MASTER TIGER

Tiger Wood’s victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the Bay Hill course ensured that he would start as favourite for this months Masters tournament at the Augusta National course. And why not? A winning score of 5 under par at Bay Hill illustrates what a difficult course it is: and who is the world’s best at playing difficult courses? Tiger Woods, of course.  Padraig Harrington may disagree, pointing to victories in the last two majors, both of which were on courses set up to be as difficult as possible, but even he reckons that Augusta is the daddy of them all, claiming “If you can play golf around Augusta, there isn’t a course in the world that you can’t play”.

I am an unashamed admirer of both Harrigton and Woods, both of whom are dedicated to their sport, of which they are ideal ambassadors. Although the Masters can never be described as a two-horse race, they will probably be first and second favourites. Which one would I bet on to win? My heart says Harrington, to put him on course for a modern Grand Slam (winner of all four majors in a calendar year, a feat only achieved by Woods himself). My head says to put my money on Tiger Woods So to be fair to both, I’m going to have an each-way bet on each of them.

Tags: Arnold Palmer, Augusta National, Bay Hill, Tiger Wood, Tourn