Vegas gets it right

The sports book in Vegas finally got something right. When I first checked the odds for the Masters winner a few months ago, a familiar name (as usual) was sitting atop the list: Tiger Woods. No matter how much his game has fallen apart, and no matter how much he struggled to put it back together, Vegas was still all-in on Woods.

Last week, Woods was an 8/1 favorite take the tournament. Phil Mickelson, another Vegas favorite for major tournaments was at 10/1 odds.

Finally, Mickelson has dethroned woods in one aspect of golf rankings. Following a win at the Shell Houston Open (his 39th victory on the PGA Tour), Mickelson is now an 11/2 favorite, overtaking Woods who is now at 8/1 odds.

I’ve said it before, but Vegas thinks your stupid. Vegas thinks you’re an uninformed golf fan and wants your money. That’s how it draws up the lines and places them before you - always with the idea that you’ll bet with your heart, not your head. Woods is no longer a safe bet until he proves he is again. From now on, let’s remember that, even if Vegas taunts us. Don’t bite.

More odds from Sportsbook.com: The Field 12/1; Nick Watney 15/1; Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Dustin Johnson 20/1; Aaron Baddeley, Bubba Watson, Hunter Mahan, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald 25/1.

Mickelson vaults Woods in World Golf Rankings

It’s been a big week for Mickelson since winning his warm-up tournament for the Masters on Sunday. Mickelson was unable to win the right tournaments at the right time to overtake Woods for the No. 1 spot in the World Golf Rankings (especially last year), but the time has come. Not at the No. 1 position, but overall nonetheless.

Mickelson is now ranked No. 3 in the WGR, while Woods now sits in the worst position he has found himself at since being No. 13 before the 1997 Masters. All of the Mickelson passing Woods talk may seem a bit stale, and it may not mean much to Woods, but it’s a momentum booster for Mickelson. After the past 12 months he’s had, with his wife and mother battling cancer, an illness for his son, and arthritis hindering his play, it’s no question he’ll take any edge he can get. 

The biggest news regarding the WGR may be Mickelson passing Woods, but there is bound to be a lot more talk about the WGR after Sunday. Six golfers have a chance to take over the No. 1 spot after Sunday, including: Mickelson, Woods, current No. 1 Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell.

As a three-time Masters champion (2004, 2006, 2010), Mickelson is no doubt the favorite right now to conquer Augusta National and grab a fourth green jacket. A win would tie him with Woods and Arnold Palmer at four.

It seems so long ago that Mickelson was the best to never have won a major championship, but the vision of him sinking his putt on No. 18 and doing an awkward celebratory jump with arms raised high is unforgettable.

Don’t be surprised to see a similar celebration on Sunday.

PGA Tour Masters Power Rankings