Picking Golf Winners – Northern Trust Open

Dustin Johnson shot 15 under to win the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. It was a terrific showing by Johnson. He wasn’t one of the favorites in the BetOnline Sportsbook, but that’s what makes golf betting so interesting.

It’s never easy to find the winner which is the reason that taking short odds on a golfer is always counter-productive.

Will another long shot win this weekend’s Northern Trust Open? Or, will one of the favorites take down the top prize? The Northern Trust Open will be held at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, CA for a purse of $6,300,000.

Let’s analyze the best wagering options.

Golf: Northern Trust Open To Win

1. Phil Mickelson +1500 – - 15 to 1 on Lefty to win the same tournament he won last season is fantastic. Phil has been terrible so far this year, but I suspect he’ll make a nice turnaround in the Northern Trust. This is the time to bet the chalk because the golf odds are good enough and it’s on a course he’s had success playing. I like Phil to bring home the winner’s share of the purse.

2. Mike Weir +1500 – - Weir was oh so close at Pebble Beach finishing second to Dustin Johnson. Weir has been sensational so far this year making the cut in every tournament but one and playing lights out to finish in the top ten in almost all of the tournaments he’s played in. He’s going to come through very soon. He’s worth a play if you don’t believe in Lefty.

3. Kenny Perry +2500 – - So Kenny took it easy out there at Pebble Beach. No worries. That just means he bounces back like the terrifically consistent golfer he is in the NTO. He can make some one very happy at the odds of +2500. Perry’s a solid wager.

4. Jim Furyk +2000 – - Furyk didn’t do so well at Pebble Beach. That’s not like him. Usually, Jim is a solid top ten guy, but Pebble Beach really got to him. I see him bouncing back, like Perry, in this and making a run for the winner’s prize.

5. Vijay Singh +2000 - – Singh usually doesn’t heat up until the spring, but he won’t be golfing against a star-studded line-up. With Tiger still on the bench and Phil and Padraig having their problems, Vijay could sneak in a victory.

6. Padraig Harrington +1500 – - Speaking of Padraig, when is the real mad Irishman going to show-up? The two time major winner of 2008 hasn’t even come close so far this year. No worries. He’s got the skills, everybody knows that, and he’s going to play as hard as possible. It’s only a matter of time before he brings one home.

7. Retief Goosen +2500 – - He finished in the top five at Pebble Beach which is a sign that he could be on the cusp of a victory. At 25 to 1, he’s worth a long look.

Best Long Shots

Justin Leonard +5500 - – It might be too early in the year to call Leonard’s name, but he’s a darn good golfer and the odds are sensational. I’ll take a swing.

Stuart Appleby +8000 – - The NTO is the kind of tournament that could fall into the hands of Appleby who often times flies under the radar and then comes up and takes down a huge prize. 80 to 1 is ridiculous on a golfer this good.

JB Holmes +8000 - – Talk about crazy. Holmes has all of the ability in the world. He just loses concentration once in a while. He too could come up and win this thing.