Sports Desk

Master Craftsman

He’s is undoubtedly the most talented player of his generation. Even at his tender years he is arguably the greatest golfer of all time and if, over the next decade, he continues to accrue trophies at the rate he did in the previous one, the statistics will bring that argument to an abrupt close.

Tiger Woods says he has come back from his injury stronger than ever and given that his talent means there’s little need for mind-games, we can take that claim at face value. The “Tiger-proofing” designed to limit his advantage at Augusta has largely failed, and although his last Green Jacket fitting came in 2005, he hasn’t finish out of the top three in the intervening years. Assembling all the evidence, the conclusion may be to take what remains of your share portfolio and invest it in something far less volatile than the stock market — like Woods to win this year’s U.S. Masters.

There is a note of caution to sound however. Whilst some punters will go through all the available evidence with a fine tooth comb and decide that backing Tiger is the shrewd move, others will hear Tiger’s name and lump on. Obviously both methods may lead to success, but it serves as a lesson about getting value for money. Tiger’s phenomenal profile attracts a weight of money that makes his price artificially low. A rough calculation of Tiger’s performance in the majors and the perceived improvement in some of his closest rivals would suggest he has a 25 percent chance of victory (3/1 in odds), but come the second Thursday in April, you’ll be hard pressed to get anything in the region of 2/1 (implying a 33 percent chance). The difference may seem fairly minute, but these days the need for value is more pressing than ever.

If you are looking for an outsider who might spring a surprise, Nick Watney could be the man. He has been in scintillating form on the Tour this season, and having finished tied 11th on his debut at Augusta last year, he has course form.

Elsewhere, the new generation steps up to the biggest stage for the first time. Rory McIlory has been spoken about in the same terms as Tiger with regards to prodigious talent, and he makes his U.S. Masters debut. Danny Lee won last year’s U.S. Amateur and more recently became the youngest winner on the European Tour, and Ryo Ishikaw of Japan has been earmarked for a hugely successful career. While it would be folly to recommend betting on any member of the young brigade, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye their progress.

The Right Frame of Mind?

Ronnie O’Sullivan could justifiably lay claim to being the most talented snooker player of his generation, but unless his haul of World Championships increases substantially before he exits the sports, it’s doubtful as to whether he’ll be regarded as the best player of all time.

The most entertaining player of all time is a title almost guaranteed but there is a general air of wasted talent about the “Rocket”. That probably says more about the sheer level of talent O’Sullivan is considered to possess, but backing him at 5/2 to defend his title looks too risky.

Much of O’Sullivan’s game is reliant on his mentality and although in recent years he has seemed more settled, there is the potential for the type of meltdown that has littered his career. O’Sullivan will be the most mercurial talent at the event, but it looks to be very short price when you’re relying on a person’s frame of mind.

Cricket’s Cash Machine

The vast sums of money on offer in the Indian Premier League ensure that the tournament enjoys a profile that goes far beyond the prestige it offers. As a rule, Twenty20 cricket is as immensely entertaining as it is unpredictable. To that end, a bet on Bangalore — the team that Kevin Pietersen will turn out for — looks like value. Aside from Pietersen, they have a strong, well-balanced squad, and although the price of 10/1 ranks them as outsiders, they are as short as 6/1 with some bookies which rates them as joint third favorites. There seems to be a level of uncertainty about the whole tournament that provides real opportunity.