(Best E Casino) - Benjamin Franklin didn't know Tiger Woods, and so he can't be faulted for not mentioning him in a 1789 letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy.
Commenting on the appearance of permanency in our new Constitution, Franklin remarked to the French scientist and author that "in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
Finishing a close third to those inevitabilities is Woods, whom oddsmakers have made a near even-money favorite to win the Masters this week.
Following an unscientific study of gambling outlets we came upon during a Yahoo! search, the worst odds that we could find for Woods still had him as a 7-5 favorite. The best had him at 11-10.
Which means you would have to spend a lot to win very little from a Woods victory next Sunday, provided you are somewhere that sort of thing is legal to do.
According to one Web site, Woods is likelier to win the grand slam this season (2-1) than he is to win no majors at all (6-1). That same site has him likelier to win the grand slam -- something that has been done just once, by the way, by Bobby Jones in 1930 -- than "only" two majors (3-1).
But why such good odds for someone who was beaten twice on the back nine last year during the final round of a major? Some one who couldn't take down Zach Johnson or Angel Cabrera?
To explain:
Woods has won four Masters, tied with Arnold Palmer for second place behind Jack Nicklaus' six. And while Woods has the game to win anywhere in the world, he is specifically well-suited to win at Augusta, now a long-hitter's paradise mostly because of Woods himself.
But it's not just his success at Augusta, where he won his last Masters title in 2005, that makes him an overwhelming favorite. There is also his recent seven-tournament winning streak to consider, and what effect a streak like that has on the rest of the players.
One of them finally told us.
After Geoff Ogilvy ended that worldwide winning streak at the CA Championship two weeks ago, the former U.S. Open winner vented his frustration with the perception that the other players on tour weren't trying to beat Woods.
"It's the chitchat about, 'Is he going to win every golf tournament this year?' That's frustrating stuff to hear," said Ogilvy.
Woods, of course, is partly responsible. And not just by his play.
Before the season started, the world's best golfer wouldn't rule out the possibility of winning the grand slam. Three straight PGA Tour wins later, and some pundits were talking about a perfect season.
All of which led to players being asked questions like: "How hard is it to beat Tiger Woods when he's playing this way?" As if anyone needs that question to be answered.
It's already hard enough playing against him, all things being equal. Then they tell you it's just as likely that he'll win the tournament you're playing than it is that one of the other 140-plus players will.
Even at a tournament like Augusta where -- wait for it -- Phil Mickelson has won two of the last four years. Players named Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk -- they'll be there this week, too.
Mickelson had the odds closest to Woods', running at about 10-1 last we checked. Goosen, a popular pick here at the Best E Casino, wasn't far behind, and neither was Ogilvy.
But unless someone else wins this week, the players will have a couple of months worth of questions to answer about the possibility of Woods winning the grand slam. They will continue all the way to the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, one of Woods' favorite courses.
Of course, there are still four rounds of golf to be played.
Will Woods win the Masters? Probably, although our failure to procure a flux capacitor has left us unable to travel to next Sunday night and back to let you know for sure.
One thing we do know: We wouldn't mind spending a little time in Tiger's tax bracket before we die.
