British Open preview, picks

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British Open preview, picks


The third Major of the golf season takes place this week with the Open Championship at Turnberry in Ayrshire, Scotland. This will be the fourth time the Open has been played here and the first since 1994 when Nick Price finished birdie-eagle-par and held off Jesper Parnevik to win by a stroke. The other times were in 1986 (Greg Norman) and 1977 (Tom Watson). The reason for the time off from the rotation was due to traffic issues to the course but all has been fixed.

Turnberry has been lengthened substantially, typical of most courses this decade at the majors. The weather plays a role here more than any other Major and that will be the case again. The early forecast shows that the sky will be overcast with a bit of wind and rain thrown in. The wind could be the big factor as it not only hurts those players with high ball flights but it also dries the course out. That means dry fairways and ball heading into the rough which will be jail this week.

Every Major tournament starts and ends with Tiger Woods (+165) and why shouldn?t it? He has 14 Major championships and without one this year, he will come in extra motivated if that is even possible. He missed the Open Championships last season and this will be his first ever walk around the Turnberry track. That may not seem like a way to win here but Woods has won five Majors at courses that he was playing competitively for the first time. He can?t be counted out.

Two-time defending champion Padraig Harrington (+2200) will be a favorite for a lot but I think he needs to be backed with caution. Harrington has missed the cut in eight of his last 14 starts, including five in a row. For a three-time Major champion over the last two years, it seems odd that Harrington would change his swing but that is exactly what he has done. He could be the first player to win the Open Championship three straight times since 1956 when Peter Thompson from Australia grabbed his third straight.

The sexy pick this week could be Martin Kaymer (+2500) who has moved up to 11th in the OWGR, following two straight victories at the Open de France and the Scottish Open. He did miss the cut at the Masters and U.S. Open this year but he has two other top five finishes and both of those came on Euro soil so he is playing well on a similar track. He has played in only one other Open Championship and that came last season where he finished +23 which was a fourth to last place finish.

When will Sergio Garcia (+2000) finally break through for a Major championship? Many thought last season was the year following a win at The Players and with Woods missing the final two Majors of the season but it was not to be. He finished T51 in 2008 which was a big disappointment considering his playoff loss in 2007 and his T5 in 2006. Still, he has played very well over the last 10 seasons at the Open and we could see him near the top on Sunday.

One solid links player who might be flying under the radar is Ian Poulter (+2500). He finished second in last year's British Open and he has been playing very well this season. It includes a T20 in the Masters and a T18 in the U.S. Open so his recent Majors track record has been solid. He has finished in the top 25 in the European Order of Merit every year since 2001 so he has proven to have success on these type courses and he could be the one that breaks through with that first Major.

The young gun this year is Rory McIlroy (+1800) who comes in a surprising second in the odds to Woods. It is surprising not because of his ability but because of his lack of experience. He played in the 2007 Open Championship as an amateur and had a solid T42 and this year, he brought home a T10 at the U.S. Open and a T20 at the Masters so maybe the experience may not matter. This may be the best suited Major for the Irishman, although his high ball flight could hurt so and he may be a year or two away to make a serious run.

Recommended plays for the Open Championship:

Last week, we were able to bring home a winner with Steve Stricker (+1000) and will look to cash again with moderate favorites as well as our safety valve.

Sergio Garcia (+2000) 2 Units
Ian Poulter (+2500) 2 Units
Tiger Woods (+165) 2 Units

AT&T National

Hunter Mahan (+1500) 2 Units L
Tiger Woods (+175) 2 Units W
K.J. Choi (+5000) ? Unit L

John Deere Classic

Steve Stricker (+1000) 2 Units W
Zach Johnson (+1500) 2 Units L
Kevin Sutherland (+4000) 1 Unit L

YTD +8 Units

 

[Lumi]

Tiger gets in another practice round

Tiger gets in another practice round

Tiger gets in another practice round
July 13, 2009


TURNBERRY, Scotland (AP) -Tiger Woods had another look at Turnberry as he prepares for the British Open, hopeful of taking possession of a major championship trophy again.


Woods teed off on the Ailsa Course early Monday morning and was finished as some players were just arriving. He had never seen Turnberry, which has not hosted golf's oldest championship since 1994.

``It's a lot more difficult than people are letting on,'' Woods said.

He had 15 clubs in the bag - one over the limit when the tournament starts Thursday - but was likely to take the 5-wood out and use his 2-iron to keep the ball flight down.

For the first time since 2004, Woods does not hold a major title.

 

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Harrington, Furyk, Ogilvy headline British Open groups

Harrington, Furyk, Ogilvy headline British Open groups

Harrington, Furyk, Ogilvy headline British Open groups


Ayrshire, Scotland - Two-time defending champion Padraig Harrington will play the first two rounds of the 138th British Open Championship at Turnberry with a pair of U.S. Open champions.

