Golf Betting – WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship

One of the most unique golf betting events takes place this week in Marana, Arizona. The top 64 players in the world compete in a single-elimination match play tournament, going head-to-head until only one player remains.

The tournament kicks off Wednesday and continues until the bracket comes down to the final two players Sunday. Here’s a look at the top seeds taking the course at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club:

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Tiger Woods

Woods is a three-time WGC Match Play winner but comes into this year’s event ranked No. 3 in the World Golf Rankings – a foreign spot for the long-standing No. 1 player. He is the top seed in the Sam Snead Bracket, matching up with Thomas Bjorn in the opening round. Woods showed flashes of past greatness in Dubai last week but caused more of a stir for spitting on the 12th green than with his play down the stretch. His seeding could have him running into either Geoff Ogilvy or Padraig Harrington in the second round and potentially has a showdown set with No. 4 seed Dustin Johnson, who has been going through some on-and-off-course troubles lately.

Martin Kaymer

Kaymer claimed the top seed in the Gary Player Bracket, setting up a first-round date with Seung-yul Noh of Korea. Kaymer has been one of the hottest players in the golf world this season but admitted to the media that he struggles to stay focused during match play events. Although he is ranked No. 2 in the World Golf Rankings, the 26-year-old German is still not known by casual golf bettors and could hold added value if he can overcome his struggles with the match play format.

Phil Mickelson

Mickelson enter the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at No. 5 in the rankings, placing him atop the Ben Hogan Bracket. Mickelson takes on Aussie Brendan Jones in the opening round and could run into fellow American Rickie Fowler in the second round, setting up a potential collision with No. 4 seed Matt Kuchar in the third stage of the bracket. Mickelson was playing well up until last week’s Northern Trust Open, in which he failed to break 70 through the first three rounds and finished tied for 35th. He did, however, save face with a score of 68 on Sunday.

Lee Westwood

The world’s No.1 golfer should, by seeding, have the easiest path to the WGC-Accenture Match Play Final. But despite his top billing, Westwood meets former Accenture Match Play champ Henrik Stenson, in the opening round and could tangle with Anthony Kim in the second round, Retief Goosen in the third, and possibly No. 2 Steve Stricker in the quarterfinals. Stenson, who got into the field of 64 thanks to a withdrawal by Toru Taniguchi, took the title in 2007 and made it to the semifinals in 2008. There is definite upset betting value in the opening round of the Bobby Jones bracket.