different, and absolutely more realistic experience playing with the Wii Motion Plus extension. If you have a draw in your natural golf swing, chances are you will have a draw on Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf 10. I know this because it’s true for me, so just like on a real golf course I have to compensate for it.

(And here’s a tip: make sure when you buy Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 — and you absolutely should buy it — that you get the one bundled with the Wii Motion Plus remote extension. It’s only about $10 extra, but I think costs $24.99 by itself. You really one need one Wii Motion Plus extension too. It’s golf, so only one person can shoot at a time and it’s easy to just use one remote and hand it off after each shot.)

Where you really notice the difference between the Wii Motion Plus extension and playing Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 without it is on the greens.  The precision putting is stunning in its accuracy. To be a good putter in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, you literally grip the Wii remote like you are gripping an actual putter, hold your hands exactly the same as you would a putter, and use the same smooth motion to putt that you’d use on an actual green. It’s a crapshoot without the Wii Motion Plus extension, but with it you can actually feel a little bit of the confidence and competence that the real pros feel when they step up to putt.

I cannot say enough about how realistic the Wii Motion Plus makes the experience.

The Course Selection is sublime

Over the last 36 hours or so, my buddy and I played a 72-hole 1-on-1 challenge and rotated between four different courses: Wolf Creek GC, St. Andrews, Pebble Beach, and TPC Sawgrass. (He beat me by 6 strokes, that bastard. I was down 8 going into the back 9 at Sawgrass, battled back to 3 down with a string of clutch birdies, and then hit my tee shot in the water trying to land it a little too perfectly the island green. Needless to say, I was distraught.)

Among the other courses I can remember being on there off the top of my head: Doral, Bethpage, Turnberry, and a bunch of other British Open, U.S. Open, and TPC courses. There are tons of options, some of which have to be unlocked through the career mode. The only course I did not see that was a noticeable omission was Augusta National, which apparently has never been a part of the Tiger Woods series or any other video game series.

I guess a tradition unlike any other is too great for us mortals to play on a video game. Oh well.

The Player Customization and career modes seem incredible

I couch this statement with “seem” because I have not delved into the career mode yet myself, so I am going off of what I’ve been told by my friend and dad, both of whom have raved about the options and setup of the career mode. Plus, I’ve read in numerous other reviews that it is the most extensive and realistic career mode for any golf game ever…and perhaps even any sports game ever. After I investigate this more myself, I’ll write another post detailing the experience.

I can say that the player creation and customization options are pretty sweet. There are certainly enough facial and physical variables to create a player that looks pretty damn close to yourself or whoever you are modeling. And from kilts and sandals to slacks and golf shoes, you pretty much have every option possible for what you want your player to wear.

Online Options

Here is one of the criticisms I always hear of video games, especially golf video games: why don’t you just go out and play a real round of golf?

Look, I think there are very few people who would say that they enjoy playing Tiger Woods more than they enjoy actually being out there on a course. Absolutely, if I could round up my buddies and shoot over to Pebble Peach for a morning round on a Sunday, we’d all do it in a second.

But guess what? That might happen once in our lifetimes…if we’re lucky; and the truth is, it probably will never happen.

What is realistic is that my friends and I, scattered all across the U.S., could link our Wiis together, wake up on a Sunday morning, and play Pebble Beach while actually having to perform a legitimate golf swing on every shot. Sure, it’s virtual reality…but even the most jaded video game hater would have to admit that that is pretty cool.

And here is the other thing: I’m poor. Not destitute poor, but certainly not unpoor enough to be able to afford greens fees every weekend. What I can afford is the $50-60 bucks for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, which then gives me the ability to play some of the world’s most famous golf courses the way they were meant to be played.

If I stepped out onto the teebox at Pebble Beach tomorrow (assuming I was cool not paying rent for a month so I could afford it), I might shoot a 150. Granted, I suck, and it would still be fun…but I wouldn’t get to attempt some of the majestic approach shots from the fairway that make playing Pebble Beach such a great experience. I’d be in the water or hacking through trees just trying to make it to the green in single digits.

With a round or two of Tiger Woods to get comfortable with the swing mechanics, the distance measurements and suggestions, and the precision putting, you can competently step up from the pro tees and viscerally experience the power and frustration that Major courses bring. It may not be “real”, but it sure is fun. And fun is what video games are all about anyway; Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 just offers the most realistic fun I can possibly imagine.

One other note regarding online play: there are single-day and four-day tournaments going on constantly, which allow you to test your skills against other players from around the world. That’s just badass and something I can’t wait to delve into.

