It’s Tiger Time all the time at Bethpage as the man himself attempts to add the second major to the Masters he won last month.
A win would take Woods to 16 career major championships and halfway towards golf’s Grand Slam.
We all love a tilt at history. But, if we can’t have that, then how about a fat-priced winner on Sunday to make up for a Tiger-sized disappointment?
Here are four players who could do exactly that.
Rory McIlroy – 10/1
Promising Irish golfer, but not as young as he used to be. He has a bit of cash in the bank. Muscles like Thor, swing like Freya and a putting stroke like Hela. (That’s enough Norse mythology, thank you – Ed). The point I’m trying to make is that people – okay, me – have lost boatloads of credibility tipping Rory to win majors these past five years. Enough is enough. That’s it. No more. But just in case, a sneaky little dip at 10/1 might be worth it. Just in case.
Patrick Cantlay – 33/1
Some people will recall the 27-year-old American’s brief appearance in the smash hit television show, Tiger Woods’ Big Masters Adventure, where he played the part of a misbegotten professional golfer who lost the ability to walk, speak and swing the club after looking up to find his name at the top of the leaderboard near the 16th green at Augusta on Sunday. As if by magic, first place was soon transformed into a tie for ninth and Cantlay’s facilities were magically restored. Truth is Cantlay is a great player, but he’s too callow to win a Masters. He needs to win a “smaller’ major first – a PGA Championship, for instance.
Paul Casey – 40/1
Time is running out for the man with Popeye arms. The last time a major was played here, the 2009 US Open, Casey was one of the pre-tournament favourites. He, ahem, came up short (translation; missed cut), a disappointment that preceded a steady decline down the rankings, which in turn was accelerated by a casualty ward collection of injuries. He’s back now, though – if not quite to his best, then certainly to a point where a win on Sunday wouldn’t be a surprise. He has the game of a major champion. But, does he have the guts?
Louis Oosthuizen – 50/1
Along with the musical appeal of Post Malone and the colour of Nick Faldo’s hair, the South African’s failure to add a second major to the Open Championship he won in 2010 remains one of the game’s great mysteries. Louis has had four second-place finishes at majors since then. He hasn’t played since the Masters, but is a player capable of just showing up, tuning up and turning it on.
Go for the pin with PaddyPower.com’s golf odds* All odds correct at time of posting.