We aren’t very far into golf season, but Martin Kaymer is the early favorite for the Race to Dubai (new name for the old European Tour). He is currently at the top of his game, coming off a win at the Abu Dhabi Championship. It was the third time he won the tournament in the last four years. He moved ahead of Tiger Woods in the world rankings and is now ranked second behind Lee Westwood.
Padraig Harrington, a three-time major winner, called Kaymer “the most formidable player in the world when he is leading.” Kaymer’s odds are being slashed for the 2011 Race to Dubai and the German is being favored in a number of other bets as well. His odds have been cut to 4/1 on winning one major this season. He won his first major last year with the PGA Championship by beating Bubba Watson in a three-hole playoff.
He is still in the middle of the pack as far as odds go fro the first major of the year, the U.S. Masters at Augusta. Kaymer missed the cut for the 2010 Masters, but he has improved his game much since then. His odds for the British Open Championship have been cut as well. He closed last season by winning the Race to Dubai and, if he keeps this pace up, he could very well do it again.
Martin Kaymer Number of 2011 Majors Odds (provided by William Hill)
None: 1/12
One: 4/1
Two: 25/1
Three: 66/1
Four: 150/1