As the new golf year gets into full swing, all the major players from last season are back in action – with the exception of one: Tiger Woods. Last year’s European champion and season ending Race to Dubai winner, Lee Westwood, is back in Abu Dhabi ready to defend his crown and start his year off to a good start.

The Abu Dhabi golf championship starts today and Westwood is exceptionally good value in betting odds. Bookmakers are quoting him at 13/1 behind Australian Geoff Ogilvy, who is favourite at 11/1. Westwood finished last season with 10 top ten finishes out of 14 starts – an impressive record for any golfer.

At 13/1 – he is great value for an each way bet to finish in the top five. Each way bets normally pay a quarter of the odds so 13/4 or roughly 3/1 for that top five finish is good value. Ogilvy has started the season in form with some good wins and has earned the right to be favourite.

Rory McIlroy (14/1) is another whose golf betting odds are good value. He was runner up to Westwood in last season’s European champions money list. His biggest problem is lack of consistency – he either wins or puts in a few bad rounds and finishes in the middle of the pack. He won more tournaments than Westwood last year; he just couldn’t back that up with top ten finishes.

If you like McIlroy’s chances in this event, back him straight out to win. He has a poor place record so why take the reduced odds? He will either win, or finish out of a place. For mine, it’s Lee Westwood to win. Others to watch are Martin Kaymer (14/1), Paul Casey (16/1) and Sergio Garcia (25/1).

Andy Murray’s betting odds for the Australian Open have blown out following his demotion from world number four to world number five. To win the title, he will now have to beat three of the top four players – Nadal, Federer, Djokovic or new number four, del Potro. Murray had been quoted as short as 9/2 just two weeks ago.

Wins by Nadal and del Potro and losses to Murray along with his failure to defend his Doha titles have seen him sink in the points tally. Murray is now out 7/1 in some markets behind Djokovic at 13/2, del Potro at 5/1, Nadal at 4/1 and Roger Federer the favourite at 3/1. The Australian Open commences next Monday – in the meantime, players have converged on Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and Auckland to warm in satellite events.

The major event this week is the Sydney International where local favourite Lleyton Hewitt is striving to win a home tournament following a comeback. He is quoted at 7/1 behind Stanislas Wawrinka (5/1), Richard Gasquet (4/1) and tournament favourite Tomas Berdych (7/2).

On home soil and at 7/1, Hewitt looks to be good value. He has steadily climbed back up the ranks and could well be back inside the top ten in the world come the end of the southern summer. Gasquet has been the quiet tip this week. He is working himself back to form plays well in this event. At 4/1 he also represents good value.

Serena Williams makes her Aussie debut for 2010 in the women’s event where she is favoured to win. Online tennis betting has her at 6/4 to win ahead of Elena Dementieva (9/2). Fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki and 7th seed Jelena Jankovic have both lost their opening matches while 8th seed Vera Zvonareva has had to withdraw due to injuries. This has left the women’s event bereft of quality players. Williams should open her Australian tour with a good win.

In the Australian Open, the betting is very competitive. Serena Williams is favourite at 3/1 just ahead of Kim Clijsters at 4/1. Justine Henin is next best at 5/1. Maria Sharapova heads the rest at 10/1. It’s almost a new dawning in women’s tennis with the old guard all returning to form. Clijsters won many friends after winning the Brisbane International by donating her prize cheque to the local children’s hospital. She is certainly in form – can she add the Australian Open to the US Open. Sentiment would love to say ‘yes’ – but my brain tells me Henin is the one running into form – watch her in Melbourne at good odds.

If you study English football at all then you would have to consider Chelsea to poor value today with betting odds of around 1/2. They are the League leaders at present but their recent record is not that flash and they are the away team today.

Chelsea’s opponents today are Birmingham and they have a fairly good record at home. They are also performing well on the League table sitting on 7th, a point in front of Liverpool and a point behind Manchester City. At odds of around the 6/1 mark they represent fiarly good value at this time of year. Even the draw at 3/1 represents good value. Back both the draw and a home win – an upset on the cards.

