Bet on Golf - The Buick Open, Warwick Hills
by Brock Murphy
The top-three golfers in the Traveler’s Championship in Connecticut.
However, Jay Williamson (no odds assigned), who lost last weekend’s playoff to Mahan’s miracle pitch-shot, is entered and ready for redemption this weekend at Warwick Hills. So, too, is Charles Howell, III who, currently ranked 5th in the FedEx Cup standings is the highest-ranked golfer in town this weekend.
However, Howell, who ranks 40th on Tour according to its all-around statistic, has had a tough go of it lately. In the seven events he has entered since The Memorial, and had a top finish of 30th (at The Masters). He is a 35:1 longshot this weekend.
As a consequence, it is Jim Furyk who is the odds-on favorite (4:1) to capture his second Buick Open title (he won here in 2003). Furyk has two second-place finishes here, including his three-stroke loss last year to Woods. He has momentum in his favor following a second-place finish at Oakmont two weeks ago and another second-place finish two weeks before that at Colonial.
Furyk is the Tour’s third-most-accurate driver and ranks fifth in scoring. That bodes well as he attacks Warwick Hills, the Tour’s 9th easiest course last season.
Given Warwick Hills relatively modest threats, it could be wise to turn to a crafty veteran in this tournament. Tom Lehman (35:1) has two top-ten finishes in his last three attempts, including a 5th at The Memorial and a 6th last weekend at the Travelers Championship.
Fred Funk is another veteran to keep an eye on. He has steadily improved each of the last three weeks culminating with a fifth-place finish last weekend in Connecticut. The 2nd most accurate driver on tour he also ranks 13th on Tour at scoring (69.86). Warwick Hills could be just what the doctor ordered for Funk (30:1), who finished second here to Woods in 2002. Youngster Bo Van Pelt (30:1) tied for sixth-place last weekend with Lehman. He has eight top-25 finishes this season.
At 14:1, Scott Verplank (12th on the FedEx Cup) has been given the second-best odds this weekend behind Furyk. Kenny Perry is right behind at 18:1.
Verplank won the Byron Nelson and is riding a streak of three straight top-ten finishes (7th, Colonial; 8th St. Jude; 7th US Open). O’Hair missed the cut at the US Open but finished 5th at The Memorial.
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