WGC provides golf betting option in November

Sports betting fans have lots of options these days – from NFL Football to NBA Basketball – but one thing bettors wouldn’t expect to find in November is a golf tournament worth wagering on.

That changes this week with a World Golf Championships (WGC) event: the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai, China, which kicked off Wednesday.

Most of the world’s top golfers will be there – 15 of the top 20 – including the one golfer who can get the attention of golf betting fans like no other – World No. 1 Tiger Woods.

Phil Mickelson, Woods’ nemesis who won the event in 2007, will also be there, as will Padraig Harrington.

The HSBC Champions, first played in 2005, was added to the WGC series this year, giving it improved status, and subsequently, a better field.

Last year, Sergio Garcia picked up a birdie on the second playoff hole to beat Oliver Wilson. Those two finished one stroke ahead of Peter Hanson and Geoff Ogilvy.

All four of those players will be on hand at Shenshan International Golf Club this week. Also playing this week will be Paul Casey, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Martin Kaymer, Stewart Cink, Sean O’Hair, and Camilo Villegas.

The field lost one big name over the weekend when Masters champion Angel Cabrera withdrew after losing in the consolation match at the Volvo World Match Play Championship.

The Golf Channel will be providing four hours of coverage for every round.

With the HSBC Champions tournament, the WGC series again has four events. The World Cup of Golf joined the WGC fold in 2000, but was dropped as a WGC tournament after 2006.

Check out betED.com for a full list of HSBC Champions odds.