Harrington, whose last win was at the PGA Championship last August, is paired with 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk and 2006 U.S. Open winner Geoff Ogilvy for the first two rounds. They will start at 2:20 p.m. local time or 9:20 a.m. (et) on Thursday, then 4:09 a.m. (et) on Friday.

World No. 1 and three-time British Open champion Tiger Woods has the exact opposite tee times. He will tee off Thursday at 4:09 a.m. (et), then 9:20 a.m. (et) on Friday. Woods is paired with Ryo Ishikawa and Lee Westwood.

Thursday's early wave includes the likes of David Duval, Greg Norman, Steve Stricker, Sergio Garcia and Tom Watson.

Duval, the 2001 champion, is coming off a share of second place at the U.S. Open Championship. He will be joined by Nick Dougherty and Adam Scott on the first tee Thursday at 2:25 a.m. (et).

Two-time Open champion Norman was last year's feel good story with the lead heading into the final round at Royal Birkdale, but he has collected just one top-20 finish this season and that was on the Champions Tour. Norman, the 1986 winner at Turnberry, follows Duval's group and is paired with Oliver Wilson and Kenny Perry.

Stricker, who won the John Deere Classic on Sunday, follows Norman off the first tee. Stricker is paired with Wen-chong Liang and Henrik Stenson, who shared third place behind Harrington last year.

Garcia and Watson are paired with amateur Matteo Manassero at 2:58 a.m. (et) on Thursday. Watson is a five-time British Open champion, which includes his famous "Duel in the Sun" with Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry in 1977, and a three- time Senior British Open winner.

Woods is six groups after the Garcia/Watson grouping.

Later in the draw is three-time British Open champion Nick Faldo. He will play alongside Brian Gay and Soren Kjeldsen.

Leading up to Harrington's group, there are several star-studded groupings.

Ernie Els, the 2002 Open champion and two-time U.S. Open winner, will play with Martin Kaymer, who has won the last two European Tour events, and Lucas Glover, who earned his first major championship title earlier this year at the U.S. Open. They will start Thursday at 7:58 a.m. (et).

The following group has three players looking to break through for their first major - Hunter Mahan, Justin Rose and Andres Romero. Eight-time Order of Merit champion Colin Montgomerie will play with K.J. Choi and 2007 Masters winner Zach Johnson are in the next group.

Two-time U.S. Open champ Retief Goosen will start at 8:31 a.m. (et) Thursday and will play alongside Rory McIlroy and Anthony Kim. Two groups later is Ian Poulter, last year's runner-up. He will play with J.B. Holmes and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

In the next group, which precedes Harrington's pairing, is Ryuji Imada, Paul Casey and Masters champion Angel Cabrera. The three groups after Harrington each include a former British Open champion.

Paul Lawrie, the 1999 winner, is in the group following Harrington, then comes 1995 champ John Daly and 1996 titlist Tom Lehman, who will play alongside 2001 PGA Championship winner David Toms.

 

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British Open Betting Preview

British Open Betting Preview

British Open Betting Preview

The oldest and most prestigious major golf championship to those golfers around the world commences Thursday, with Tiger Woods commanding the lion?s share of attention, but not all of it. Though Mr. Woods is a decided favorite, several other top golfers are being considered for this weekend?s action, as potential champions in the third major tournament of the year.

Woods has three wins and eight top 10 finishes since returning to stroke play events in 2009, coming off knee surgery. It has been evident Tiger has not always trusted his full arsenal of shots this year, however with each tournament played; his confidence in different aspects of his game has grown.

Sportsbook.com has Woods as +180 money line pick and links golf plays into his greatest strength, his mind. No professional golfer has a better imagination to develop shots and with his ability to execute; this is the reason why he is always the top choice to be champion. Don?t look to see the driver much from Woods, looking to keep the ball out of the deep rough.

Maybe it?s because Tiger hasn?t nailed down a major in 2009, but several different golfers are being given a chance to win the British Open.

One difference is just the fact it is a links course, making it more difficult to predict a winner by the ever-changing conditions one could see at Turnberry. Those who arrived early to play practice rounds have seen the weather fairly normal (sun, rain, sun and more rain), however the wind has blown from three different directions in three days.

Retief Goosen, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia are listed as +2000 choices to walk away with the Claret Jug. Goosen is always mentioned in any major, since his game is steady and he?s always at or near the top of the leaderboard. Poulter has been a little more erratic this season, with four Top 10 finishes, yet he?s finished below 50th in two of his last four starts. What can you say about Sergio? He?s only had one Top 10 finish in the States this season, as his balky putter continues to haunt him. One aspect in his favor, the greens at Turnberry are relatively flat, which should help, as he strives to finally win the ?big one?.