The game, of course, is not perfect. Here are a few quick-hit things that stink:

• You can’t include more than one user-controlled player in career mode. This isn’t a huge deal since I live alone, but would have sucked back in college. However, the improvements that your custom player makes do carry over when you use him or her in exhibition matches.
• There is no way to play an actual tournament with two human players, at least not that I found. My buddy and I wanted to set it up so that we could compete against other players in our 72-hole tournament. But this can only be done in Career mode, and only one player can play. So we just had to keep track of our 18-hole totals from each course ourselves, but it did give us the opportunity to rotate through some of our favorite courses.
• The announcers did not record enough statements. Scott Van Pelt from ESPN is one of them, and I think he may only have three unique statements in total. It’s pretty annoying when you hear “What a rare gem that was!” after you left a five-foot putt for par short.

Really though, those are pretty nit-picky. Overall, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 is an absolutely outstanding game. I’ve been playing all exhibitions with friends so far, so I’m excited to actually delve into the career mode and enjoy the challenge of working my way up to winning Majors. There is no way to quick-sim through stuff, which I like.

The best video games, in my opinion, are ones that are challenging but fair, realistic, and filled with options that allow you to customize your experience as you become more savvy. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 offers all of that and more. Plus, the evolution of Wii sports games brought about by the Wii Motion Plus controller extender catapults the latest Tiger Woods offering into the pantheon of greatest sports video game experience ever.

As far as I am concerned, it’s the greatest.

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* – Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf 10 course screenshot credit: Official Website

* – Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf 10 addressing ball screenshot credit: Sidelineshow.com

* – Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf 10 cover image credit: WiiGolf.net

Golf betting

John Deere Betting Odds – Thursday, July 9

48-year-old Kenny Perry is the defending champion in this event, having beaten Jay Williamson and Brad Adomonis in a playoff last year, and he’s also the betting favorite at +900. Perry is coming off a victory at the Travelers Championship, his second of the year, and when his putter gets hot, it’ll get even easier to make him one of your sports picks.

42-year-old David Toms is right behind him with golf odds of +1400, and the 2001 PGA champion has been on fire this year with seven top-10s in 16 events, and he’s finished second in two of his last three starts. Accuracy is huge for Toms: he leads the Tour in driving accuracy, and he’s sixth in greens-in-regulation.

Steve Stricker is another 42-year-old who seems to have hit their stride later than most, and he shares +1400 golf odds with Toms. You could argue that Stricker has been the most consistent player of the year. In the 12 events where he has reached the weekend, Stricker’s low finish is a 27th-place result at the Memorial, and he finished in the top 10 in half of those events, including a win at Colonial.

Keep an eye on Lucas Glover with your handicapping software, as the 2009 US Open champion has John Deere odds of +1800 this week. Glover hasn’t slowed down since winning at Bethpage Black, as he came in 11th at the Travelers Championship the following week, and then he finished fifth at the AT&T National, which is hosted (and was eventually won) by Tiger Woods. He’s just a 29-year-old pup when you compare him to the aforementioned trio of Perry, Toms and Stricker, but he’s got some confidence thanks to his first major, and even though he missed the cut here last year, he finished 11th in 2007. Watch out for Lucas Glover’s John Deere odds this week.

Here is your relevant schedule and viewing info for the 2009 Players Championship:

• Course: TPC Sawgrass
• Thursday TV: 1:00 – 7:00 ET on the Golf Channel
• Friday TV: 1:00 – 7:00 ET on the Golf Channel
• Saturday TV: 2:00 – 7:00 ET on NBC
• Sunday TV: 2:00 – 7:00 ET on NBC

Let’s take a look at a foursome of picks for this weekend:

Tiger Woods
Players Championship Odds: +285

Although many people expected much better things from Tiger Woods at The Masters, maybe they were just one tournament off. The expectations are always huge with Woods but for this specific tournament, given his 1-for-11 history and given his most recent performance, a lot of bettors aren’t so confident he can win. Just when you start to forget about him, that’s when he gets back in the forefront. Don’t hesitate to take a shot with a motivated Tiger.

Kenny Perry
Players Championship Odds: +2850

The TPC is perfect for ball strikers, which fits Kenny Perry’s bill. A lot of people view his performance at The Masters as somewhat of a disappointment as he left a potential win on the table, but he views it as an overall success. With golfers, confidence is important and, as we all know, when Perry gets hot, it’s usually in stretches.

