Tiger in the spotlight at Masters
By Hank Harris • Apr 7th, 2010 • Category: GOLFThe 2010 Masters Tournament starts Thursday at Augusta National Golf Club (4 pm ET, ESPN), and Tiger Woods may as well be the only golfer on the course.
Not that Woods is a lock to win the tournament – although he is the favorite – but the media spotlight will be squarely shone on him.
The 74th Masters marks Woods’ return to the PGA Tour after a five-month “break.” Woods is a +420 favorite in Masters Betting Odds at JustBet.
World No. 3 Phil Mickelson – Woods’ arch-rival – is next at +750 to win the Masters, followed by the world’s No. 8-ranked player, Ernie Els, at +900.
Els has won two other major tournaments – the U.S. Open (twice) and the PGA Championship – but he has never worn the Green Jacket.
Television ratings for the Masters are expected to be through the roof, quite likely the highest ever for a Masters Tournament, all because of Woods’ return to pro golf.
Woods is playing his first tournament since last November, when he was involved in a car accident and altercation outside his Florida home.
That, in turn, eventually led to revelations of extra-marital affairs, which was followed by a 45-day stay in a rehab facility, apparently for sex addiction.
He did not speak with the news media until he read a prepared statement in February, followed by two television interviews in March, and a full press conference Monday at Augusta.
Woods is still the No. 1 golfer in world golf rankings. He has won four Masters championships, and this will be his 16th Master tournament.
Argentina’s Angel Cabrera is the defending Masters champion.
Hank Harris is a professional writer with more than 25 years experience. He has written on sports betting and gambling for more than a decade of that time. He covers all sports, from the NFL to the NBA to NCAA College.
He is originally from the Boston area and is now based out of Las Vegas.
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