The next group at +2500 is a cauldron of players and styles, which is as perplexing and wonderful as you will find. Padraig Harrington tried to improve his swing after winning the British Open and PGA Championship last year. To say it hasn?t worked as planned is similar is to saying former baseball star Lenny Dykstra has a few financial difficulties. Harrington recently won the Irish Open and even he wasn?t sure what this has done for his confidence, as he has two Top 20 (no Top 10?s) finishes in 13 other starts, with seven missed cuts.

Hunter Mahan is being given a chance to be solid contender, based on his last three tournaments in which he?s finished in order T6th, T4th and 2nd. The 6th place finish was at the U.S. Open and he fired a closing round 62 at the AT&T National, having the clubhouse lead until Tiger passed him with birdie late in his last event.

Rory Mcllroy gathers a great deal of attention as a young golf prodigy at 20 years old. Mcllroy has immense talent and if he can play well for first three days, he?s shown the pedigree of being able to knock down a good number on Sunday?s.

Lee Westwood has been playing consistent golf for over a year and is off two Top 10 finishes, making him a contender.

Martin Kaymer of Germany falls into the darkhorse category at +3000. Kaymer has quietly moved up to 11th in World Rankings with consecutive wins in the French Open and Barclays Scottish Open this past week. Kaymer?s short game is Top 10 material and he?s shown grace under pressure when leading.

Though 18 years older, Steve Stricker has a lot in common with Kaymer, besides the same odds to win the British Open. Sticker has four Top 3 finishes in 2009, including winning two of his last four starts. His win at the John Deere continues his career resurgence and he can roll the ball with the best of them with flat stick when confidence is at top level.

Geoff Ogilvy, Henrik Stenson, Jim Furyk and Paul Casey all deserve mention; nonetheless it all starts with El Tigre.

Tiger has won three previous British Opens, but as Mark Reason writes in the Sunday Independent, Woods? wins have come on dry and more burned-out links courses. Turnberry has thick, lush rough and similar courses like Birkdale, Lytham, Troon, St George's and Carnoustie, have all kept him out of the winners circle.

Turnberry is in a remote part of Scotland and was used as an air-base for World War II. Now it will face the assault of the world?s best golfers, hosting the Open Championship for only the fourth time.

 

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BETTING: Woods heavy favorite in British

BETTING: Woods heavy favorite in British

BETTING: Woods heavy favorite in British

Tiger at 9-4 odds; no one else less than 20-1

Picking the favorite in a golf major does not require the brain power of an astrophysicist. The top spot automatically goes to Tiger Woods, and the only debate is whether the smart money should follow him.

Woods is a 9-4 favorite to win the British Open, which begins Thursday at Turnberry in Scotland, and he's due to win after falling short in the year's first two majors.

A wager on Woods offers little value at less than 5-2 odds, but the quandary is figuring out who can beat him.

"It's easy to say Tiger's going to give you a run for your money on Sunday afternoon," Las Vegas Hilton golf oddsmaker Jeff Sherman said. "Everybody else is a crapshoot. Outside of Tiger, everybody else is 20-1 or higher."

The strongest trend seems to favor Padraig Harrington, who won the British Open the past two years. Harrington, a 25-1 shot, has been in poor form recently, however.

The second choice on the board is Sergio Garcia at 20-1, but Garcia is a head case, and he's never won a major. Phil Mickelson, normally the No. 2 choice, is not playing this week.

That leaves long-shot bettors with choices such as Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood (25-1), Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan and Steve Stricker (30-1).

Sherman said the British Open is considered the "most wide-open of all the majors," and that proved true when Ben Curtis won in 2003 and Todd Hamilton took the title in 2004. European books offered Curtis at 500-1 odds before he shocked the field.

Woods, who has won three of his past seven tournaments, finished tied for sixth in the U.S. Open in June despite an unlucky draw that forced him to play in the poorest weather conditions.

Sherman said his best bet this week is Woods, who won the British Open in 2005 and 2006.

"Tiger probably would have won the U.S. Open if all things were equal," Sherman said. "I would fully expect him to win this tournament if he gets an equal shot at it. Even though he hasn't won the majors, his game is right there."

 

[Lumi]

Book reveals who bettors are backing for British Open

Book reveals who bettors are backing for British Open

Book reveals who bettors are backing for British Open

We have lines posted for the four majors and the Ryder Cup because of their popularity. These events end up much more interesting for us because of the action we accumulate long before the tourneys begin.

We have a full season?s betting data on the British Open to analyse, rather than just the evidence of a book being on the boards for just a few days.

Tiger Woods is the overwhelming favorite of course at +187, which is a very short price on a links golf competition. We have no choice, though. The money rains in on Tiger and if we increase the price the public just eats it up quicker.

