Phil Mickelson a +220 Favorite in Champions Tour Debut at Ozarks National – Is He Worth Betting?

• The Champions Tour Charles Schwab Series at Ozarks National tees off Monday August 24th
• Phil Mickelson is making his Champions Tour debut and is a heavy +220 favorite to win
• We’ve narrowed down the golfers with the best chance of emerging victorious and provided the best value bets below

The Champions Tour is playing a rare tournament that begins on a Monday at Ozarks National from Hollister, Missouri – and it’s especially notable because it marks the debut of Phil Mickelson on the Champions Tour

Unsurprisingly he’s a huge favorite to take home the title at this brand new event.

Lefty very narrowly missed out on making the next leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs at the BMW Championship this week on the PGA Tour, so he’s making his debut ahead of next month’s US Open, the only major he has yet to win in his illustrious career.

At such short odds, is it worth plunking down some cash on the five-time major champion, or should you be focusing your efforts on somebody else?

2020 Charles Schwab Series at Ozarks National Odds

Odds taken August 24th

Mickelson a Mixed Bag This Year on PGA Tour

Phil has had a roller coaster in 2020 on Tour, finishing in an impressive tie for second just three tournaments ago as he became the oldest player to ever finish that high at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

He also very nearly picked off another title at Pebble Beach, where he eventually settled for third.

Confirmed: Bombs will be coming to PGA TOUR Champions.

Source: @PhilMickelson pic.twitter.com/oaGZwqTBfT

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) August 22, 2020

He’s also had six missed cuts, including last week at The Northern Trust, with nothing higher than a T-24 in his four other events this year. He’ll get a much needed shot in the arm this week against the over-50 circuit as he prepares for the US Open from September 17th-20th.

I’m going to play the Champions event this Monday. I’ve been playing well and I want to play. I wish I was playing in Chicago next week but excited to play my first Champions event.

— Phil Mickelson (@PhilMickelson) August 21, 2020

The Champions Tour is becoming deeper and deeper with recent additions like major champions Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Retief Goosen and Mike Weir. Though it’s tempting to assume Lefty will just immediately step into action and dominate, I’m too afraid at the insanely low +220 odds given that there’s plenty of other strong players competing.

Charles Schwab Series at Ozarks National Best Value Picks

1. Miguel Angel Jimenez (+1400): The winner at this year’s Mitsubishi Electric Championship has racked up nine Champions Tour titles. Finished T-3rd two starts ago at the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship. Third in putting, birdie average and all-around ranking this season.
2. Scott Parel (+2200): Not one of the bigger names but consistently produces. Winner at the Chubb Classic earlier in the year narrowly won a major, finishing runner-up at the Senior Players two weeks ago. Been inside the top-15 in six of eight events in 2020.
3. Colin Montgomerie (+4100): Has returned to form with his best two finishes on the campaign the last two weeks (T-3rd at Senior Players, T-11th last week at Bass Pro Shops) giving him juicy odds. Hits tons of fairways (fifth in accuracy), to make up for being a bit shorter (53rd). Nothing worse than 24th in the other four main strokes gained categories on the year.