Zach Johnson
Players Championship Odds: +4850

Zach Johnson might be a surprising pick since he has seemingly struggled more and more at this tournament as the years have passed, but he’s playing pretty well right. The public seems to think he’s reeling after he unraveled in the final round at Quail Hollow but it was really one bad triple-bogey that threw him off. He was the 54-hole leader.

Johnson is a good ball striker who finds about 70 per cent fairways and with a reliable wedge game, he’ll be around on Sunday.

Nick Watney
Players Championship Odds: +6050

Nick Watney isn’t exactly a household name but that’s not relevant. What’s important is that he’s been one of the best golfers on the PGA Tour this year. You might find it hard to believe, but Watney has been in the Top 25 in nine of the 11 tournaments this year with a win at The Buick Invitational and a second place finish at Doral.

His accuracy leaves a bit to be desired, which is why he’s such a long shot, but he drills it off the tee, which should be a real help this week.

button machine

Before we break down the 2009 PGA Tour schedule, lets highlight the Majors and a few other important links and bits of information.

2009 PGA Tour Schedule Information

• Official Website: PGA Tour
• PGA Tour FedEx Cup: PGA Tour Regular Season FedEx Cup Points
• Rankings: Official World Golf Rankings
• 2009 Masters: April 9 – April 12
• 2009 U.S. Open Championship: June 18 – June 21 | Buy U.S. Open Tickets
• 2009 British Open: July 16 – July 19 | Buy British Open Tickets
• 2009 PGA Championship: August 13 – August 16 | Buy PGA Championship Tickets
• 2009 TOUR Championship: September 24 – September 27 | Buy Tickets to the TOUR Championship
• 2009 Presidents Cup: October 8 – October 11 | Buy Presidents Cup Tickets
• Travel Deals and Assistance: Travelocity: Flight + 3 Night Hotel Vacations from $299