Spurs are also going to find things tough today as they head to Fulham. The home side are also performing well only a point behind Liverpool and a win today is also on the cards. Bookmakers are also a little wary of this game with betting odds for Spurs quoted at 6/4; Fulham 2/1; and the draw at 5/2. Another home win here as well.

Home teams may well rule today with West Ham (6/5) tipped to continue Portsmouth’s (11/4) misery at the bottom of the table whilst Burnley (11/8) should do likewise to Bolton (11/5). Liverpool (3/10) should find three points against an impressive Wolves (11) outfit and Manchester City (5/11) should shrug off an equally impressive Stoke (8/1). This time last season Stoke were odds on for relegation with one bookmaker paying out on that result a little too early. What a difference 12 months makes – they are playing well.

In today’s other games, Sunderland (7/5) should scrape home against Everton (11/5) and Wigan (13/10) shoulder past Blackburn (12/5) both on the field and on the table.

We have a full week of English Premier League football – keep coming back for more previews – who knows, we may even pick the card again. Looking for a real outsiders tip – Wolves to draw with the Reds at 5/1 – now there is value!

Tiger Woods has announced he is removing himself from competitive golf for an indefinite period of time. I notice a few stories around, wondering what effect this will have on golf. Punters no doubt will be wondering what effect this will have on golf betting odds.

We seem to have short memories. Tiger took nine months off, the last half of last year and and the first three months of this year, and golf didn’t suffer that much. From a punter’s perspective, things got better with a better spread of ante-post betting markets.

For most tournaments since Tiger’s return, he started favourite and short priced at that. When you have a field of 80 or more golfers, a starting favourite at 6/4 is poor value – even if it is Tiger Woods. You must remember, he only wins around 1 in 4 appearances. Even backing him each way at a quarter the odds was poor value.

With Tiger taking a sabbatical, we will return to markets similar to late last year and early this year. Favourites were starting at prices as long as 10 or 12/1. On each way markets, you could still back them with returns around 5/2 or 3/1 – much better value than 2/3.

For golf, of course, they will miss him. His appearance in Australia last month proved how valuable his appearance can be with record crowds in attendance and record turnover in local betting markets. Golf will recover. Champions have come and gone over the years, some have lingered then faded.

Nicklaus was a great draw card and in recent years, Norman, Watson, Langer and Ballesteros have filled similar roles. Perhaps young golfers like Rory McIlroy, the highest ranked 20 year old in golfing history, can move on and fill Tigers shoes. Of course, Tiger could be back for next year’s majors -who knows? I wonder what the betting is on that?

I don’t know how much of an incentive it would be, but the prize for victory between unfancied Kettering and Leeds is a third round tie against Manchester United. It would certainly draw a big crowd if they are fortunate to have a home game.

As their betting odds suggest, Kettering (16/1) will have a tough task traveling to Leeds (2/9) and winning. Leeds currently head the League One table and look to be sailing towards promotion back to the Championship League. Kettering sit third on the table in the Blue Square League having had a reasonably good season.

This game is a rematch following a 1-1 draw at Kettering the first time around. Can they do it again is the big question. The draw for this game is 11/2 and is quite on the cards, especially with Kettering arranging five busloads of supporters. Leeds should be too strong but a good match is on the cards.

In other FA Cup matches –

Aldershot (11/8) are at home to Tranmere (21/10)
Barnet (6/5) host Accrington (11/4)
Oxford (1) travel to Barrow (10/3)
Luton (2) at home to Rotherham (6/4)
Stockport (1)at home to Torquay (3) and tomorrow night,
Millwall (1/4) host Staines Town (14)

In outright betting, Chelsea are still firm favourites at 4/1 with Manchester United at 9/2. Liverpool are third pick at 11/2 with Arsenal 7/1. Manchester City are quoted at 11/1.

