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Stenson leads '09 season-opener in China
Golf Betting Lines
11/06/2008 - Shanghai, China (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Henrik Stenson fired a seven-under 65 to take the first-round lead Thursday at the HSBC Champions tournament, the European Tour's first event of the 2009 season.
Defending champion and world No. 2 Phil Mickelson led a four-way tie for second place at six-under 66. Joining him were world No. 3 Sergio Garcia, No. 8 Anthony Kim and No. 16 Adam Scott.
The star-studded field of 77 players took to Sheshan International Golf Club for the traditional early start to the European Tour's new season.
It kicked off the circuit's new Race to Dubai, the season-long money scramble that replaces the Order of Merit and ends in the most lucrative tournament in golf, the $10 million Dubai World Championship.
Robert Karlsson, who locked up his first Order of Merit title at last week's Volvo Masters -- the end of the 2008 season -- hit the first tee shot Thursday to kick off the new campaign. He finished with a 69 to share 14th place, and later spoke about beginning the tour's new season-long race.
"It is really exciting to start something new like this and it is a great honor to be the person given the chance to kick off this thrilling period in the European Tour's history," said Karlsson.
Ten of the top 20 players in the world rankings are on hand this week for a tournament that's being described by some as "Asia's major." The purse is $5 million, drawing the likes of Mickelson, Garcia, Scott and reigning British Open and PGA champion Padraig Harrington.
But it was Stenson, the five-time European Tour winner, who held the lead after a first round that included an eagle, six birdies and just one bogey.
Nearly all of the action in the 32-year-old Swede's round occurred on the first eight holes. He started off with a bogey on the first hole, but rebounded in a big way with an eagle at No. 2 and three consecutive birdies following that.
Stenson went on to birdie No. 8 to make the turn in just 31 shots, but he soon slowed down. Playing in a light fog and steady rain, Stenson collected six straight pars to start the back nine before making birdie at two of his last three holes to take the lead.
"It was a good day," said Stenson, "especially because I haven't been playing very good lately with the longer clubs."
Stenson wasn't the only player who took advantage of the front side of the course. Like the Swede, both Mickelson and Kim were able to pick up eagles at the 550-yard second hole.
Mickelson, Kim and Scott each stumbled to bogeys in the rounds, while Garcia was able to make it around the course without one. The third-ranked Spaniard has a mathematical shot to supplant Mickelson at No. 2 in the rankings behind injured Tiger Woods, although it would take a top-three finish coupled with a poor finish from Mickelson for that to happen.
With his good start Thursday, Mickelson -- who won in a three-way playoff last year for only his second career victory outside the United States -- looked unlikely to stumble that badly.
Marc Cayeux and Oliver Wilson shared sixth place behind Mickelson's group at five-under 67.
Overall, there were 27 players within five shots of Stenson's lead, including notables Ian Poulter (68), Harrington (69) and Geoff Ogilvy (70).
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kobe Bryant didn't shoot the lights out but recorded a game-high 27 points as the Lakers put on a defensive clinic in the fourth quarter to keep the Clippers winless with a 106-88 decision. Bryant shot 8-
<< Romo returns to practice
Irving, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, who has
missed the last three games with a fractured pinkie on his throwing hand,
returned to practice Wednesday and is optimistic to play in the team's next
contest
<< Jackson, Warriors hold off Nuggets
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Stephen Jackson scored a game-high 29 points
and dished out seven assists, leading the Golden State Warriors to a 111-101
victory over the Nuggets in Denver's first game since the trade of Allen
Iverson
<< Martin, Kings top Grizzlies to earn first win of the season
Sacramento, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Martin poured in 33 points and the
Kings finally broke in the win column by holding on to capture their home
opener, 100-95, over the Memphis Grizzlies.
John Salmons tallied 21 points and n
<< Okur leads Jazz over Blazers
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mehmet Okur had 22 points and nine to
lead Utah in a 103-96 triumph over Portland, which gave Jazz coach Jerry Sloan
his 999th win with the franchise.
Sloan is now just one victory shy from becoming t
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers attempt to rebound from their worst performance of the young season in the conclusion of a quick two-game road swing through the state of Florida when they invade Orlando to face the Magic at Amwa
Rockets ready to blast off in Portland >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Rockets will attempt to rebound from their
first loss of the season when they embark on a five-game road swing by
visiting the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden.
Boston's Ray Allen scored
Flames welcome Preds to Calgary >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Calgary Flames will try to avoid their first
three-game losing streak of the season tonight, when they welcome the
Nashville Predators for a battle at the Saddledome.
