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Woods installed as decisive Masters favorite; FW golfer Peterson given 500/1 odds in Masters debut

Tiger Woods, the world’s top-ranked golfer who has not won a major championship since the 2008 U.S. Open, will head to the first tee as the clear-cut favorite in Thursday’s opening round of the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga.

Woods, the PGA Tour’s only three-event winner this season, has been a near-unanimous selection among oddsmakers around the globe and has been assigned 5/2 odds of winning by Bovada Sports Book (www.Bovada.lv).

Rounding out the website’s top five favorites are Rory McIlroy (8/1), Phil Mickelson (10/1), Justin Rose (20/1) and Charl Schwartzel (22/1).

John Peterson, a Fort Worth native who won the 2011 NCAA individual championship while competing for LSU, has been assigned 500/1 odds to win in his Masters debut. Peterson, 23, is a Fort Worth Paschal graduate who earned his spot in the Masters field by finishing tied for fourth at the 2012 U.S. Open.

The player with Texas connections given the most favorable odds this week is Hunter Mahan (40/1), who moved from Colleyville to Dallas in the off-season.

Below is a look at the individual odds assigned to all Masters competitors heading into Thursday’s opening round:

The 2013 Masters  - Outright Winner          
Tiger Woods                 5/2
Rory McIlroy                 8/1
Phil Mickelson               10/1
Justin Rose                   20/1
Charl Schwartzel            22/1
Dustin Johnson             25/1
Lee Westwood              25/1
Louis Oosthuizen           25/1
Adam Scott                  28/1
Brandt Snedeker           28/1
Keegan Bradley             28/1
Bubba Watson              33/1
Luke Donald                 33/1
Matt Kuchar                  33/1
Hunter Mahan                40/1
Ian Poulter                    40/1
Sergio Garcia                40/1
Rickie Fowler                45/1
Graeme McDowell         50/1
Henrik Stenson              50/1
Jason Day                    50/1
Jim Furyk                      50/1
Nick Watney                  50/1
Padraig Harrington        50/1
Steve Stricker               50/1
Webb Simpson             50/1
Jason Dufner                55/1
K.J. Choi                      66/1
Bill Haas                       75/1
Martin Kaymer               75/1
Peter Hanson                75/1
Martin Laird                   75/1
Angel Cabrera               80/1
Nicolas Colsaerts          80/1
Bo Van Pelt                  100/1
Ernie Els                       100/1
Zach Johnson               100/1
Fredrik Jacobson          125/1
Ryan Moore                  125/1
Thorbjorn Olesen           125/1
Francesco Molinari        150/1
Fred Couples                150/1
George Coetzee            150/1
Matteo Manassero         150/1
Robert Garrigus             150/1
Russell Henley              150/1
Stewart Cink                  150/1
Vijay Singh                   150/1
Branden Grace              200/1
Carl Pettersson             200/1
D-A Points                    200/1
David Toms                  200/1
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano                  200/1
John Huh                      200/1
John Senden                 200/1
Kevin Streelman            200/1
Michael Thompson        200/1
Richard Sterne              200/1
Scott Piercy                  200/1
Tim Clark                      200/1
Trevor Immelman           200/1
Yong-Eun Yang             200/1
John Merrick                 225/1
Ben Curtis                     250/1
Brian Gay                      250/1
Jamie Donaldson          250/1
Paul Lawrie                   250/1
Thomas Bjorn                250/1
Kevin Na                       300/1
Lucas Glover                 300/1
Marc Leishman              300/1
Ryo Ishikawa                 300/1
Darren Clarke                350/1
David Lynn                   400/1
Bernhard Langer            500/1
Hiroyuki Fujita               500/1
John Peterson               500/1
Mike Weir                      500/1
Ted Potter Jr.                500/1
Jose Maria Olazabal      600/1
Mark O'Meara                1000/1
Thaworn Wiratchant       1000/1
Tom Watson                 1000/1
Alan Dunbar                  2000/1
Michael Weaver             2000/1
Nathan Smith                2000/1
Steven Fox                   2000/1
Tj Vogel                        2000/1
Craig Stadler                 2500/1
Ian Woosnam                2500/1
Tian-Lang Guan            3000/1
Ben Crenshaw               5000/1
Larry Mize                     5000/1
Sandy Lyle                    5000/1
 
The 2013 Masters - Top American Player  
Tiger Woods                 7/4
Phil Mickelson               11/2
Keegan Bradley             12/1
Dustin Johnson             14/1
Matt Kuchar                  14/1
Brandt Snedeker           16/1
Bubba Watson              16/1
Hunter Mahan                20/1
Rickie Fowler                20/1
Steve Stricker               28/1
Nick Watney                  28/1
Jason Dufner                28/1
Webb Simpson             28/1
Bill Haas                       30/1
Jim Furyk                      33/1
Bo Van Pelt                  40/1
Zach Johnson               50/1
Ryan Moore                  66/1
Stewart Cink                  66/1
Fred Couples                66/1
Robert Garrigus             70/1
Scott Piercy                  75/1
Russell Henley              75/1
John Merrick                 75/1
Ben Curtis                     80/1
Kevin Streelman            80/1
John Huh                      80/1
David Toms                  80/1
D.A Points                    80/1
Brian Gay                      100/1
Michael Thompson        100/1
Ted Potter Jr                 125/1
John Peterson               150/1
Lucas Glover                 150/1
Kevin Na                       150/1
Mark O'Meara                250/1
Tom Watson                 250/1
Steven Fox                   300/1
Michael Weaver             300/1
TJ Vogel                       300/1
Nathan Smith                500/1
Larry Mize                     500/1
Craig Stadler                 500/1
Ben Crenshaw               1000/1

The 2013 Masters - Top Amateur Player    
Steven Fox                   5/2
Michael Weaver             7/2
Alan Dunbar                  7/2
TJ Vogel                       5/1
Nathan Smith                6/1
Tian-Lang Guan             8/1
 
The 2013 Masters - Top Past Champion     
Tiger Woods                 8/11
Phil Mickelson               3/1
Charl Schwartzel            6/1
Bubba Watson              8/1
Angel Cabrera               25/1
Zach Johnson               25/1
Fred Couples                33/1
Trevor Immelman           40/1
Vijay Singh                   40/1
Bernhard Langer            66/1
Jose M Olazabal           100/1
Mike Weir                      100/1
Tom Watson                 125/1
Mark O'Meara                125/1
Ian Woosnam                250/1
Craig Stadler                 400/1
Larry Mize                     400/1
Sandy Lyle                    400/1
Ben Crenshaw               750/1

The 2013 Masters - 1st Round Leader        
Tiger Woods                 11/2
Rory McIlroy                 10/1
Phil Mickelson               14/1
Justin Rose                   20/1
Charl Schwartzel            28/1
Matt Kuchar                  28/1
Adam Scott                  33/1
Dustin Johnson             33/1
Keegan Bradley             33/1
Lee Westwood              33/1
Louis Oosthuizen           33/1
Brandt Snedeker           40/1
Bubba Watson              40/1
Hunter Mahan                40/1
Ian Poulter                    40/1
Luke Donald                 40/1
Sergio Garcia                40/1
Graeme McDowell         50/1
Henrik Stenson              50/1
Jason Day                    50/1
Jason Dufner                50/1
Nick Watney                  50/1
Padraig Harrington        50/1
Rickie Fowler                50/1
Steve Stricker               50/1
Webb Simpson             50/1
Angel Cabrera               66/1
Bill Haas                       66/1
Jim Furyk                      66/1
Martin Kaymer               66/1
Peter Hanson                66/1
Bo Van Pelt                  75/1
K.J. Choi                      75/1
Ernie Els                       80/1
Fred Couples                80/1
Fredrik Jacobson          80/1
Matteo Manassero         80/1
Nicolas Colsaerts          80/1
Russell Henley              80/1
Ryan Moore                  80/1
Zach Johnson               80/1
Martin Laird                   80/1
Branden Grace              100/1
Francesco Molinari        100/1
George Coetzee            100/1
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano      100/1
Robert Garrigus             100/1
Scott Piercy                  100/1
Stewart Cink                  100/1
Thorbjorn Olesen           100/1
Tim Clark                      100/1
Trevor Immelman           100/1
Carl Pettersson             125/1
D-A Points                    125/1
David Toms                  125/1
Jamie Donaldson          125/1
John Huh                      125/1
John Peterson               125/1
John Senden                 125/1
Michael Thompson        125/1
Thomas Bjorn                125/1
Vijay Singh                   125/1
Ben Curtis                     150/1
Brian Gay                      150/1
John Merrick                 150/1
Kevin Na                       150/1
Kevin Streelman            150/1
Paul Lawrie                   150/1
Richard Sterne              150/1
Ryo Ishikawa                 150/1
Ted Potter Jr.                150/1
Thaworn Wiratchant       150/1
Yong-Eun Yang             150/1
Alan Dunbar                  200/1
Craig Stadler                 200/1
David Lynn                   200/1
Lucas Glover                 200/1
Marc Leishman              200/1
Nathan Smith                200/1
Tj Vogel                        200/1
Ben Crenshaw               250/1
Bernhard Langer            250/1
Darren Clarke                250/1
Hiroyuki Fujita               250/1
Jose Maria Olazabal      250/1
Mark O'Meara                250/1
Mike Weir                      250/1
Steven Fox                   250/1
Tom Watson                 250/1
Ian Woosnam                500/1
Larry Mize                     500/1
Michael Weaver             500/1
Sandy Lyle                    500/1
Tian-Lang Guan             500/1

_ Jimmy Burch

 

A look at full commitment list for North Texas LPGA Shootout, which is drawing strong field to Irving

Officials at the North Texas LPGA Shootout, which will be played April 25-28 in Irving, are drawing some serious star power for their inaugural event at Las Colinas Country Club. As of today, the commitment list includes the top 10 players in the women's world golf rankings and 95 of the top 100 from the 2013 LPGA Tour season money list.

Below is a look at the updated commitment list released today by tournament officials:

 

2013 North Texas LPGA Shootout Field
Below is a look at golfers who have committed to participate in the North Texas LPGA Shootout, April 25-28 at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving. NOTE: Field is preliminary and subject to change up until the commitment deadline on Tuesday, April 16, 2013:

Karlin Beck, Amanda Blumenherst, Christel Boeljon, Julia Boland, Heather Bowie Young, Dori Carter, Nicole Castrale, Silvia Cavalleri, Irene Cho, Esther Choe, Chella Choi, Na Yeon Choi, Carlotta Ciganda, Jacqui Concolino, Paula Creamer, Laura Davies, Laura Diaz, Lauren Doughtie, Moira Dunn, Kathleen Ekey, Victoria Elisabeth, Austin Ernst, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Veronica Felibert, Shanshan Feng, Katie Futcher, Sandra Gel, Jennifer Gleason, Julieta Granada, Casey Grice, Natalie Gulbis, Numa Gulyanamitta, Sophie Gustafson, Hee-Won Han, Mina Harigae, Caroline Hedwall, Maria Hjorth, Katherine Hull-Kirk, Amy Hung, Mi Jung Hur, Pat Hurst, Vicky Hurst, Daniela Iacobelli, Karine Icher, Juli Inkster, Nicole Jeary, Eun-Hee Ji, Tiffany Joh, Felicity Johnson, Jennifer Johnson, Sara Maude Juneau, Moriya Jutanugam, Lorie Kane, Danielle Kang, Haeji Kang, Jimin Kang, Taylore Karle, Sarah Kemp, Cristie Kerr, I.K. Kim, Mindy Kim, Song-Hee Kim, Jessica Korda, Candie Kung, Cindy LaCrosse, Brittany Lang, Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Ilhee Lee, Jee Young Lee, Jennie Lee, Meena Lee, Mi Hyang Lee, Seon Hwa Lee, Rebecca Lee-Bentham, Stacy Lewis, Brittany Lincicome, Pernilla Lindberg, Paige Mackenzie, Mo Martin, Caroline Masson, Catriona Matthew, Lisa McCloskey, Kristy McPherson, Sydnee Michaels, Ai Miyazoto, Mika Miyazoto, Paola Moreno, Becky Morgan, Kayla Mortellaro, Belen Mozo, Azhara Munoz, Anna Nordqvist, Ryann O’Toole, Jin Young Pak, Se Ri Pak, Brooke Pancake, Hee Young Park, Inbee Park, Jane Park, Suzann Pettersen, Pornanong Phatlum, Gerina Piller, Stacy Prammanasudh, Madison Pressel, Morgan Pressel, Jane Rah, Beatriz Recari, Jennifer Rosales, So Yeon Ryu, Lizette Salas, Dewi Claire Schreefel, Hee Kyung Seo, Stephanie Sherlock, Jenny Shin, Jiyai Shin, Karin Sjodin, Nicole Smith, Sarah Jane Smith, Jennifer Song, Angela Stanford, Marina Stuetz, Karen Stupples, Thidapa Suwannapura, Kris Tamulis, Lexi Thompson, Yani Tseng, Momoko Ueda, Mariajo Uribe, Alison Walshe, Wendy Ward, Kim Welch, Michelle Wie, Lindsey Wright, Amy Yang, Sun Young Yoo.

