In recent months, Tiger Woods has lost sponsorship deals with the likes of Gatorade, AT&T, Accenture, Gillette and General Motors. So when Irish bookmaker Paddy Power entered in talks with Woods’ management company, IMG, over a $75 million sponsorship deal for his image rights, it looked as if the two would find an agreement.

Reports state that Paddy Power were prepared to pay Tiger the $75 million over the course of 5 years, dependent on his performances, with $5 million up front, as they sought to secure their biggest ever sponsorship deal.

The Irish giant is used to creating enormous publicity through their advertising campaigns, but the $75 million deal would rank way above giving out green umbrellas on Paddy Power Gold Cup Day in November or refunding losing bets if Dunguib wins the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

However, IMG rejected the Paddy Power proposal, most likely because the PGA forbids golfers to have any ties with bookmakers.

Paddy Power are still keen to work with Tiger, and will reformulate their sponsorship proposal in the next few days.

Paddy Power offer the shortest odds about Tiger winning a fifth US Masters title this year – just 3/1.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing golf odds:

US Masters Betting Odds

2010 Ryder Cup Betting Odds

The Open Betting Odds

Maybank Malaysian Open Betting Odds

Mickelson at 18/1 and Furyk at 33/1 follow Woods in the betting, however neither seem to pose true value. Mickleson, who has a poor record at Firestoen, looks short at 18/1 as does Furyk, who played very poorly at the Buick Open last week. Lee Westwood, however, is also priced at 33/1 and looks good value for a place this week. Despite not winning in two years, he still manages to place regularly, coming third at Turnberry and running up this time last year at Firestone. He therefore has good memories of the course and will be looking to challenge Woods this week.

Elsewhere US Open Champion Lucas Glover is overpriced at 100/1, he came fourth at Firestone in 2006 and his big hitting will suit the course. There is much more eachway betting to get stuck into and most recently Hunter Mahan’s price has been shortened to as low as 25/1, however there is still some 33/1 available. It is worth following the markets in the build up to the start of play to see which players are fancied. Click here to go to the winners market.

The Players Championship may not have major status, but it is still one of the betting highlights of the golfing year. This week we also have the Italian Open and the Michelob Ultra Open, but all eyes will be on Tiger Woods at Sawgrass.

The Final Round is on Mothers’ Day, and Stan James go 5/2 about another playoff.

Tiger Woods has a shocking record at Sawgrass, but is still the 4/1 favourite. Since he won in 2001, he has not finished in the top ten in six appearances. Admittedly he has finished in the top ten in the last four tournament, but with that record he is probably a place lay (bet that he doesn’t make the top ten). 

Laying at 1.51 on Betfair, you are getting odds of 2/1 that Tiger doesn’t finish in the top ten.

Boylesports, Stan James and Paddy Power are all paying six places, meaning that we can find options at bigger prices.

Sergio Garcia beat Paul Goydos in a playoff last year, but can still be backed at 40/1. His last top ten finish came in January and he clearly isn’t at the top of his game.

2007 winner Phil Mickelson has been nibbled at 11/1, and is an obvious alternative to the favourite. He could even become the new Number One this weekend. His playing style suits the course because it demands a mixture of shots.

Kenny Perry will also have his backers at 35/1, but is in danger of another meltdown. His Masters conqueror, Angel Cabrera, has missed four consecutive cuts here and is a huge 125/1.

The End of Round One Leader is anyone’s guess, but the Top American market is another one to oppose Woods in at 3/1.

Luke Donald has been backed into 40/1, and Brian Gay has also attracted money at 80s.

Jeff Klauk is an interesting bet at 150/1. The rookie grew up at TPC Sawgrass and should know the course very well indeed.

Anthony Kim is too erratic at 50/1, but Bubba Watson makes more appeal at 125/1, given that he tied for second at Quail Hollow.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing golf odds between the bookmakers:

The Players Championship 2009 Winner Betting

The Players Championship 2009 Tournament Match Bets

The Players Championship 2009 Place Betting Top 10

The Players Championship 2009 Round Betting

Italian Open Betting

Michelob Ultra Open Betting

Like most big Golf tournaments, the betting is all about Tiger Woods. Woods is best priced at 5/2 with Blue Square to win his 5th Masters Tournament, and has been a popular bet since he won this year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational in dramatic fashion.

