Tiger Woods hasn't won a major since 2008, and despite some recent success he's far from the dominant Tiger Woods whose image his name still conjures up. So why is he at the top of the 2012 U.S. Open odds even now, sitting at 13/2 in our latest report? Here's a guess: Everyone who even thinks about golf betting knows his name, the bookmakers have to react to the likelihood people will use that familiarity to place a bet on him, and they can't afford to pay out on him like they would, say, 20/1 Phil Mickelson if he does win.
A good golfer and a really good name—that's a dangerous combination. It's the same one that drove I'll Have Another's odds down so far in the 2012 Belmont Stakes; that horse wasn't Secretariat, but any casual fan who put some money down was going to put it down on the horse that could win the Triple Crown. Tiger Woods isn't Tiger Woods, anymore, but any casual golf fan who bets on the 2012 U.S. Open is probably going to bet on Tiger Woods, because they remember when he was.
As for you, the non-casual golf fan—well, it just doesn't seem worth it when so many other golfers are being valued more impartially.