PGA Tour Money List Tips: Hunter Mahan

With sport winding down for Christmas it is the perfect opportunity to take a look at some of the more long term markets. The first thing to say when betting on an event that won’t be settled for several months, is don’t be taking short prices.

The 9/2 (Sportingbet) on Tiger Woods winning the PGA Tour Money List therefore strikes me as terrible value.  Luke Donald is 12/1 (Skybet) to repeat his 2011 triumph, but that was such a mammoth achievement it is unlikely to be repeated soon. The focus for the world number one is to win his first major and that might affect his schedule and result in less regular tour events.

With a tour on home soil the American players are the ones that interest me and Hunter Mahan at 50/1 with Skybet looks excellent value.

The 33-year-old had a solid rather than spectacular year with nine top-10 finishes including two runners-up spots. That was still enough to finish seventh in the FedEx Cup race and sit 19th in the world rankings. A major might be beyond him but he will start all the events where the big purses are up for grabs.

The one factor that might really ignite his 2012 is the Ryder Cup. Reduced to tears after his blunder at Celtic Manor gifted Graeme McDowell the winning point, Mahan – perhaps wrongly - blamed himself for losing the trophy. The 2012 season offers him a shot at redemption and you won’t see a player more determined to make the USA team.

The talent has always been there, but with the added motivation expect Mahan to be gunning for team selection via the money-list standings. A happy consequence of this endeavour could be him topping the PGA Tour Money List . He is worth a small each way punt at 50/1 (Skybet) with ¼ odds for a top three finish.