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If the odds for this weekend’s Deutsche Bank Championship, the second round of the FedExCup playoffs, are any indication, Vegas is regaining its faith in Tiger Woods.  Tiger’s the 7/1 favorite to win the tournament. In a bit of a surprise, the next-best bet is no longer world number two Phil Mickelson (16/1), but Steve Stricker at 11/1.  Stricker is ranked fourth in the world, and second in the FedExCup standings.

Vegas also likes Tiger to not just make the cut (-700 YES/+400 NO), but to finish in the top 10 (-130 YES/EVEN NO). Tiger’s only missed one cut all year — though he would have also miss the cut if the WGC-Bridgestone had a cut.  But he’s also only finished in the top 10 twice this year, both at majors. Before finishing T12 last week in the first round at The Barclays, Tiger’s best non-major finish was a T23 at The Memorial in June.

Steve Stricker’s prop odds: top 10 finish (+110 YES/-140 NO), 11th-29th finish (+250), 30th or worse (+195). Stricker was T3 last week for his seventh top 10 of the year. He’s finished 11th-29th only three times this year, most recently a T18 at the PGA Championship, and 30th or worse six times, most recently a T55 at the British Open.

Phil Mickelson missed the cut last week for the second time this year. Vegas doesn’t see that happening two weeks in a row (-700 YES/+400 NO). Mickelson has fallen to 10th in the FedExCup standings.  Other prop bets for Phil: top 10 finish (+135 YES/-175 NO), top 13 (+120), 14th-31st (+250), 32nd or worse (+175). Phil’s only had five top 10 finishes this season, most recently his T4 at the US Open back in June. He’s had one other finish in the top 13, his T12 at the PGA Championship. He’s finished 14th-31st five times, and below 31st five times, including three of his past four tournaments.  Phil’s rough stretch also coincides with his health problems and controversial conversion to vegetarianism.