St. Jude Classic – Matchup Betting Picks

Tee-off:  6/11/2009

The St. Jude Classic figures to be a key golf tournament for golfing fans and BetOnline online sportsbook fans.

With the U.S. Open roughly a week away, gamblers should be paying attention to who might be the key players going into the Open this week in the St. Jude.

Tiger Woods has already made his statement by shooting a 65 final round in The Memorial last week.  Will Phil Mickelson or Sergio Garcia do the same in the St. Jude?

Maybe, maybe not, but by betting on matchups, bettors can be assured that they will receive the best odds possible at the highest chance of making profits.

Let’s take a look at the best matchups in this week’s St. Jude Classic.

1. Stephen Ames -130 vs. Brian Gay Ev – - Since his victory in the Verizon Heritage, Brian Gay has withdrawn, missed the cut, and finished 27th in his last three tournaments.  Stephen Ames has finished 49th, missed the cut, and tied for 27th.  So, why is Ames favored over Gay who is ranked 3rd on the tour in driving accuracy?  I have no idea.
   Pick:  Brian Gay at Ev

2. Padraig Harrington +130 vs. David Toms -160 – - Harrington hasn’t quite found his game yet this year.  I expect that to not happen until maybe the British Open where Harrington will be looking for his third straight victory.  Toms, on the other hand, has been brilliant at TPC Southwinds where the St. Jude Classic is held.  He’s finished in the top ten in 6 out of the 7 last times he’s teed off there. 
   Pick:  David Toms at -160

3. Phil Mickelson -145 vs. Justin Leonard +115 – - Both golfers figure to do well this week but Leonard is the defending champion and Mickelson, no doubt, will be using the St. Jude as a prep for Bethpage.  Lefty actually played a round at Bethpage on Tuesday, a day after Tiger did, so we know where his mind is at.  I have to go with Leonard because he will be more focused this week.
   Pick:  Justin Leonard at +115

4. David Toms Ev vs. Justin Leonard -130 – - Leonard is the defending champion but there’s actually no reason for him to be favored this much over David Toms.  Leonard’s best place finish in his last three tournaments was a 5th in the Valero Open.  Toms hasn’t done better than that with a 5th place finish in the Zurich Classic, but he did finish in the top ten at TPC Sawgrass and is always good at TPC Southwinds.  Take the odds.
   Pick:  David Toms at Ev

5. Sergio Garcia -130 vs. Camilo Villegas Ev – - Sergio hasn’t been right so far this year, but Villegas has been downright awful.  Camilo has 3 top ten finishes this year but he was nowhere to be found last week in The Memorial and he’s ranked 90th in driving accuracy.  That’s too bad because hitting the fairways at TPC Southwinds is going to be a lot tougher for him than it was at The Memorial.  Garcia’s game should be rounding into form.
   Pick:  Sergio Garcia at -130

6. Sergio Garcia +110 vs. Phil Mickelson -140 – - Lefty should be ready to get the right shots down a week before the U.S. Open.  He may not win it and his mind no doubt will be on Bethpage Black, but he’s too good of a golfer to not do well at TPC Southwinds.  Garcia?  Beating Villegas is one thing, beating Lefty is quite another.
   Pick:  Phil Mickelson at -140