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Sydney - An Australian betting agency is so convinced that Tiger Woods will win the Australian Masters, it paid out punters who backed the US superstar on Friday - two days before the tournament ends.
Sportsbet handed out over A$150 000 to the more than 1 000 people who wagered that the world number one would not stumble during the tournament at Kingston Heath, Melbourne.
"Tiger is clearly our worst result, and despite being only a few strokes ahead, we think the Australian Masters is a foregone conclusion," Sportsbet's chief executive Matthew Tripp said.
"Even with tough greens expected on the weekend, we expect Tiger to romp home to his first tournament win on Australian soil."
The company said it will still accept bets on any player in the Masters, including Woods, who Friday was two strokes ahead of the field late in the second round.
So what happens if the unbelievable happens and Woods fails to win the tournament? "If he loses, the money we've paid will still stand," said Sportsbet spokesperson Haydn Lane.
Punters have rushed to put money on Tiger Woods as he plays in the European Tour co-sanctioned event - with Lane saying bets on the Masters had more than quadrupled because of Tiger.
