From: Scott <nittanylion96@hotmail.com>

Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 12:52 PM

To: Dan Hoelke; Eric A. Drossner; Paul S. Rovner; Scott

Subject: MBBC XVIII - Opening Odds

With a little more than 9 weeks to go, the oddsmakers have finally gotten around to posting the opening odds for th 18th annual Myrtle Beach Birdie Championship.  The MBBC had to be pushed back to September due to the fatc that Scott Woods and his wife had their second child in early May.  The tournament is scheduled for Spetember 19th - 23rd.  All flights have been booked and a rental vehicle from Sixt has been reserved.  The 18th installemnt of the MBBC will feature another incredible course lineup.  The tournament will start on Friday at the little known Founders Club.  In keeping with tradition, Saturday will be at Barefoot.  Sunday will be a long drive to play the True Blue/Caledonia combo.  Monday will be an itriguing day, as the group will play the Big Cats combo of Tiger's Eye and Leopard's Chase.  And the tournament will close at Barefoot Love on Tuesday.  The schedule change allows the payers more time to prepare for the MBBC, which should translate into more birdies.  From everyone's favorite gambling website, Sportsbook.ag, here are the opening odds to win the 2014 Myrtle Beach Birdie Championship:

Eric Drossner:    1-5

Having won 6 of the last 7 titles, Eric Drossner has been established as the heavy oddsmakers favoite for 2014.  Drossner recently joined a club and has been playing ona  regular basis.  The oddsmakers have brushed aside reports from Drossner's camp that he is struggling with certain aspects of his game and more importantly struggling to birdie.  Drossner remains the most consistent player in the group.  He is solid off the tee and the most consistent in hitting the green and creating birdie opportunities.  His putting, once a major negative, has vastly improved and is an important part of his incredible run of titles.  As always, the oddsmakers blieve this is Drossner's tournament to lose.  Drossner seems to be a lock to record at least 6 birdies, and there is some question as to whether any of the other players can even match that total (or best it as would be necessary to avoid the tie breaker).  Drossner will likly be the most prepared of the foursome come mid-September.

Dan Hoelke:       3-1

The more things change, the more they stay the same...  Despite the fact that Hoelke has continually let them down, the oddsmakers have made him the second favorite to win in 2014.  Hoelke has played a few productive rounds in what appears to be a slow build-up to the MBBC.  He captured yet another Hilton Head Birdie Championship firing 2 birdies in 2 rounds.  Hoelke has taken a brief hiatus since capturing that title, but plans to play at least once during a vaction to Kure Beach.  Hoelke anticipates playing one-time MBBC venue, Cape Fear Golf Course.  After that, Hoelke's warm-up round schedule is unclear.  The oddsmakers are also encouraged by Hoelke's recent purchase of new clubs, as they believe it can only help his game.  There are some concerns about Hoelke's plan to drink (possibly excessively) during multiple rounds of this year's tournament.  However, there are some who believe Hoelke plays better when he drinks or is hungover citing his 6 birdie day while hungover in 2005.  They also believe that Hoelke's plan suggests that he will be much more relaxed then he has been in year's past, and that that can only result in more birdies.  The oddsmakers believe that Hoelke is the strongest threat to Drosser, but others believe that does not bode well for the long sought parity in the MBBC.  

Scott Woods:      8-1

The oddsmakers appear to have lost almost all faith in the former champion.  Many thought the birth of hs second child would result in Woods playing almost no golf in the months before the MBBC.  However, Woods has been on a tear of late, as he's played4 times in the last several weeks and plans on playing approximately once per week before the MBBC.  Woods' rounds have been... up and down.  He's managed only 1 birdie in those 4 rounds, and his putting has been atrocious.  Woods hopes that the extra time and warm-up rounds will help him improve his game.  He has been somewhat stubborn though, as he admits that he refuses to change any part of his game, such as not wearing a glove, and refuses to even considering taking lessons.  Oddsmakers are concerned about Woods' past performances.  He has a tendency to make an early statement in the MBBC, before his game falls to pieces mid-way through.  In addition, recent statements attributed to Woods suggest that he does not  believe he can compete with Drossner for the title because he can't make the 6 or more birdies likely required to beat him.  There are also rumors that Woods may be dealing with an undisclossed injury, rumored to be a torn rotator cuff.  Some might call Woods this year's darkhorse, but it's hard to consider him a darkhorse, when it appears he doesn't even think he can win.  Woods' performance in warm-up rounds over the next few weeks should shed some light on whether or not he is a serious contender.  

Paul Rovner:      30-1

If reports out of his camp are accurate, Paul Rovner appears to be a shadow of the player who dominated the field and ended Drossner's run of titles in 2012.  Rovner struggled mightily in his effort to defend his title in 2013.  He was never in the hunt and managed only 2 birdies.  He has played highly competitive rounds since then, incuding a trip to Kiawah Island, where he showed signs of life by firing a couple of birdies (although he lost the KIBC to his father).  Since that trip, Rovner has revertedf to his poor 2013 form in warm-up rounds.  he described his play as "torture."  His solution has been to get away from golf for awhile and then to take alesson or 2 in a few weeks.  There are still many who believe that Rovner is the darkhorse of 2014 (some would say he is a very, very, very, very dark horse).  It seems unlikely that Rovner's game ould completely crash after his performance in 2012.  Soem believe that 2014 is shaping up just like 2012.  Rovner is expected to increase his warm-up rounds in the weeks before the MBBC and could get his game in shape for a run at the 2014 title.  For now, the oddsmakers believe he will likely be looking up at the rest of the foursome from the bottom of the scoreboard.