Pettersen wins LPGA Championship

Golf Betting Lines

06/11/2007 - Havre de Grace, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Suzann Pettersen waited two months for another chance. This time, she wouldn't let it get away.

The intense, long-hitting Norwegian won her first major Sunday by edging out Karrie Webb at the McDonald's LPGA Championship, atoning for her collapse at the first major of the season, the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April.

In that tournament, Pettersen gave away four shots on a three-hole stretch at the end of the final round, handing Morgan Pressel her first major instead.

Sunday, Pettersen made four birdies on the back nine, including a 12-foot putt at the 17th with Webb knocking on the door, and closed with a five-under 67 to win by a shot at Bulle Rock.

"Last time I was so close. To come here and win and feel the pressure coming down the stretch, it's just amazing to stand here and be by myself on top," said Pettersen, who finished at 14-under 274.

Pettersen needed a two-putt par from 30 feet at the 18th green to close it out. She nearly holed the first try, rolling it within tap-in range on the right side of the cup.

Then, she waited for playing partner and overnight leader Na On Min to putt out before finishing off her closing par.

"I was really happy I got it that close," Pettersen said of her 30-foot try on 18. "I'm really thrilled. It's been a great week."

Webb finished runner-up for the second year in a row after losing to Se Ri Pak in a playoff last June. Like Pettersen, she closed with a five-under 67 to end alone in second place at 13-under 275.

The 2001 champion, Webb made a 10-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole to pull within one shot of Pettersen, who had just finished up her birdie at the 17th.

She said the final round was nerve wracking and exciting all at once.

"That putt on the last at least gave Suzann a little bit to think about," said Webb.

Min, a rookie playing in her first major, rebounded from a bad front nine with four consecutive birdies from the 13th hole and finished in third place at 12- under 276. She had a 70 in the final round.

Lindsey Wright was another surprise after firing a final-round 66 Sunday to finish in fourth place at 10-under 278. She was a factor at the top of the leaderboard late into the day.

"It hasn't sunk in," Wright said of her surprising finish. "I'm so excited. It's a great confidence boost for me."

Angela Park (71) was fifth at nine-under 279, one shot ahead of Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer, Sophie Gustafson and Brittany Lincicome.

Annika Sorenstam had a 71 and finished nine shots off the lead at five-under 283. The three-time McDonald's LPGA winner was playing for just the second time since returning from a back injury.

Michelle Wie's troubles continued in the form of a final-round 79. Playing with an injured wrist that forced her controversial withdrawal last week, she finished at 21-over 309 -- in last place out of the 84 players who made the cut.

MORE TO FOLLOW.

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How did changes to college football betting rules affect bettors?

The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.

While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.

For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.

1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.

2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of online football betting possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.

How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.

Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.

Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.

How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).

Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.

Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on college football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.