Tiger against the world

By: Brian Gabrielle
http://www.bgsports.com

At this week's Dubai Desert Classic, it's Tiger versus everybody else as Woods goes for a seventh straight win.

Tiger Woods is such a dominant force in professional golf that the Las Vegas Hilton has him pitted against the field in this weekend's Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club.

SuperBook oddsmaker Jeff Sherman says he wanted to do something different to attract betting action from the throngs that will jam Las Vegas this week for Sunday's Super Bowl between Chicago and Indianapolis. The game's 31-year-old superstar is coming off another victory in the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines, his 55th PGA Tour triumph and seventh in a row.

"Last week we adjusted odds on Saturday night, after the third round, and there was a lot of interest, so I wanted to do something like this," Sherman said.

The Dubai field is a minus $1.60 favorite at the Hilton and Woods a plus $1.40 underdog.

"My biggest problem (with this) right now is trying to find the one golfer who can beat him. It's difficult.

"He has beaten 140 golfers seven times in a row and would have to be about a $4.00 favorite against anyone."

Woods, who has yet to annouce when he'll play his next PGA Tour event, next will be taking aim at legendary Byron Nelson's record 11-straight victories. Some argue that Tiger failed to win a few events on foreign soil last fall in the midst of his winning streak, but the comeback is they weren't PGA Tour-sponsored tournaments.

In Nelson's era, Americans only competed in tourneys played in the United States - - and for a lot less money than today. Woods himself has said it's like trying to compare apples and oranges, but acknowledges he has his sights set on Nelson's mark.

"Can he do it?" Sherman asked. "That's like asking if he can win a Grand Slam this year. Yeah, if anyone can do it, he can. Do I think he will? No.

"There are too many variables involved ... course conditions, so many different people."

Woods' wife, Scandanavian model Elin Nordegren, is pregnant and due to deliver their first child in early summer, sometime between the U.S. Open and British Open. Woods is expected to compete in both majors.

Tony Nevill, race and sports director at the New Frontier, believes if the baby arrives before he captures an 11th consecutive triumph, Woods won't tie or break Nelson's standard.

"He'll be too blown away, like any first-time father," Nevill observed.

Nevada bet shops are forbidden by state statute from accepting wagers on such things, but Costa Rican book BoDog.com has odds on what the baby's gender will be and whether it will be delivered closer to the U.S. or British Open.

A boy is minus $1.30 and a girl minus $1.10, while closer to June's U.S, Open is plus $1.40 and closer to July's British Open is minus $1.80.