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Tiger Woods makes his PGA return this weekend as he gears up for the Genesis Invitational in California. Despite his being a longshot to win the event, many are expected to back the golfer at the books.
Oddsmakers believe he’ll be a trendy pick due to his name and odds, but those bookies will be actively rooting against the GOAT at the Riviera Country Club.
As it stands at the time of this writing, Tiger is pegged at +13000 or 130/1 to win the Genesis Invitational. He’s 25/1 to finish top five, and 12/1 to land in the top 10.
Those odds present an opportunity for massive payouts should Woods wind up winning, which will certainly catch the attention of bettors. That’s also the reason the sportsbooks will hope to see his worst this weekend.
Here’s what a spokesperson for BetMGM had to say in a recent interview with the PGA Tour.
“Whenever Tiger plays, now and in the recent past, he is going to attract betting attention. Anything above a three-figure price is likely to attract a lot more this week, because it’s tough to bet against the GOAT at that price. So, we will be expecting him to at least be a liability at the start of the tournament.”
The worst fear of the sportsbooks is that Woods plays well. Action will come in on Tiger regardless of his missed time, course history, or lack of success in recent years. He’ll likely be the most wagered upon longshot in the tournament.
And as of now, a Tiger win would cost Vegas $12,000-$15,000 for every $100 placed on Woods.
He’s has never won this event, but it won’t stop bettors from taking a chance. We’ve seen Tiger Woods win as a longshot in the past, most recently in the 2019 Masters. Still, those odds were nowhere near what they’ll be in California this weekend.
With the temptation of a huge payout looming, bettors will throw some money Tiger’s way. They’ll be the only ones rooting for a Woods win, though.