Handicapping

Golf betting players have witnessed Anthony Kim emerge as a major-championship contender, and it's all more impressive when you realize the pain he has put himself through all season.

Kim came into the season with his ailing thumb, and got off to a rough start, but then he caught fire at the Honda Classic, coming in second to Camilo Villegas. He followed that up with a 22^nd-place result at Doral, and then he won in Houston before a final-round surge at the Masters. Kim also came in seventh at Quail Hollow before deciding to undergo surgery on his thumb, and he won't be back until after the British Open at St. Andrews.

Kim tried to get as many points as he could early in the season so he could play on the Ryder Cup team, which will face off against Europe in Wales in October. Kim was a force on the 2008 team that ended the Americans' three-Cup losing skid to the Europeans, taking 3.5 points which including a rout of Sergio Garcia in the Sunday singles that kickstarted the day for Team USA. He won another three points for the Americans in the Presidents Cup last year, including a big win over Robert Allenby, who accused Kim of going out late the night before their match. Kim's energy and enthusiasm is important to the new-found American team concept, and he's pretty skilled with the golf clubs, as well. While his individual accolades may take a hit for the rest of the year, the sports betting odds for the USA in the Ryder Cup could receive a boost if he's 100% healthy.