Is Tiger really the favourite at the Chevron World Challenge?

Considering the fact Tiger Woods hasn’t won a tournament all season, it’s a real wonder why he would go off tomorrow as the favourite at the Chevron World Challenge.

It’s a star studded 18-player field and one would expect Tiger to fall short yet again. 

However, he’s been on a consistent roll since early August having not finished outside the top-15 in his last four starts, including a 6th in his most recent outing at the HSBC Champions.

Tiger Woods is still arguably the most talented player on earth.  That may have been enough for the bookmakers, they’ll send the tournament host off as a strong (3-1) favourite.

Behind Woods on the bookies’ board is reigning 2010 PGA Tour player of the year, Jim Furyk.

Furyk had a brilliant year in America racking up three victories capping off the season with a Fedex Cup clinching win at the Tour Championship. 

However, the 40-year old was 64th on the PGA Tour in birdies this year, so it could be a struggle to keep pace with what is figuring to be a birdie barrage at a tame Sherwood Country Club.  The books don’t seem to have similar reservations with Furyk going at (6-1)

A pair of Englishman trail Woods and Furyk as Luke Donald and Ian Poulter are currently betting at (10-1).

Poulter very well could be the objective favourite as he’s easily been the hottest player in the world.  The fan darling most recently finished 2nd at the Dubai World Championships after winning in Hong Kong the previous week.

He put together long bogie-less streaks in both events and if he can start making some birdies he’ll be tough to beat if he doesn’t give anything away.

Although not white hot like Poulter, Luke Donald comes to California playing some very strong golf.  He finished 9th in Dubai and 3rd at the HSBC Champions.  It wouldn’t be a surprise for a talent like Donald to breakthrough this week.

The tournament’s biggest long shot is the (40-1), long hitting Bubba Watson.  This is the same Bubba Watson that lost the PGA Championship to Martin Kaymer in a playoff just months ago.

Furthermore, Watson’s length off the tee could give him a considerable advantage if he keep it on the fairway as he’ll face a layout that barely tops 7000 yards.

Eighteen holes of match play will teach you more about your foe than 18 years of dealing with him across a desk  - Grantland Rice