2009 PGA Tour Schedule: Dates, Locations, TV Schedule, Purses, Tickets

Date	Tournament	Location	TV / Winner	Purse	Score / Tickets
1/8 - 1/11	Mercedes-Benz Championship	Maui, HI	Geoff Ogilvy	$1.12 M	268 (-24)
1/15 - 1/18	Sony Open in Hawaii	Honolulu, HI	Zach Johnson	$972 K	265 (-15)
1/21 - 1/25	Bob Hope Classic	Bermuda Dunes, CA	Pat Perez	$918 K	327 (-33)
1/29 - 2/1	FBR Open	Scottsdale, AZ	Kenny Perry	$1.08 M	270 (-14)
2/5 - 2/8	Buick Invitational	Torrey Pines	Nick Watney	$954 K	277 (-11)
2/12 - 2/16	AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am	Pebble Beach, CA	Dustin Johnson	$1.098 M	201 (-15)
2/19 - 2/22	Northern Trust Open	Riviera CC in CA	Phil Mickelson	$1.134 M	269 (-15)
2/26 - 3/1	WGC - Accenture MP	Gallery Golf Club in Marana, AZ	Geoff Ogilvy	$1.4 M	N/A
2/26 - 3/1	Mayakoba Golf Classic	Riviera Maya, Mexico	Mark Wilson	$648 K	267 (-13)
3/5 - 3/8	The Honda Classic	Palm Beach Gardens, FL	Y.E. Yang	$1.008 M	271 (-9)
3/12 - 3/15	WGC - CA Championship	Doral - Miami, FL	Phil Mickelson	$1.40 M	269 (-19)
3/12 - 3/15	Puerto Rico Open	Rio Grande, P.R.	Michael Bradley	$630 K	274 (-14)
3/19 - 3/22	Transitions Championship	Palm Harbor, FL	Retief Goosen	$972 K	276 (-8)
3/26 - 3/29	Arnold Palmer Invitational	Bay Hill in Orlando, FL	Tiger Woods	$1.08 M	275 (-5)
4/2 - 4/5	Shell Houston Open	Humble, TX	Paul Casey	$1.026 M	277 (-11)
4/9 - 4/12	The Masters	Augusta, GA	ESPN/CBS	$7 M
4/16 - 4/19	Verizon Heritage	Hilton Head, SC	CBS / TGC	$5.7 M	Buy Verizon Heritage Tickets
4/23 - 4/26	Zurich Classic of New Orleans	Avondale, LA	CBS / TGC	$6.3 M	Buy Zurich Classic Tickets
4/30 - 5/3	Quail Hollow Championship	Charlotte, NC	CBS / TGC	$6.5 M	Buy Quail Hollow Tickets
5/7 - 5/10	The Players Championship	TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL	NBC / TGC	$9.5 M	Buy Tickets to The Players Championship
5/14 - 5/17	Valero Texas Open	San Antonio, TX	CBS / TGC	$6.5 M	Buy Valero Open Tickets
5/21 - 5/24	HP Byron Nelson Championship	Irving, TX	CBS / TGC	$6.5 M	Buy Byron Nelson Tickets
5/28 - 5/31	Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial	Fort Worth, TX	CBS / TGC	$6.2 M	Buy Crowne Plaza Invitational Tickets
6/4 - 6/7	The Memorial	Dublin, OH	CBS / TGC	$6.0 M	Buy Tickets to The Memorial
6/11 - 6/14	St. Jude Classic	TPC Southwind - Memphis, TN	CBS / TGC	$6.1 M	Buy St. Jude Classic Tickets
6/18 - 6/21	U.S. Open Championship	Bethpage in Farmingdale, NY	ESPN / NBC	$7.5 M	Buy U.S. Open Tickets
6/25 - 6/26	Travelers Championship	TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, CT	CBS / TGC	$6.0 M	Buy Travelers Championship Tickets
7/2 - 7/5	AT&T National	Congressional CC in Bethesda, MD	CBS / TGC	$6.0 M	Buy AT&T National Tickets
7/9 - 7/12	John Deere Classic	TPC Deere Run in Silvis, IL	CBS / TGC	$4.3 M	Buy John Deere Classic Tickets
7/16 - 7/19	British Open Championship	Turnberry in Ayrshire, Scotland	ABC / TNT	$8.6 M	Buy British Open Tickets
7/16 - 7/19	U.S. Bank Championship	Milwaukee, WI	TGC	$4.0 M	Buy U.S. Bank Championship Tickets
7/23 - 7/26	RBC Canadian Open	Glen Abbey GC in Ontario, Canada	CBS / TGC	$5.1 M	Buy Canadian Open Tickets
7/30 - 8/2	Buick Open	Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, MI	CBS / TGC	$5.1 M	Buy Buick Open Tickets
8/6 - 8/9	WBC - Bridgestone Invitational	Firestone CC in Akron, OH	CBS / TGC	$8.5 M	Buy Bridgestone Invitational Tickets
8/6 - 8/9	Legends Reno-Tahoe Open	Montreux CC in Reno, NV	TGC	$3.0 M	Buy Reno-Tahoe Open Tickets
8/13 - 8/16	PGA Championship	Hazeltine Nation GC in Chaska, MN	CBS / TNT	$7.2 M	Buy PGA Championship Tickets
8/20 - 8/23	Wyndham Championship	Sedgefield CC in Greensboro, NC	CBS / TGC	$5.2 M	Buy Wyndham Championship Tickets
8/27 - 8/30	The Barclays (FedEx Cup)	Jersey City, NJ	CBS / TGC	$7.5 M	Buy Tickets to The Barclays
9/4 - 9/7	Deutsche Bank Championship (FedEx Cup)	TPC of Boston in Norton, MA	NBC / TGC	$7.5 M	Buy Tickets to the Deutsche Bank Championship
9/10 - 9/13	BMW Championship (FedEx Cup)	Cog Hill in Lemont, IL	NBC / TGC	$7.5 M	Buy BMW Championship Tickets
9/24 - 9/27	The TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola	East Lake GC in Atlanta, GA	NBC / TGC	$7.5 M	Buy Tickets to the TOUR Championship
10/1 - 10/4	Turning Stone Resort Championship	Atunyote GC in Vernoa, NY	TBA	$6.0 M	Buy Tickets to the Turning Stone Resort Championship
10/8 - 10/11	The Presidents Cup	Harding Park GC in San Francisco, CA	TGC		Buy Presidents Cup Tickets
10/15 - 10/18	Justin Timberlake Shriners Open	TPC Summerlin GC in Las Vegas, NV	TBA	$4.2 M	Buy Shriners Open Tickets
10/22 - 10/25	Frys.com Open	Grayhawk GC in Scottsdale, AZ	TBA	$5.0 M	Buy Frys.com Open Championship
10/29 - 11/1	Viking Classic	Annandale GC in Madison, MS	TBA	$3.7 M	Buy Viking Classic Tickets
11/12 - 11/25	Children's Miracle Network Classic	Magnolia GC in Lake Buena Vista, FL	TBA	$4.7 M	Buy Childrens Miracle Network Classic Tickets
	*CC - Country Club	*GC - Golf Club	*TGC - The Golf Channel

And the following widgets (assuming the show up…it may not if you are using Internet Explorer) will keep you up-to-date with the latest PGA Tour news and scores: