For Immediate Release April 27, 2010
Wagering lines established for 2010 Western Golf Alliance Open
Bookmakers name Atchison "the man to beat"
BOTHELL, Washington. With the courses and field set for the 2010 Western Golf Alliance Open, the sports books have begun releasing their 'futures' odds for this summer's premier golf event. As is their tradition, the Boar's Head and Thistle Pub, Sportsbook and Cricket Club of London is the first sports book to post their official odds, and have installed Doug Atchison as the pre-tournament favorite.
"We are very aware that no first-time participant has ever won the Western Golf Alliance Open," said Nigel Smythe, owner and manager of the Boar's Head and Thistle. "Winning the WGA Open requires calm nerves that only comes from experience. In analyzing this year's field, we heavily considered current player handicaps, recent form, drinking habits, and the posted individual rounds from the 2008 Open. As a result, we feel confident in our handicapping of the field."
The Boars' Head and Thistle sports book has had a great track record of accurately predicting the eventual WGA Open winner based on their early odds. In both 2006 and 2008, their initial "favorite" did, in fact, go on to win the event. This year, in addition to Atchison being rated as the favorite, a former champion also from Southern California - Brian Gray - is just behind him in the odds. Gray has created a science of out making his game peak at just the right time for this biennial tournament, having finished in the top three in every WGA Open, and is expected to to have a strong showing at the 2010 Open. Another SoCal member who is also a non-first-timer, Mark Taylor, rounds out the top three.
"Knowing the level of competition at the Open, I'm honored to be named as the early favorite for the 2010 championship," said Atchison. "I'll be bringing my 'A' game to Las Vegas, and I fully expect to meet the expectations of this prediction," he added.
The full odds as posted by the Boar's Head and Thistle are as follows:
Doug Atchison, 3-1
Brian Gray, 7-2
Mark Taylor, 6-1
Robert McCoy, 8-1
Peter McGarry, 10-1
Steven Smith, 10-1
Mark Herms, 12-1
Mike Contois, 14-1
Brent Gray, 15-1
David Duval, 15-1
Robert Gibson, 15-1
Phil Gray, 20-1
John Daly, 20-1
Mike Mittelstaedt, 25-1
Trever Esko, 25-1
Jeff Hughes, 30-1
John Peppler, 32-1
Peter Weidenfeld, 35-1
Jim Overland, 55-1
Vince Fraumini, 50-1
Pat Frengle, 75-1
Big Al Torrico, 100-1
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About the Western Golf Alliance: The Western Golf Alliance is the premier golf organization in the United States. The WGA exists to further the greatness of this grand sport of golf through the improvement of golf play by its members, the promotion of golf rules, etiquette, and tradition, and the ability to gather together from time to time for golf events and tournaments. The regional organization spans five western states, and is organized into nine geographic regions. Further information is available at http://www.westerngolf.org/.