Shell Houston Open 2013 odds: Rory McIlroy the favorite

Rory McIlroy hasn’t had the smoothest start to his 2013 season, but that hasn’t caused bettors to have any less faith in him as he is the betting favorite to win this week at the 2013 Shell Houston Open.

McIlroy is a 9/1 favorite to win at Redstone, according to the latest odds from Bovada. At 12/1, he is also the favorite to hold the first-round lead. The Shell Open will be McIlroy’s fourth PGA event of the season. He’s yet to win an event this season, finishing in the top 10 once in three tries. McIlroy has not played this event since 2010 when he shot 74, 73 and missed the cut at plus-3.

Keegan Bradley enters the event with the second best odds as he is currently a 12/1 favorite. Bradley finished in the top 10 in three straight events, including last week when he finished in a tie for third at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Following Bradley, Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker and Hunter Mahan are tied as 16/1 favorites. Mahan won the event last year while Mickelson won in 2011 and finished in a tie for fourth last season.

McIlroy is also the favorite when it comes to a top finish as he’s currently plus-180 to finish in the top five. Bradley, Stricker and Mickelson have the next best odds for a top five finish at plus-275.

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