5/2 is very short for someone who hasn’t won the Masters since 2005, but the bookies are ducking for cover. The golfing world is hoping for the Tiger & Phil show at Augusta this week, which is confirmed by the betting trends.

Corals go 10/1 that Woods and Mickelson fill in the top 2 spots – a very ungenerous price in my opinion!

Such has been the money for Tiger, that Centrebet have opened a market on the Top American, without Woods.

Phil Mickelson, who will also have his backers, is 10/1 with Ladbrokes – who are paying out five places.

Before getting carried away with the over-bet favourites, it is worth remembering that Trevor Immelman won at an astonishing 100/1 in 2008. He is 100/1 again this year to repeat that feat.

2007 winner Zach Johnson was also a surpirse, but is still overlooked this year at 40/1. In 2007 he was matched at an astonishing 459/1 on Betfair.

Next in the betting is Padraig Harrington at 18/1. He keeps his best golf for the toughest courses and is 8/13 in the Top Irishman market.

There have already been a few market moves, including Paul Casey who is into 33/1 from 80/1 after winning the Shell Houston Open.

Seattle native Fred Couples was leading for most of the final round, only the bogey the final 3 holes. He is 100/1 from 400/1. 

With the betting dominated by Americans, perhaps 4/6 isn’t such a bad price with William Hill for USA in the Winning Nationality market.

There has been a lot of hype surrounding 19 year old Rory McIlroy, who is as short as 25/1 in places. He is the only teenager in the Top 50, but he will be up against it.

The ‘usual suspects’ could make the shake-up, the likes of 30/1 Sergio Garcia, 66/1 Singh and 40/1 Ernie Els. 

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing golf odds between the bookmakers:

US Masters 2009 Winner Betting

Place Betting Top 10 

Place Betting Top 5 

Playoff Betting 

Top American Betting 

Winning Margin Betting 

Winning Nationality Betting

Hopefully we pointed you towards the value bets in Inter-Man U last night. ’0-0 is always a good result to keep on your side at 7/1′.

The WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship lasts until March 1 and is taking place in Marana, Arizona.

Last year’s winner Tiger Woods is making his return to competition and is the 5/1 favourite, despite some serious negatives. Punters have taken all of the 11/2 quotes and 1/3 of all the Betfair market has been matched on the Tiger.

Tiger is returning from 8 months out and may be sleep-deprived following the birth of his 2nd child.

William Hill have reported thousands of bets, with the biggest so far being £1,800. The serious punters would’ve compared odds on bookies.com and gone to Corals for their 11/2!

Punters are asking whether Brendan Jones (AUS) will ask Tiger for an autograph after their match. Woods is 1/4 to come through the first round, but 2 of his 4 losses have come to Australians here. Jones hasn’t played for 2 months, so you’d really expect this to be one-sided.

Match Play is a funny game and it is going to be difficult for punters to even find someone to make the final. I certainly wouldn’t think about laying Tiger Woods, but you have to question whether he has been over-bet.

Phil Mickelson won the Northern Trust Open last week and is now the World No.3. Sporting Bet go 18/1 and have each way terms for the first 4 places.

Over 6 matches, nobody will be playing their very best golf, which is why punters should have some long-shots on their side.

Andrés Romero (Argentina) has been backed into 66/1, having finished in 3rd in Los Angeles last week.

Anthony Kim and Sergio Garcia will have their supporters at 20s. Zach Johnson doesn’t often make mistakes, and is 70/1.

Meanwhile, Angel Cabrera is another Argentine who is 80/1 with Bet Internet. The 2007 U.S. Open Champion is 13/8 with Stan James to win his first round against Mickelson.

bookies.com is your best bet for comparing golf odds between the bookmakers.

WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship Outright Betting

Top American Betting

Winning Nationality Betting

Hole in One Betting