Columnist Jeff Haney: Golf wagering grabs spotlight

Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1999 | 10:30 a.m.

Jeff Haney's sports betting column appears Wednesday. Reach him at 259-4041 or haney@vegas.com

Like Harry Vardon's famous grip, golf and gambling have always overlapped.

Not until recent years, however, has the sport really taken off as a betting proposition in Las Vegas sports books.

Much of the credit for that goes to another, more contemporary golf pioneer.

"Ever since Tiger Woods broke onto the scene a few years ago, golf wagering has definitely entered the spotlight, no question," said Jeff Sherman, who sets golf odds for the Resort at Summerlin's sports book.

"With so much TV coverage today, everyone knows all the young golfers coming up. Fans have their favorite golfer just like they have their favorite NBA player. That's certainly affected the amount of betting."

This week's Las Vegas Invitational features an attractive field for golf bettors, headed by 8-1 favorite Phil Mickelson.

The LVI also provides a dose of adrenaline for the Resort at Summerlin, which places an emphasis on golf wagering and is located near host course TPC at Summerlin.

"A lot of people in town for the tournament are staying at our place," said Resort sports book director Jack Love. "I'm hoping a lot of others find us up here, come on in and fire away."

Jim Furyk, last year's champion, was listed at 10-1 to win the LVI. Mark Calcavecchia, who rallied to finish one stroke back a year ago, could be had at 20-1.

Sherman said early action was coming in on Justin Leonard (12-1), Fred Couples (20-1), Ted Tryba (40-1) and Scott McCarron (60-1), mostly in the form of small wagers.

One drawback for sports books is the five-day length of the LVI. If the tournament ran for only four days, as most do, gamblers would have a full extra day to get their money down. Betting closed Tuesday night for the tourney, which begins today.

The LVI's marquee matchup prop features Furyk (even money) against Mickelson (minus 120).

"Of all the players in the field, they are two of the best desert-course golfers," Sherman said. "Traditionally they've played very well here and in Arizona, on the Southwest-style courses."

Underscoring the widespread appeal of golf wagering, the Resort at Summerlin is also accepting bets this week on the Cisco World Matchplay Championship, which takes place Thursday through Sunday at Wentworth GC in Surrey, England.

"We try to do as much as we can with golf," Sherman said. "The NFL, by far, draws the most action, but golf is a global sport; it's popular on an international scale."

Although 1996 LVI champ Tiger Woods will not be competing in this year's event, his influence will be felt, especially in local sports books.

"Interest in everything involving golf, including the betting, has been spectacular since Tiger came onto the scene," Sherman said.

* LOST LUSTER: At one time, Notre Dame vs. Southern Cal was a truly national event that captured the imagination of Americans everywhere, from high-rolling gamblers to the betting public to anyone who was Irish and/or Catholic.

Then again, at one time they said Mass in Latin.

The 3-3 Fighting Irish host the 3-2 Trojans this Saturday, and Jack Love expects college football bettors to respond with a collective ho-hum.

"Maybe 15-20 years ago, this game was a much bigger deal," said Love, who has Notre Dame a 7 1/2-point favorite at the Resort at Summerlin. "Now it's only big when it's at USC, because a lot of people come to Vegas and then make their way down to the game.

"Being as it's at Notre Dame, I don't expect any more action on it than I would on any other good game."

Notre Dame has covered the spread in three of its six games this season, while USC hasn't covered since its season-opening 62-7 win at Hawaii. Trend lovers will note that Notre Dame has covered 11 of its last 15 against the Pac-10.

Early birds could have bet Notre Dame at minus 2 1/2 back in July, when the Imperial Palace posted the matchup as one of its Games of the Year.

* FAVORITES FALL: NFL underdogs covered in all but three games this past week, spelling trouble for the betting public.

Love said the house won money on almost every game in Week 5, although bettors scored a victory when the Bears upended the Vikings 24-22. Chicago opened at plus 12 1/2 and was bet down to plus 11.

One crucial win for the book came when the Colts, who were bet from a 2-point underdog to a 1-point favorite, lost to the Dolphins 34-31.

"The safety the Colts took helped us out," Love said. "Otherwise, we probably would have been middled on the game."

* MAYOR'S STUDY: In the wake of his recent meeting with NBA Commissioner David Stern, Mayor Oscar Goodman conducted an informal survey of nine local casinos regarding NBA betting.

Seven of the nine said they would support the "UNLV" rule if Las Vegas got an NBA team, meaning no wagers would be accepted on a local team's games. One property was not in favor of the "UNLV" rule or any other restrictions on sports betting. One property opted not to comment.

The study also revealed that locals-oriented casinos would be hurt more than those that cater to tourists if NBA games were taken off the board. This is because "tourist" properties believe the NBA would attract more visitors, who would likely hit the Strip's gaming tables after the ballgame.

"Locals" properties, on the other hand, fear losing the business of Las Vegas residents who frequent their sports books to bet NBA games.

* CONTEST WINNERS: Three contestants -- Domenic Cocuzzi, Frederick Kida and Dorothy Mahan -- went 16-1 this past week and split up the $15,000 prize in the free All-American Football Contest at the Stardust hotel-casino.

In the Stardust Invitational, handicapper Larry Ness went 4-3 to oust former NFL quarterback Cliff Stoudt (2-5). At 9 p.m. this Friday at the Stardust, Dana Corbo, owner and president of Don Best Sports, will square off against Jay Kornegay, Imperial Palace sports book director.