Outright plays (2 units):
Tom Watson to win 12/1 e.w. @ Paddy Power
With Irwin's withdrawal from the event with back injury, Watson's chances of victory this week have significantly improved. He has always thrived on tough courses and continued to do so in the U.S. Open two weeks ago when he finished 28th, having been the 1st round leader. That was an emotional week with Bruce Edwards and has promised his caddy a win before he has to give up caddying. He didn't manage it two weeks ago, but he could make good on that promise on a course on which he finished 5th in the 1993 PGA Championship.
Larry Nelson to win 20/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Nelson also made the cut that week, but he was past his prime and his two PGA Championship wins had been in the 1980s. He is still in his prime for this Tour though, having finished 2nd three times already this season and finished in the top-10 in his last three events. He has yet to win a Senior major, but had been in the final group in the 2001 U.S. Senior Open only to fall back to 7th, a position he repeated last year. He has finished 2nd in the other three Senior majors and is more than capable of bettering that in this event.
Doug Tewell to finish in the top-four 10/1 e.w. @ Centrebet
"Never win the week before a major" is a famous saying as there will be a letdown effect, but still can't pass up these odds for another top-four finish. Before winning last week, he finished 5th in the Senior PGA Championship and had been in contention several times recently before his win. That meant he had finished in the top-5 in four of the last nine Senior majors, including victory in the 2001 Tradition. The emphasis on accuracy should suit his game and providing the hangover from last week is short, he will have a far better than 10/1 chance of contending again this week.
Tom Watson to win 12/1 e.w. @ Paddy Power
With Irwin's withdrawal from the event with back injury, Watson's chances of victory this week have significantly improved. He has always thrived on tough courses and continued to do so in the U.S. Open two weeks ago when he finished 28th, having been the 1st round leader. That was an emotional week with Bruce Edwards and has promised his caddy a win before he has to give up caddying. He didn't manage it two weeks ago, but he could make good on that promise on a course on which he finished 5th in the 1993 PGA Championship.
Larry Nelson to win 20/1 e.w. @ BetInternet
Nelson also made the cut that week, but he was past his prime and his two PGA Championship wins had been in the 1980s. He is still in his prime for this Tour though, having finished 2nd three times already this season and finished in the top-10 in his last three events. He has yet to win a Senior major, but had been in the final group in the 2001 U.S. Senior Open only to fall back to 7th, a position he repeated last year. He has finished 2nd in the other three Senior majors and is more than capable of bettering that in this event.
Doug Tewell to finish in the top-four 10/1 e.w. @ Centrebet
"Never win the week before a major" is a famous saying as there will be a letdown effect, but still can't pass up these odds for another top-four finish. Before winning last week, he finished 5th in the Senior PGA Championship and had been in contention several times recently before his win. That meant he had finished in the top-5 in four of the last nine Senior majors, including victory in the 2001 Tradition. The emphasis on accuracy should suit his game and providing the hangover from last week is short, he will have a far better than 10/1 chance of contending again this week.
