PGA Odds - Mayakoba Classic Deserves Some Attention
by Charles Jay
Most golf bettors might have their attention focused more on the Accenture Match Play, but there is another PGA tournament going on this week that is also deserving of some attention.
It is the Mayakoba Classic, taking place at El Camaleon Golf Club in Quintana Roo, Mexico from Thursday through Sunday. In the golf betting odds, Brian Gay is the favorite at +1000. Coverage can be found on Golf Channel.
PGA Odds
Mayakoba Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun
El Camaleon Golf Club
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico
February 24-27
Purse: $3.7 million
TV Schedule
(all times Eastern)
Thursday, Friday, Saturday - Golf Channel: 6:30-8:30 PM
Sunday - Golf Channel: 7-9:30 PM ET
This year's Mayakoba Classic brings a purse of $3.7 million, with $666,000 going to the winner. That's a little jump over the $3.6 million purse that was awarded in the 2010 tourney. Last year Cameron Beckman, who is +4500 in the PGA odds, took home first prize, which was worth $648,000.
This is the site of what might be the most unique crowd in all of professional golf, because many of them just aren't very familiar with the sport. yes, there are Mexicans in the field, but they aren't highly ranked, so don't expect them listed in PGA betting lines, nor should you look for any favorite sons will be in contention on Sunday.
If there is a countryman they might be pulling for, it is Esteban Toledo, who has played only ten PGA Tour events in the last five years (concentrating mostly in the Nationwide Tour) and made only eight of 24 cuts on THAT tour last year. As part of a publicity stunt for this event, Toledo held a golf lesson for 1073 people simultaneously, which got him in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Let's take a look at the guys who are graded at 50/1 or less:
PGA Odds
To Win Mayakoba Classic
Brian Gay +1000
Aaron Baddeley +1200
Jhonattan Vegas +1500
Rory Sabbatini +1500
Charles Howell +2000
Jerry Kelly +2000
JJ Henry +2000
Spencer Levin +2000
David Toms +2500
Boo Weekley +2500
Fredrik Jacobson +3000
Carl Pettersson +3500
Kevin Stadler +3500
Cameron Beckman +4500
Richard S Johnson +4500
Chad Campbell +5000
This is the first tournament that has been held south of the border, and it's part of the whole master plan on the part of the PGA to expand.
Admittedly the absolute best players in the world are not at this location, but sometimes that makes for a more interesting proposition in the PGA odds. This may be a more democratic tournament than most, in that those players who may not hit so long are not necessarily disadvantaged.
One of them is Fred Funk, who won the first tournament at Riviera-Maya in 2007. Funk was 50 years old at the time, so he already qualified for the Champions (seniors) Tour, so you know that this is a place where a longshot conceivably has a chance.
Another seniors player, John Cook, who is one of the best out there on the Champions Tour, is hopeful of some success, although he is 100/1 in the PGA odds.
This is where Brian Gay captured his first PGA Tour win, three years ago, and he is the favorite this week at +1000, and you know, the player who was the best on tour last week is also in this field.
Aaron Baddeley, who won the Northern Trust Open in the L.A. area, is the second favorite in PGA odds at +1200, and he did that after tying for sixth place at Pebble Beach, so if you are looking for a guy who is on a bit of a roll, he is someone to look very seriously at.
Keep an eye on 26-year-old Spencer Levin as well. Levin was tied for 12th at last week's Northern Trust Open and before that he was a brilliant T-4 at Pebble Beach. Levin is tied for best on the Tour in performance in Par 5's. If he can keep it in the fairway, the course may work to his advantage. He's getting some respect, at +2000 in the PGA odds.
Challenge the PGA betting odds - and win - at BetUS Sportsbook!
