If you really want to, you can place a wager on Haraldur Magnus to win this week’s Open Championship at +150000.
If you’ve got a hunch, you can bet Kawamura Masahiro at -145 over Masanori Kobayashi.
And if you’re making those plays, you might as well throw a few bucks down on a hole-in-one (even-money), a playoff (+300) and a single-round score under 63.5 (+105).
Yes, there are plenty of propositions to bet for this tournament — all of which got me thinking about the ones we’re missing.
Here are some bets that aren’t on the board this week … yet.
Prop: Longest drive of the tournament: 475.5 yards
Odds: Over +130/Under -110
This number might sound wayyy too high until you see Dustin Johnson hit a belt-high stinger and watch it roll like David Simms’ driving range shot in Tin Cup.
The smart money says: Take the over. Even if it doesn’t hit, it’ll be fun rooting for a guy to blast one five bills.
Prop: Highest recorded wind gust: 26.5 mph
Odds: Over -110/Under even
Initial reports from Carnoustie forecast relatively calm conditions for the week, which is obviously no fun. Let’s hope Mother Nature packed her leaf blower.
The smart money says: Forecast, shmorecast. This is Scotland. Nae wind, nae golf. Hammer the over.
Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Prop: First player to whine about unfairness between early/late tee times.
Odds: Ian Poulter even/Bubba Watson +120/Jordan Spieth +150/Sergio Garcia +175
Yup, there’s a good chance that, say, the Thursday morning wave gets calm conditions before it starts blowing in the afternoon, then it continues blowing hard Friday morning before settling down for the late wave.
The smart money says: This feels like a case of Bubba being Bubba.
Prop: Number of “Baba Booey!” screams from Scottish golf fans: 0.5
Odds: Over: +220/Under -290
Ahh, it’ll be nice to sit back and watch some golf without a few idiots trying to make themselves heard after every tee shot.
The smart money says: Sure, an American spectator might sneak in a “Fish and Chips!” here and there, but there’s more restraint at The Open than anyplace not named Augusta National.
Phil Mickleson practises for #TheOpen and as fate would have it, the scoreboard reminds him of his Shinnecock episode @BBCSport#bbcgolf@iaincartergolfpic.twitter.com/0GQQDdBXhw
— Shourjo Sarkar (@radiosarks) July 18, 2018
Prop: Will Phil Mickelson break one of the Rules of Golf?
Odds: Yes +220/No -300
Lefty is now 2-for-2 in committing a rule violation in his past two starts. You know what they say: Bad things happen in threes.
The smart money says: It’s bound to happen. I mean, golf has soooo many damn rules.
Prop: Will Phil Mickelson break one of the Rules of Golf on purpose?
Odds: Yes +500/No -750
Hey, if you’re going to break a rule, might as well use it to your advantage, right?
The smart money says: You know Phil’s eyes will light up at the idea of a 5-1 prop.
Prop: Number of times the TV broadcast will show Jean Van de Velde’s heart-wrenching final-hole triple-bogey from the 1999 Open at Carnoustie: 7.5
Odds: Over: +120/Under -110
It’s been 19 years, but the video of Van de Velde’s untimely leaderboard demise is still the equivalent of a golf snuff film.
The smart money says: Come on, you know TV producers love a little schadenfreude. This number could reach double digits.
Prop: Number of times Tiger Woods laments the slow greens: 9.5
Odds: Over -130/Under +150
“Man, I hit it great all day, but I just couldn’t get my feels on these greens…”
The smart money says: This number might seem high, but remember, Tiger usually does about four to five different post-round interviews — and he says the exact same thing in each one of 'em.
Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Tiger Woods
Prop: Number of times Rory McIlroy hits driver off the tee: 35.5
Odds: Over -110/Under even
Like his fellow big hitters, McIlroy has hinted that he’ll bang driver around Carnoustie to avoid the bunkers and take his medicine if his ball lands in the rough.
The smart money says: Take the under. He’s stubborn, but he’s not that stubborn. By the weekend, expect a different strategy.
Prop: Number of times Rory McIlroy regrets hitting driver off the tee: 18.5
Odds: Over -110/Under even
Some are already questioning the game plan, insisting that there won’t be many birdies made from the not-so-thick stuff this week.
The smart money says: The under again. Hey, he can’t regret hitting driver if he stops hitting it.
Prop: A non-golf-loving spouse or friend will walk into the room while you’re watching The Open, hear the words “Barry Burn” and ask who that guy is
Odds: Off the board
For this week only, I'll be writing under the pseudonym Barry Burn.
The smart money says: It’ll happen. Just wait for it.
