Golf betting: Grand Slam for Woods?

Empty stockings will not be whistling in the wind at the Woods household this Christmas. By crushing the cream of world golf with an astounding seven-shot win in the Target World Challenge, the peerless Tiger Woods rounded off the year with a tournament record 22 under par and the $1.35m first prize.

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And anyone pondering a New Year's resolution should make it to back the peerless one at 33/1 with Ladbrokes to complete the Grand Slam of Majors next year.

Woods had taken some time out to recharge his batteries with his family and lesser mortals would probably be unfit to swing a club in anger after spending ten weeks with his delectable other half. Nonetheless, we all know that the World No 1 is no mere mortal and, despite the hiatus, he returned to shake off any ring-rustiness by annihilating the field as only he can.

Jim Furyk threatened to give 6/4 Woods backers an uncomfortable ride when he moved to within two shots of the leader after nine holes of the final round, but no sooner was the man with the most bizarre swing in golf on his heels, than Woods roared off into the distance with a final round 68 that left him seven clear of runner-up Zach Johnson.

This summer, Ladbrokes were laying 50/1 about a 2008 Woods Majors Slam, and anyone who took a portion of that pie will not be concerned if there is no sixpence in their slice of Christmas cake.
 

Ladbrokes are still offering 33/1 about Woods cleaning up with all four Majors next year and that still represents considerable value when you bear in mind how, barring accident or illness, skinny his odds will be to win each individual tournament. The nearest other bookie has the same market priced at 20s so it can always be laid off at a later date.

Woods had the distraction of becoming a father this year and despite being slightly out of sorts still managed to win the PGA Championship and come second in the US Open and the US Masters. He was 12th in The Open.

The phenomenon turns 32 on December 30 and, after finishing the year on a high, will be ushering the New Year in with only one thing, apart from his lovely wife, on his mind: taking his Major tally to 17 – just one shy of the record held by the great Jack Nicklaus.

Verdict: 2pts Woods to win 2008 Grand Slam @ 33/1

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