Holding spots:
Qualifier (2)
HOF/Tournament winner (2)
Top-10 Week prior (2)
LPGA Winner week prior (1)
Shootout Amateur (2)

Alternates
1. Marcy Hart
2. Alena Sharp
3. Reilley Rankin
4. Ji Young Oh
5. Christina Kim
6. Sandra Changkija
7. Meaghan Francella
8. Hannah Yun
9. Victoria Tanco
10. Danah Bordner
11. Jessica Shepley
12. Jill McGill
13. Cydney Clanton
14. Nicole Hage
15. Lisa Ferrero
16. Jiayun Li
17. Kelly Jacques
18. Frances Bondad
19. Katie Burnett
20. Sophia Sheridan
21. Marita Engzelius
22. Hanna Kang
23. Amelia Lewis
24. Maria Hernandez
25. Marina Alex
26. Haley Millsap
27. Min Seo Kwak
28. Paz Echeverria
29. Alejandra Llaneza
30. Perrine Delacour
31. Inhong Lim
32. Shasta Averyhardt
33. P.K. Kongkraphan
34. Brianna Do
35. Mitsuki Katahira
36. Jordan Hardy
37. Michelle McGann
38. Eunjung Yi
39. Diana D'Alessio
40. Beth Bader
41. Jean Bartholomew
42. Jamie Hullett
43. Stephanie Louden
44. Janice Gibson

_ Jimmy Burch

LPGA event in Irving lands top 10 in world rankings, 95 of tour's top 100 money winners

Officials at the North Texas LPGA Shootout have received commitments from the top 10 players in the women’s world golf rankings as well as 95 of the top 100 money winners on the LPGA Tour money list for their April 25-28 event in Irving.

Included is top-ranked Stacy Lewis, a native of The Woodlands who was the 2012 LPGA Player of the Year, and No. 2 Yani Tseng. Other top 10 players on the commitment list released today include Paula Creamer, Ai Miyazoto and Suzann Pettersen. The 72-hole event offers a $1.3 million purse and will be played at Las Colinas Country Club.

Saginaw resident Angela Stanford, a former TCU standout, and Fort Worth resident Heather Bowie Young will be among the Texans competing in the LPGA’s first full-field event played in D-FW since the 1991 U.S. Women’s Open at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.

Tournament officials are reserving four spots in the field for amateurs, with two going to college golfers who have qualified for the tournament (Madison Pressel, Casey Grice) and two more going to high school players who will take part in an April 22 qualifier.

Tournament officials still need more volunteer workers at the event. Individuals interested in information about volunteering or purchasing tickets can visit www.NTShootout.com or call 214-393-2198.

