2023 PGA Tour Future Odds: Tiger Woods, First Major Win
Lucky sucker golfers. Not all of them, of course, but just saying there are worse ways to ring in the new year by playing rounds by day, drinking rounds by night, and hitting it around Hawaii for the PGA Tour’s first two stops in 2023.
It all started Thursday, Jan. 5 in Maui – if you must know and therefore become jealous – followed by the Sony Open in Honolulu.
Not bad work if you can get it.
OK, but while the PGA’s best are getting warmed up, we’re going to look ahead at the four majors (The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship).
We’ll break them down in more detail as each one approaches (in order, April, May, June, and July), but to get the golf ball rolling, and before their odds drop like a three-foot putt, there are three golfers you should consider breaking through to win their first major in 2023.
Others have much more favorable odds, of course, including Rory, Scottie and all the usual suspects.
And as far as Tiger goes, let’s get that out of the way. Fore!-get about it.
I have two golf-aficionado friends who watch and follow and play way too much, and they’re both astute when it comes to handicapping golf. One also said the next big thing to watch for is a two-bit coin called Krypto-nite, with a K.
Kidding.
He thinks Woods will compete for a bit in majors this year as he chases Jack’s record, then taper off. The other thinks Tiger’s not even going to make a single cut at any of the major tournaments he plays in this year which is why in most books he’s at +3200-+3500.
I believe in both of them that he’s not winning a major this year.
Stay away.
The odds I’m using here are from DraftKings Sportsbook, which is among our top-rated sports betting sites, including BetMGM and FanDuel. Check out all of our reviews of the many great sites you can use to wager on golf and any other sport.
Three golfers to bet on in 2023 to win a major, and for each, it would be his first time:
Patrick Cantlay (+700)
He’s the fourth-ranked player in the world, his best scores in majors have been solid (Masters - T9: 2019; PGA - T3: 2019; U.S. Open - T14 2022; Open Championship - T8: 2022) and he’s still just 30 years old.
He has the demeanor and the putting to be in the hunt at Augusta in April and that’s where I think he’s a good bet to finally win the big one … unless it’s this next guy:
Tony Finau (+800)
Look, my friends and I are a bit biased as we’re native Utahans, but because he’s so popular with kids and the media and everyone really – he’s one of the most liked people on the PGA Tour – there are many rooting for him. But here’s the deal: Just because his story is remarkable – read where he began compared to those born in California, Florida, and elsewhere – doesn’t mean that he hasn’t also been knocking on the Butler Cabin door for years. Finau finished T-35 last year at The Masters, but he’s also had three top-10 finishes there.
Kid, you say? Yeah, that’s true. He’s 33 now but guess what? Fun stat: The average age of a PGA Tour player winning his first major, according to the PGA, is roughly 32 years and 143 days old.
Viktor Holland (these odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
My two sources and I both think this slight (5’10, 165), mighty 25-year-old Norwegian is due for a major win anytime soon.
Why? Because his ball-striking is impressive from tee to irons … and then are concerns about his chipping and putting.
But he looks like he might put it all together in 2023. His odds to win The Masters (+2800) and the PGA Championship (+3200) are clearly great.
Where he’s expected to shine most, though, is at the U.S. Open and the Open (British Championship). Odds aren’t posted for those two events yet. Keep an eye on those as the year moves along and we’ll post ‘em as each tourney gets closer but take those three at the odds that are available now.
