Weekend Review: Bookies take a battering as Tiger returns to winning ways
Tiger Woods completed an astonishing comeback to win the season-ending Tour Championship by two shots this weekend and record his first title win in five years.
The 42-year-old’s victory in Atlanta was his 80th PGA Tour title, but his first since August 2013. Despite this, punters backed Woods heavily after being taken in by the romance of the story.
Less than a year ago he was ranked 1,199th in the world after spinal fusion surgery, the latest in a string of debilitating operations.
“I was having a hard time not crying on that last hole,” Woods told reporters after his victory. “I just can’t believe I’ve pulled this off.”
Congratulations to our boss on winning the Tour Championship today, marking it his 80th PGA Tour victory and a comeback for the ages. – TGR #TW80 pic.twitter.com/A0ZR8WceRc
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) September 23, 2018
The bookies were also left in a state of disbelief with Woods priced at 16/1 pre-tournament by bet365. The operator’s Steve Freeth said: “We’re licking our wounds after Tiger Woods returned to the winners’ enclosure for the first time in five years.
“Well fancied at 16/1 pre-tournament and well backed during, both the pre-game and In-Play traders are miserable after his Tour Championship victory – punters not so.”
BetVictor’s Charlie McCann also revealed a begrudging respect for the American maestro after the operator made a loss on the golf. Ahead of the Ryder Cup this weekend, he said: “Forget the loss – it was just wonderful to have Tiger Woods back where he belongs and his win has teed everything up nicely for Paris this week in what promises to be a betting bonanza.
“Tiger has only been on the winning side once in the Ryder Cup and he is 12/1 to be the top point scorer this weekend,” he added.
Anthony Joshua’s long-awaited return to the ring also dominated the books this weekend after the Londoner delivered a stunning finish to see off Alexander Povetkin and retain his world heavyweight titles at Wembley Stadium.
Bet365’s Freeth said there was plenty of interest in the fight with the operator just about managing to come out on top, similar to AJ, while BetVictor’s McCann told EGR: “The AJ fight was a small loser with round 7 popular in the betting – bet numbers were excellent and there is every chance that AJ v Wilder would capture the betting public’s imagination like no other fight.”
The fight between WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury will take place in December with Joshua eager to face the winner.
Why so serious 🤡😘 pic.twitter.com/NvN8F50uoJ
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) September 23, 2018
In the football, one lucky Betdaq punter scooped £30k after betting under 2.5 goals at odds 3.05 for Arsenal’s home clash with Everton while the biggest shock of the round saw Manchester United draw 1-1 at Old Trafford with newly-promoted Wolves.