Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson in PGA Championship Tournament Field
As it stands, both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are set to take part in the 2022 PGA Championship.
Two of the biggest names in golf were included in the PGA Championship field, according to the PGA Tour, and golf betting enthusiasts have to be curious.
Woods Weighing His Options
Woods has not played since finishing 47th at the Masters in April. He reportedly played a practice round at Southern Hills on April 28 as he continues to gauge the health of his knee.
After the Masters, Woods would only commit to playing The Open Championship at St. Andrews. He reiterated his days of playing consistently on the Tour are done, but left open the possibility of playing in the PGA Championship.
“I will try; there's no doubt,” he told Sky Sports at the Masters. “Like this week I will try and get ready for Southern Hills and we'll see what this body is able to do."
Mickelson Also Not So Sure
Mickelson’s absence from the Tour has been self-imposed since he made controversial comments regarding Saudi Arabia and the fledgling Super Golf League.
“They’re scary motherf-----s to get involved with,” he said, according to the Washington Post. “We know they killed (Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi) and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.”
Mickelson surprised many by not attending the Masters, despite being invited to play. Still, he’s managed to stay in the news cycle even with him not playing since January.
In April, Mickelson’s agent announced Mickelson intended to play on LIV Golf Investment’s alternate tour and requested a release from the PGA Tour to play at the first Saudi golf event on June 9. Mickelson’s agent also said then his golfer planned to play the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open at Brookline.
“Phil currently has no concrete plans on when and where he will play,” his agent told Sports Illustrated. “Any actions taken are in no way a reflection of a final decision made, but rather to keep all options open.”
An excerpt from Alan Shipnuck’s upcoming biography on the golfer connected Mickelson’s interest in the high-paying Saudi tour to his gambling losses.
Shipnuck estimates Mickelson lost more than $40 million gambling between 2010-14, making it the first time a figure has been placed on Mickelson’s gambling losses.
Odds for PGA
Woods may push his body to get ready for Southern Hills given his success at the course.
In 2007, he won the PGA Championship when the tournament was held there, beating Woody Austin by two shots for his 14th major title.
Woods is 65/1 at FanDuel Sportsbook to win this year’s PGA Championship and 40/1 at DraftKings.
Mickelson was one of the top sports betting underdogs to win last year when he captured the 2021 PGA Championship as a 300/1 underdog.
For Southern Hills, Mickelson’s odds aren’t quite as long. He’s 80/1 at DraftKings and FanDuel. Mickelson’s best odds can be found at BetMGM, where he’s 125/1.
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