Before dropping their last two contests, the Flames
Coyotes stay up north to battle Canucks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes will try to keep heading in the right
direction when they visit the Vancouver Canucks tonight at General Motors
Place.
The Coyotes began the season on a two-game winning streak, but haven't
strung toge
Kings, Panthers both aim to halt skids in LA >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of struggling teams will try to halt lengthy
losing streaks tonight, as the Los Angeles Kings welcome the Florida
Panthers for a battle at Staples Center.
The Kings have lost their last five games, grabbing two poin
Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup
September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com. The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans.
Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to name a few. Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR. They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.
The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer. Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.
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Ryder Cup Odds| Europe Tie USA |
4-5 10-1 6-5 |
Ryder Cup Top US point scorer
| Tiger Woods Jim Furyk Phil Mickelson Chris DiMarco David Toms Stewart Cink Chad Campbell Scott Verplank Zach Johnson Vaughan Taylor JJ Henry Brett Wetterich |
9-4 4-1 5-1 7-1 8-1 12-1 15-1 15-1 25-1 30-1 30-1 50-1 |
Ryder Cup Top European scorer
| Sergio Garcia Luke Donald Padraig Harrington Colin Montgomerie Darren Clarke David Howell Lee Westwood Paul Casey Henrik Stenson Jose Maria Olazabal Paul McGinley Robert Karlsson |
5-1 5-1 6-1 13-2 8-1 9-1 9-1 11-1 12-1 12-1 20-1 25-1 |
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com
Teams that should be in: Michigan State, Indiana
Work left to do: Illinois, Purdue, Michigan, Iowa
Behind the big two, the pecking order might be in a bit of flux. Has Michigan State passed Indiana after handling the Hoosiers in East Lansing? Where is Illinois in that mix? What looked like a four-big league last week could be morphing into five -- and even six is not unthinkable at this point if everything breaks right.
Should be in:
Michigan State [21-8 (8-6), RPI: 20, SOS: 15] The Spartans made it four-for-four on the homestand, a gigantic accomplishment that leaves them in extremely good shape. MSU is only 1-6 on the road and is at Michigan and at Wisconsin to close things out, meaning the date with the Wolverines on Tuesday looms very, very large. Beating Texas early will hold up well, as will the rout of Bradley and the win over BYU, but will 8-8 be enough? It very well could be, as the computer numbers are good, but why chance it?
Indiana [18-9 (8-6), RPI: 24, SOS: 32] Hmm ... good thing the last two are at Northwestern and home to Penn State, because IU might want to get both to feel completely safe after dropping its third in the last four, fading after halftime at Michigan State. Who knew the best nonconference win would be over Southern Illinois, which is a gift that keeps on giving for the Hoosiers. The win over Wisconsin also looks good on the mantel.
Work left to do:
Illinois [21-9 (9-6), RPI: 31, SOS: 25] A good performance at Penn State leaves the Illini in pretty good shape. Can they go to Iowa and take care of business to really look on their way? That's a huge game, as there is a possible cluster of teams that will end at 9-7. Illinois beat Bradley, but has lost to Xavier. A 9-7 mark and a semifinals trip in Chicago could be enough with the computer profile hanging in there, but it would be better not to mess around, clinching at least a tie for third.
Purdue [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 47, SOS: 28] Couldn't get it done at Iowa, but did win at Northwestern to put 9-7 squarely in sight. Where does that leave the Boilermakers, though? Even if they beat Minnesota and Northwestern at home, that won't help the computer numbers. Nonconference wins over Virginia, DePaul and Oklahoma are solid, but not spectacular. The Boilers very well might need an upset in the B10 quarters to have a legit claim.
Michigan [19-10 (7-7), RPI: 55, SOS: 53] Well, Michigan did what it needed to do, winning at Minnesota to take control of its fate. The Wolverines have Michigan State and an already-wrapped-up-the-league Ohio State at home to close, so the chances are there. Win both and we can talk. There is no marquee win yet in the profile, and the Wolverines were splattered in several games against name opponents. A mediocre computer profile fueled by a lack of road wins isn't helping, either.
Iowa [16-12 (8-6), RPI: 80, SOS: 64] For the sake of being complete, we'll add Iowa, this season's Stanford. It's plausible that the Hawkeyes could get to 10-6 (at Penn State, vs. Illinois left), but where does that leave them after a gruesome nonconference performance where the best win was over ... Toledo? Iowa State? Cornell?? If they get to 10-6, we can start to look at what they need to do in the B10 tourney, although my gut sense is that they would need to make the final and have knocked off Ohio State or Wisconsin on the way to have any real claim.
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