The Player’s Championship Top Ten

When online sportsbook fans should first decide that they are going to look for good bets, not just betting based on what they believe might happen.

Finding good bets requires taking a hard look at the odds and trying to go for value in wagering.

Such is the case with the wagers that I believe make the most sense for the TPC Top Ten. I love Tiger Woods to win the TPC Sawgrass at +400. I’m not so hot on El Tigre to finish in the Top Ten at -300.

Let’s take a look at my choices to finish in the Top Ten in The Player’s Championship

Golf: The Player’s Championship Top Ten

1. Sergio Garcia +350 - - Sergio hasn’t been having a very good year but that could all change this week when he hits the links for the TPC. Garcia won this tournament in 2008, finished second in 2007, and has three Top 5 finishes in 9 career starts. He’ll be looking to turn his 2009 form around in this.

2. Phil Mickelson -105 - - Lefty’s better than a football wager to get into the Top Ten on a course that he usually plays very well. Mickelson won in 2007 and has four Top 25 finishes in his last five starts at Sawgrass. He should be ready to get into the Top Ten.

3. Sean O’Hair +250 - - 6 Top Tens out of 9 cuts made in 10 tournaments including a victory last week at the Quail Hollow says that O’Hair is really doing well. He also finished 5th at the WGC-Accenture, 13th at the WGC-CA and 10th at the Masters. It adds up to O’Hair stepping it up in the big tournaments. The TPC is a big one.

4. Zach Johnson +500 - - He’s a bit of a long shot but really has been doing well. He has 3 Top Tens this year and finished 11th at Quail Hollow last week. That would have made 4 Top Tens on the season with a victory. He’s also ranked 7th on the money list, 12th in greens hit in regulation, and 14th in driving accuracy. Those are all key stats for Sawgrass. He could surprise at nice odds in this.

5. Henrik Stenson +450 - - The overall 2009 stats aren’t that great with 1 Top Ten finish out of 4 events and that 38th place finish at the Masters wasn’t anything to get excited about, but at Sawgrass, Stenson has been pretty good going 3 for 3 in the Top 25 and finishing in the Top Ten in his last two stints at the TPC. Nobody else has ever done that. He’s never missed the cut at Sawgrass which adds to the appeal.

6. Tiger Woods -300 - - Tiger should finish in the Top Ten at the TPC since he has finished in the Top Ten in 4 of the 5 tournaments he’s played in. He also has a victory in the Arnold Palmer. But at the TPC Tiger hasn’t been all that hot because he hasn’t finished in the Top Ten at Sawgrass in his last 6 starts there.

Best Long Shots

Rocco Mediate +1800 - - At 18 to 1, Mediate has to be considered for a wager in this category. Bettors should note that Mediate finished 22nd at Quail Hollow. That means his game is rounding into form. He should be better this week because he has 6 Top 15 finishes at TPC Sawgrass and hasn’t missed he cut in 6 straight years.