Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson: Betting odds and prop bets

Even colors of shirts are an attention-gathering item, proving the importance of this battle. Tiger Woods, 42, and Philip Mickelson, 48, are to compete on Nov. 24 (Korean time) in "The Match" at Shadow Creek Golf Club, Las Vegas. This competition is a match play game - a scoring system where a player gets a point for each hole in which they have bested their opponents. Which player will win the prize money worth nine million dollars: Tiger Woods who has the highest number of titles, 80 including 14 wins for the major championships among the incumbent PGA players, or his competitor Philip Mickelson, second to Woods, with 43 wins – including five for the major championships?

Indeed, all eyes are on the two living legends in golf. Gamblers even batted their money on what the colors of their shirts will be. According to Sports batting company Oddsshark, Tiger Woods is just +300 to wear a red shirt that he normally wears on the last day of tournaments. If you bet 100, you get 300. The white is +300 and the black is +450. The same betting is on Mickelson’s shirt color, too. Other than this bet, bet money is laid on who will win the 1st hole, who will take a longer T shot, and furthermore who will celebrate a hole-in-one.

Befitting the heat being added up before the match starts, caddies of both the golfers are to wear a microphone to assist their players. This will build on excitement on the field. With no golf gallery present, the game is on. You can enjoy the big match for 19.99 dollars, or 22,000 won, in the United States.

There is more chance that Woods will outcompete his leftie counterpart. According to GOLF.com, seven out 11 golf experts project that Woods will become the winner. On Oddsshark, a dividend yield of Wood’s victory is 0.53, lower than Mickelson’s 1.65. According to previous records when the two have been paired together, Woods leads Mickelson with 18 wins, 15 losses and four ties. Of course, the golf ball is round. No one guarantees who wins the game until the two take off their gloves.


Hong-Gu Kang windup@donga.com