PGA Insider - Odds to Win the Bob Hope Classic

Mike Weir begins his 2010 at the Bob Hope Classic this week. The Canadian is one of the more respected golfers on the PGA Tour which is one of the reasons he is a +1800 favorite to win the Bob Hope Classic.

That’s right, the Bob Hope Classic is so competitive this week that the favorite is going off at 18 to 1. Weir isn’t the lone favorite. He’s a co-favorite with Ryan Moore who is also going off at +1800. One thing to note is that rains are expected to wash out La Quinta, CA until Saturday. Who knows how the PGA is going to handle that issue.

Let’s take a look at which golfers have a real chance at success in the Bob Hope Classic.

Bob Hope Classic To Win

1. Ryan Moore +1800 - - I like Moore over Weir because of where the second round of the Bob Hope Classic is being held in 2010. Moore didn’t make the cut in last year’s Bob Hope Classic but there’s a reason. The second round of last year’s Bob Hope Classic was held at the Bermuda Dunes Country Club. This year the second round is being held at the La Quinta Country Club. Moore, who finished 6th in the SBS Championship two weeks ago, has been very successful at La Quinta. He shot a 23 under at La Quinta in 2008 to finish tied for 5th in this tournament.

2. Justin Leonard +2000 - - Leonard finished 2nd in 2008 when the second round was played on the La Quinta Country Club Course. He should do better this year and it just feels like Leonard is due for a victory after having a somewhat sub par season last year. Leonard missed the cut in the Sony Open last week. The comfortable confines of the Bob Hope Classic should help him this week.

3. Mike Weir +1800 - - Weir is still one of the better golfers on the PGA Tour. He might not have as much success at La Quinta as he did at Bermuda Dunes, but he is still good enough to beat this field. Weir finished 3rd in the Bob Hope Classic in 2009. Like last year, this will be his first tournament of the season. What it says is that Weir can fire off the bench.

4. Chad Campbell +2000 - - Campbell didn’t too badly in the Bob Hope Classic in 2008, shooting a 10 under. In 2009 he shot a 26 under and finished tied for 9th. Campbell is hitting the ball well, evident by his 8th place finish in the Sony Open last week. If he’s feeling good, he could definitely be right at the top of the leader board come Sunday. With the competition not being nearly as stiff as it was last year when both Steve Stricker and Lucas Glover teed off in the Bob Hope, Campbell is a good bet.

5. Tim Clark +2000 - - Clark finished 25th in the Sony Open last week. It wasn’t a bad tournament for Clark. In 2009, he finished 12th in the Sony Open and then 5th in the Bob Hope Classic and, like I wrote above, he finished 5th against a much tougher field. He should do well in this year’s version of the Bob Hope which means that he warrants betting consideration.

6. Justin Rose +2000 - - Rose finished tied for 12th with an 8 under in the Sony Open last week. He didn’t tee off in the Bob Hope Classic in 2009, but he did have an overall decent season last year, making 15 cuts out of 22 tournaments. Rose could build upon that 12th place finish in the Sony Open and do very, very well in the Bob Hope Classic this week.