_ Jimmy Burch

Updated Colonial commitment list has 66 players, including Kuchar, Fowler, Mahan, Daly, Z.Johnson, Furyk

A list of golfers who have committed to compete in the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, May 20-26 in Fort Worth. List is updated through today. Commitments are not official until Friday, May 17:

Charles Beljian, Jonas Blixt, Scott Brown, Jonathan Byrd, Patrick Cantlay, Stewart Cink, Keith Clearwater, Ben Crane, John Daly, Brian Davis, Brendon de Jonge, Ken Duke, Steve Flesch, Rickie Fowler, Steven Fox, Jim Furyk, Tommy Gainey, Robert Garrigus, Brian Gay, Tom Gillis, Luke Guthrie, James Hahn, David Hearn, J.J. Henry, Charley Hoffman, John Huh, Fredrik Jacobson, Zach Johnson, Kyung-Tae Kim, Chris Kirk, Matt Kuchar, Marc Leishman, David Lingmerth, Hunter Mahan, Troy Matteson, William McGirt, Kevin Na, Seung-Yul Nol, Jeff Overton, Ryan Palmer, Corey Pavin, John Peterson, Carl Pettersson, D.A. Points, Dicky Pride, Kyle Reifers, John Rollins, Rory Sabbatini, John Senden, Kevin Stadler, Scott Stallings, Kevin Streelman, Chris Stroud, Brian Stuard, Josh Teater, Michael Thompson, David Toms, Cameron Tringale, Bo Van Pelt, Camilo Villegas, Johnson Wagner, Jimmy Walker, Boo Weekley, Charlie Wi, Casey Wittenberg, Y.E. Yang.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Kuchar, No. 9 player in world golf rankings, boosts star power of Colonial field; Mahan, Fowler also join mix

Matt Kuchar, the No. 9 player in the world golf rankings, has committed to play in the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, May 20-26 in Fort Worth.

Kuchar is the highest-ranked player among the 66 golfers in the Colonial field, based on the latest wave of commitments released today by tournament officials. Other notable additions among the top 30 players in the world rankings include Hunter Mahan (No. 21) and Rickie Fowler (No. 29).

Jim Furyk (No. 26) and Zach Johnson (No. 27), the defending champion, committed earlier this spring. Jason Dufner, the No. 18 player in the world rankings, has announced plans to participate in Fort Worth but has yet to make an official commitment.

Colonial’s latest commitments include 13 of the top 30 players on the PGA Tour’s season money list, paced by Kuchar (third, $2,154,500) and Mahan (seventh, $1,553,965). Other recent additions include Kevin Streelman (12^th), Josh Teater (21^st), Fredrik Jacobson (27^th), Scott Brown (28^th), Boo Weekley (30^th) and D.A. Points (18^th), Sunday’s winner at the Shell Houston Open.

Other notable additions to the field include Colleyville resident Ryan Palmer, John Huh, Jeff Overton and past Colonial champs David Toms (2011) and Keith Clearwater (1987).

FW golfer Henry wins car at charity event, struggles to find believers because it's April Fool's Day

PGA Tour golfer J.J. Henry, a Fort Worth resident and former TCU standout, experienced an April Fool’s Day for the ages today but had difficulty convincing friends and his wife, Lee, that he’d won a new car while playing in a charity golf event with a former president.

So Henry posted photos on his Twitter account (@jjhenrygolf) in an effort to convince the doubters. And he’s clearly shown with President George W. Bush, one of his Monday playing partners, and posing next to his new white Mercedes, which he earned for winning a closest-to-the-pin shootout among touring pros who participated in a Dallas fund-raising event to benefit Project Shelter.

“Pictures don’t lie,” Henry said after Monday’s memorable day. “But nobody believes me because it’s April Fool’s Day. When I called my wife, she didn’t believe, first of all, that I was playing with the President. And, second, she didn’t believe that I won a Mercedes. I’m still not sure she’s buying it. But, man, what an April Fool’s Day.”