Although the big four are firm favourites to take the cup, history suggests that only one of these teams make the finals – this is what makes the FA Cup so much of a challenge. Even a lowly team like Kettering can find themselves challenging for, and winning, the prestigious FA Cup.

When Tiger Woods pulled out of his own event, the Chevron World Challenge, few gave his replacement, Graeme McDowell, much hope of figuring in the finish. His betting odds were approaching triple figures and the likes of Westwood and Harrington dominated the betting. Going into the final day, things are very different.

Westwood (4/) and Harrington (7/2) still head the betting but McDowell is now well in the market at 9/2. His playing partner today is also well fancied. Yang Yong-Eun and McDowell take a one shot lead into the final round just ahead of Westwood and Harrington.

There is one area in sportsbetting that most people don’t consider – motivation. For McDowell, playing in this event isn’t enough – he needs to win. This event now includes world ranking points and a win for the Irishman will see him move into the world top 50 – and with it, an automatic invitation to next year’s US Masters.

Will motivation be enough to help him over the line today? We won’t know until the last ball’s been played but he certainly has the skills. Harrington and Westwood are the two most likely to steam home today. Westwood has had a good finish to the year with 8 top ten finishes out of his last 10 appearances – the latest a win in the Race to Dubai final.

Most people would have expected Tiger to win this tournament – so it would be fitting and somewhat ironic if his replacement did it for him. McDowell to win with Westwood and Harrington to fill the minor placings.

England appear to have drawn one of the easier pools in the World Cup 2010 finals next year with their opponents being the US, Algeria and Slovenia. The US will be their toughest opponents having defeated Spain on the way to the final of last summers Confederations Cup.

Brazil on the other hand have drawn a tough group with Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea. Spain remain as favourites with online sportsbooks at a rock steady 9/2. Brazil have eased half a point from 5/1 to 11/2 whilst England have firmed that half point from 13/2 into 6/1. It is shaping as interesting World Cup next year.

In the meantime, we have some great football to be played today and tomorrow. Unfortunately we have to wait until tonight for the best game of the round – Chelsea’s trip to Manchester City. Chelsea have been on a roll and sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Manchester United have a testy little trip to West Ham today – they should win but these away games can be tricky sometimes. United are five points clear of Spurs who themselves have a tricky away game to the out of sorts Everton. They bounced back during the week and may give Spurs a bit of a fright.

Arsenal are a point back and look to have the easiest game of the weekend hosting Stoke. Liverpool are hot on the heels of Arsenal but they too have an away game that may be tough to handle.

All eyes, however, are on tonight’s game with City with more than a chance to get some valuable points. A loss could see them lose touch with that coveted fourth place on the table. They are only a win out of the top four but a loss could see them six points adrift and from there the road could be tough. This weekend’s online betting odds with our selections in bold.

Portsmouth (10/11) v Burnley (7/2) – Draw 5/2
Arsenal (3/10) v Stoke (12) – Draw 9/2
Aston Villa (1/2) v Hull (7) – Draw 7/2
Blackburn (4) v Liverpool (4/5) - Draw 11/4
West Ham (7) v Manchester United (1/2) – Draw 16/5
Wigan (15/13) v Birmingham (13/5) – Draw 12/5
Wolverhampton (7/5) v Bolton (11/5) – Draw 23/10
Manchester City (7/2) v Chelsea (10/11) – Draw 5/2
Fulham (6/5) v Sunderland (13/5) – Draw 12/5
Everton (2) v Tottenham (6/4) – Draw 12/5

Roger Federer is struggling to maintain his number one position in ATP world ranking in the season ending ATP World Finals. He battled to get past Fernando Verdasco in what was a fantastic match to watch. Life was made a little easier for Federer when Soderling put paid to Nadal in their half of the draw.

