Previewing the 2009 British Open
The British Open gets underway tomorrow morning at Turnberry in Scotland, and it’s no surprise who the favorite is.
Tiger Woods will be gunning for his fourth British Open title and 15th major overall after lifting the Claret Jug in 2002, 2005, and 2006, and at 2/1 to win in the latest British Open odds, Tiger’s an overwhelming favorite over the rest of the field.
Tiger has three wins on the season and has finished in the top 10 of all eight stroke-play tournaments he’s participated in this season, and he’s coming off of a win at the AT&T National two weeks ago, so it’s safe to say that he’s going to be expected to win at Turnberry, which isn’t anything different from any other tournament that he plays in, major or otherwise.
Tiger has won at least one major in each of the last four years, and after finishing tied for sixth in both the Masters and the U.S. Open this year, we’re going to have a pretty hungry Tiger this week.
Of course, as much as he does come through for you, there’s only so much benefit as a bettor when you’re putting your money on Tiger, and with that in mind, here’s a look at a number of other names worth taking a look at if you plan to do some British Open betting this week.
Padraig Harrington: You certainly can’t go without mentioning the two-time defending champion, can you? Harrington has had quite the forgettable year thus far, as he’s missed six cuts and not been able to record a single top-10 finish in 13 events on the PGA Tour thus far.
However, a seven-stroke win at the Irish PGA Championship might be a confidence boost for Harrington, as he’s gone on to win the British Open each of the last two years in the same result as he won the Irish PGA Championship.
One thing working against Harrington? No one has been able to win three straight British Open titles since Peter Thomson did from 1954-56, so it’ll be a tall order, especially with a healthy Tiger in the field. But at 25/1, he’s more than worth your money if you’re looking for someone not named Tiger.
Paul Casey: Casey’s career season has vaulted him to #3 in the world rankings behind Tiger and Phil Mickelson, who, as expected, won’t be at Turnberry. Casey has two wins on the European Tour, won the PGA Tour’s Shell Houston Open, and finished runner-up to Geoff Ogilvy at the Accenture Match Play Championship.
Like Harrington, Casey’s got 25/1 odds. His previous high finish in a major was a tie for sixth at the Masters in 2004, but with the way he’s been playing this year, this might be the weekend he gets his first major title.
Sergio Garcia: Sergio hasn’t had too great of a 2009, but the Open could bring out his best. He’s finished in the top 10 six of the last eight years, including a runner-up finish to Harrington in a playoff in 2007. 25/1 might be generous given how he’s been playing this year, and you might find Harrington or someone else a better option, but don’t count him out.
Rory McIlroy: The 20-year-old is projected as a star for the future, but he could show that he’s got the makings of being one in the present this weekend. He finished tied for 10th at the U.S. Open after finishing tied for 20th at the Masters, and he’s 5th on the European Tour money list with a win in the Dubai Desert Classic and seven top-10 finishes and 14 made cuts in 15 events. Another solid option at 25/1.
Martin Kaymer: Kaymer might be a name unfamiliar to American golf fans, but the 24-year-old German is quickly becoming a star on the European Tour. After winning twice on the European Tour last year, Kaymer has won twice already this year and is second on the European Tour’s money list behind Casey. He missed the cut at both the Masters and the U.S. Open, but he could fare a lot better on European soil. He’s a little lower on my favorites list than a few others with lesser or similar odds, but at 28/1, he’s certainly one to watch.
Ian Poulter: Poulter finished second in last year’s Open, four shots behind Harrington. Like Kaymer, comes in with 28/1 odds.
Geoff Ogilvy: Ogilvy hasn’t been able to keep up the momentum from his excellent start to the year, when he won twice in his first five events, but he’s still considered one of the non-Tiger favorites at 33/1.
Steve Stricker: Stricker has finished in the top 10 in each of the last two years, and 2009 has been very good to him. He’s won twice, moved up to sixth in the world rankings, and comes to Turnberry second in the PGA Tour money list and off the heels of a win at the John Deere Classic. This might be the time when he finally wins his first major, and at 40/1, I say go for it.
Kenny Perry: Perry experienced real heartache at the Masters in April, losing a late lead and then losing in a playoff to Angel Cabrera, and he was in a funk after that until a win at the Travelers Championship two weeks ago. He followed that up by finishing tied for 59th at the John Deere Classic last week, so there’s no telling which Perry we’ll see this week. But you can’t count him out, and at 40/1, he might worth a look.
K.J. Choi: Choi finished tied for 8th at Carnoustie in 2007, and last year, was only two shots behind Norman going into the final round before a final-round 79 saw him drop to a tie for 16th.
Greg Norman: This one may be a bit out of left field, but if you’re looking for a real long shot, why not? Norman won his first British Open title at Turnberry in 1986 and finished tied for 11th there in 1994, and he was the leader after 54 holes at last year’s Open at Royal Birkdale before faltering in the final round and finishing tied for third. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that he winds up in contention this weekend, so putting a small amount on him at 200/1 may not be as outlandish as it may appear.
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