Henry said he won the car by firing a 66 at Preston Trail Golf Club to qualify for the post-round competition, then hit a shot within nine feet at the par-3 hole to finish closest to the pin.

The ironic twist is that Henry recently teamed with Courtney Connell, head golf professional at Mira Vista Country Club in Fort Worth, when Connell won a vehicle from the same sponsor _ Fin Ewing Mercedes _ at a charity event in November for winning a closest-to-the-pin competition between club pros. Because the team competition required a touring pro to team with a club pro, Connell said: “If not for J.J., I wouldn’t have been able to play in that event.”

Now, both of them are driving new cars. Even if Henry is struggling to get people to believe he really won one on April Fool’s Day.

_ Jimmy Burch

Tournament officials set April 12 deadline for volunteers to work at Irving's LPGA Tour stop

Officials at the North Texas LPGA Shootout, scheduled April 25-28 in Irving, seek volunteers to work at the LPGA’s first full-field event to be played in Dallas-Fort Worth since the 1991 U.S. Women’s Open at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth. Most of the opportunities are for individuals 21 and older and the registration deadline for volunteers is April 12. For more information, visit www.ntshootout.com/volunteer.html.

 

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Dallas golfer Spieth earns PGA Tour membership for remainder of 2013 season

Jordan Spieth, a Dallas native who helped lead Texas to last year’s NCAA golf championship, joined the PGA Tour as a special temporary member Friday for the remainder of the 2013 season.

Spieth, 19, earned the opportunity because of his strong play. He has earned $521,893 in four starts at PGA Tour events this season, surpassing the total earnings of the player that finished No. 150 on the 2012 money list ($474,295). That will allow Spieth, who turned professional in December, to accept unlimited sponsor’s exemptions for remainder of the season in PGA Tour events.

Spieth, who finished in a tie for seventh at last week’s Tampa Bay Championship, already has accepted a sponsor’s exemption to compete at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, May 13-19 in Irving. His top-10 finish in Tampa earned him a spot in the field at next week’s Shell Houston Open.

_ Jimmy Burch

FW's Dan Jenkins to receive AP honor for major career contributions to sports journalism

Fort Worth resident Dan Jenkins, renowned author and writer at-large for Golf Digest, was selected today as recipient of the 2013 Associated Press Sports Editors Red Smith Award. Jenkins, a graduate of TCU and Paschal High School, will receive the award June 28 in Detroit.

The honor is presented annually to a person who has made “major contributions to sports journalism” in his or her career. Jenkins, a 2012 inductee into the World Golf Hall of Fame for his skills as a golf writer, received the award from a field that included 12 other nominees. In a statement, Jenkins said: “I’m delighted, I’m flattered and frankly I’m overwhelmed … I’ve never been as thrilled about any award as I am about this one.”

_ Jimmy Burch

Spieth to compete in 2013 Nelson, his first professional stop in DFW #PGATour, #Longhorns #HPBNC

Jordan Spieth, a Dallas native and former Texas golfer, accepted a sponsor’s exemption today to compete in the HP Byron Nelson Championship, May 13-19 in Irving.

Spieth, who turned professional after his freshman season at Texas, tied for second at last week’s Puerto Rico Open on the PGA Tour. Spieth, 19, also has posted a pair of Top 10 finishes on the 2013 Web.com Tour.

The Dallas Jesuit graduate made his PGA Tour debut at the 2010 Nelson, finishing tied for 16^th while competing as a junior in high school. It remains the highest finish in tournament history by an amateur.

In his lone college season, Spieth led Texas to a 2012 NCAA championship, earned low amateur honors at the 2012 U.S. Open and was a finalist for the 2012 Ben Hogan Award, given to the nation’s top college golfer. Spieth’s appearance in this year’s Nelson will be his first as a professional in his hometown tour stop.

“We know bright things are in store for Jordan as his begins his career on the PGA Tour,” said Mike McKinley, the Nelson tournament chairman. “He did so well here as an amateur and we are looking forward to welcoming him back.”

_ Jimmy Burch