PGA Golf Betting -- Tiger's Future Uncertain, While Mito Pereira Introduces Himself

  • In Charles Jay
  • Sun, May 22nd, 2022 3:17:43 pm
  • By Charles Jay - Exclusive to OSGA


Mito Pereira came from oblivion to lead the PGA Championship, and Tiger Woods hopes he didn't punch a ticket to oblivion with his withdrawal.


Very few BetOnline customers knew who Mito Pereira was coming into this weekend, but he certainly was hoping that would change by the close of business on Sunday.

Pereira, a native of Chile who played one year of collegiate golf at Texas Tech, shot three straight rounds in the 60s to take a three-shot lead after three rounds of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa.

Pereira was not unknown as he moved his way up in the amateur ranks, getting to #5 in the world at one point. But he has not been competing against top professionals for very long; in fact, a year ago he was still playing on the Korn Ferry Tour, which has been known by a lot of different names but is, in effect, golf's rough equivalent of what the G-League is to the NBA.

By winning three times out there, Pereira won a promotion to the PGA Tour, but such a thing is not permanent,

In his previous major championship experience, he missed the cut at the 2019 U.S. Open, so many observers can be excused if they see this as a fluke. But it seems more like a heretofore unknown quantity demonstrating what he is capable of.

This guy made a nice recovery in Saturday's action. He looked like he was going to fall off the side of the earth, as he bogeyed four of the holes from 8 to 12. But then he came roaring down the stretch, with three birdies in his next six holes. That's a pretty good sign for some with so little experience.

"I'll just try to keep it simple, try to do the same things that I've been doing and try to not even look at the people around," he told reporters at the end of the round.

Pereira, as of Sunday afternoon, was priced at +6500 to win the upcoming U.S. Open, which takes place starting June 16 at The Country Club in Brookline, MA. But the interesting thing is, as far as we can tell, he was not even qualified for golf's next major as we came into this PGA Championship.

Pereira started the week ranked #101 in the Official World Golf Ranking, and we are told that the last time someone who was outside of the top 100 was leading by at least three strokes going into the final round of a major, it was Jean van de Velde at the 1999 British Open

The Frenchman actually led by five strokes at the outset of Sunday's action, and he was ahead by three shots when he teed off at the 18th. But then the legendary collapse occurred, as he made a triple bogey, which forced him into a playoff, which he lost to Paul Lawrie.

Pereira was looking for a more fortunate result.

Tiger Woods was not so fortunate. After rallying to survive the cut line on Friday, he totally lost it on Saturday, shooting a 79, his highest score ever at this event. That left him next to last in the eligible field. And then he decided he wasn't even going to give it a go in Round 4, as he withdrew.

I just didn't play well. I didn't hit the ball very well, and got off to not the start I needed to get off to," he said.

Woods played with Shaun Norris of South Africa on Saturday, and Norris could see the pain the 15-time major champion was going through, “You can see he was battling just to get the ball out of the hole from time to time, even to bend out to put the ball on the tee. You really feel sorry for him.’’

It is obvious that the after-effects of Woods' car accident, which left his leg shattered, were ever-present, and one could opine that just making the cut was a major accomplishment. BetOnline customers who laid the -150 price on him being able to play on the weekend were rewarded with a winning ticket.

He did admit that walking the course was a major challenge, and that "It’s going to be that way for the foreseeable future for sure."

We imagine we'll hear something further in the days and weeks to come about Woods' plans, especially with majors like the U.S. Open and British Open upcoming. Currently Tiger is listed at +5000 to win the US Open. The favorite is Jon Rahm, at +1200.

It doesn't matter what week of the year it is, BetOnline is always the place to engage in the hottest golf action! They have allthe angles you'd ever want, in addition to live betting while the event is happening. Futures are available now on majors - the U.S. Open, British Open, even next year's Masters!


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