The ATP World Finals is a restricted event with only eight qualifiers broken into two divisions. Each division plays a round robin format with the top two players going through to the semi-finals. Players need at least two round robin wins if they are to progress to the semi-final although that is not assured.

Nadal looks to be really struggling in this event. Federer is looking a little tired whilst Murray looks to be a little short of tournament fitness. Djokovic is the player to watch. He is the defending champion in this event and always seems to finish the year fairly strongly. In the past he has won this event late in the year and also the Australian Open in January – he obviously likes the northern winters.

Roger Federer is outright favourite to win this tournament with online betting quoting him at 9/4. Djokovic is next best in the market at 12/5 with Murray at 11/4. Robin Soderling heads the rest at 12/1.

All three are more than capable of taking this title but Djokovic seems to be in form and could be the one to catch. He is at very good tennis betting odds all things considered. Of course, tonight’s game between Federer and Murray will tell the story – the winner will take a huge step towards claiming favouritism – for me, it’s Djokovic.

The Race to Dubai enters its final day with Lee Westwood in the box seat to take both the tournament and the season’s number one title. A couple of slips by Rory McIlroy on the back nine has seen him drift in betting markets. He is now fairly good value at 14/1 with Westwood a dominant favourite at 1/2.

McIlory dropped three shots over the last three holes on day three to go into the clubhouse five shots off the lead. Westwood, on the other hand, carded a solid 66 to be clubhouse leader overnight. Ross McGowan splits the pair at two under with Padraig Harrington and Alexander Noren level with McIlroy in equal fifth.

Westwood is very poor value at 1/2 with golf sportsbooks. He is in the box seat and he is overdue for a win. However, his form over the 12 past months makes me a little cautious. He has a great record of top ten finishes. The reason he hasn’t converted more into wins is because of his habit of having one bad round in each tournament. He has had three good rounds so far so, according to his history, he is due for a bad one today.

Golf is a sport where so little can mean so much. McIlroy dropped three yesterday, yet three birdies today matched by three bogeys from Westwood and the lead will be reversed. McIlroy is normally very cool well playing from behind on the last day. The pressure is on the front runner, not him.

At 14/1 he looks to be a good value bet to take out this tournament. Westwood at 1/2 looks to be poor value and a fifty-fifty chance of having a bad day out.

Online bookmakers are wary of Manchester United in today’s top of the table clash against Chelsea and the betting odds certainly don’t flatter the home side. Chelsea are quoted at odds against at 11/10 with United well supported at just under 3/1. The draw is the bet that has been specked coming in from 5/2 to 11/5.

Some reporters are claiming this to be Chelsea’s do or die match. A loss will certainly mark Chelsea’s cards for the season and push United to the top of the table. A win is certainly not going to provide much in the way of impetus for Premiership glory. Some writers have short memories. United were in seventh and eighth place at this stage last season then sailed home to claim the title with ease.

Chelsea at home should win. Later in the season you have the reverse game with United playing host. That will be the game that determines Chelsea’s fortunes.

In today’s game, both sides are coming from indifferent midweek games and both sides have a few niggling injuries to their stars to consider. Chelsea at home should win. It’s not often you’ll find Chelsea at these odds for a home game so take advantage while you can. Chelsea to prove to strong in a tight contest.

In today’s other games, Hull (2/1) and Stoke (8/5) should play out an interesting game with Stoke having the edge in form. Hull at home can be difficult but Stoke should continue on their winning way.

You can almost bet on a draw between West Ham (6/4) and Everton (2/1). The Hammers are at home but hopelessly out of form. The Toffees are not playing well either – a draw is all either side deserve on current form.

Wigan at home should be too strong for the Fulham in an interesting middle of the table match. Fulham are playing well whilst Wigan seem to reserve their best for top of the table teams. At home, Wigan to win a close game.

It seems to be a good day to take the bookmakers on and perhaps profit a little. The favourites are all odds against, unusual, especially for home sides.