Part of the reason why Tiger is such an obvious bet is because there is no clear competition. Padraig Harrington has won the last two British Opens and the USPGA but he?s been playing like an absolute drain all season and is a +2800 longshot.

We would have taken some money on Harrington when the market was first posted, but every tournament that Harrington?s played this year has shattered people?s faith in him and anybody betting Harrington to win three Claret Jugs in a row at this stage can only be the most hopeless romantic.

The most popular choices for bettors outside of Tiger are two Europeans: Spain?s Sergio Garcia and Harrington?s fellow Irishman Rory McIlroy.

Garcia was second in the British Open when Harrington won at Carnoustie in 2007, while McIlroy is a young man of enormous potential. McIlroy also has the advantage of growing up playing links golf.

That experience on links counts. Most of the U.S. players are longshots for the British Open because the Open is always played on a links. For players that learned their golf on parkland courses, it?s like playing on the surface of the moon - a terrifying experience.

You hit it well off the tee but by the time it stops bouncing the ball could be under a sheep or a gorse bush and impossible to reach with anything other than a shepherd?s crook.

Of the other European tour regulars, we?re seeing action on Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, all of whom are priced at +3000. Poulter is probably the best threat of the bunch. He is famous for his clothes and infamous for his big mouth, but he was second at the Open last year at Royal Birkdale. Stranger things have happened, especially at the British Open.

We?re seeing decent action on Americans Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan, who came second to Tiger at Congressional recently. Anthony Kim at +4000 or Kenny Perry at +6000 could be worth an each way bet but we?re not seeing much money directed their way.

People believe in the Tiger and they?re putting their money where their mouths are

 

[Lumi]

British Open forecast: Rain may reign

British Open forecast: Rain may reign

British Open forecast: Rain may reign

Remember last month, when the interminable rain turned Bethpage Black into a water park and the U.S. Open into an endurance match?

Get ready for more of that when the British Open tees off later this week at Turnberry.

The Ailsa course at the resort located on the West Coast of Scotland is hosting the tournament for the first time since 1994 and fourth time overall. It is most famous for the "Duel in the Sun" in 1977, when Tom Watson defeated Jack Nicklaus by one stroke in one of the most compelling final rounds in golf history.

This week will be more like "Duel in the Rain." It won't be as bad as last month's U.S. Open, where the entire final round was bumped to a fifth day. But there is a good chance that many players will be unable to complete rounds and have to continue on the course the following day.

In addition to temperatures topping out in the mid-60s, afternoon showers are in the forecast for Thursday's opening round. The rain should continue through Thursday night and all day Friday, which could have some golfers still playing their opening rounds on the third day of the tournament.

More showers are forecast for Saturday, although they are expected to taper off and provide drier golf weather for the rest of the weekend. About the best news is that the winds are not expected to climb above 10 miles per hour.

Wet conditions will make the par-70, 7,211-yard course play much longer to shorter hitters such as Jim Furyk and Chris DeMarco, and approach shots that once found the green may find one of the course's many treacherous bunkers.

The fairways won't provide the bounce and roll that normally exist in dry conditions, likely removing the possibility of eagle on the par-5 holes at 7 and 17.

One positive is that the steeply sloped greens will not be as difficult or penal when wet. But as the conditions change over the weekend, so will how the golf course plays.

Watson and Nick Price (1994) share the tournament course record at 12-under 268. Expect a winning score closer to the even-par 280 Greg Norman won with in 1986.

 

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Tee time: golfers set for British Open

Tee time: golfers set for British Open

Tee time: golfers set for British Open

The 138th British Open is set to tee of this Thursday at the 7,204 yard, par 70, Turnberry's Ailsa Course in Scotland.

The course is hosting the tournament for just the fourth time overall and the first time since 1994. Each previous time, however, the world?s No. 1 golfer walked away with the Claret Jug. Some critics believe the course is the easiest in the major tournament?s rotation, but changes to the seldom-used links could make for an interesting challenge.

Here's a quick look at the top contenders:

Tiger Woods (+175)

The three-time British Open winner rebounded from a sub-par showing at the U.S. Open to claim his own tournament at Congressional Golf Course two weeks ago. Woods appears rested and is rounding back into shape as he continues to recover from his knee injury.

Padraig Harrington (+1200)

The two-time defending British Open champion has been plying his trade on the Irish PGA Tour this year, and appears poised to defend his crown after winning last weekend?s Irish PGA Championship for the third straight season. Before the win, however, Harrington had missed the cut in his past five events.

Sergio Garcia (+1200)

The best player on tour to never win a major, he finished runner-up to Harrington in 2007. The Spaniard, however, has fallen on hard times, plummeting to 106 on the money list through 10 events. Garcia has missed two cuts and has only one top 10 finish this season: last month at the U.S. Open.

Paul Casey (+2000)

The 11th-ranked player on the money list continues to have a solid season. He has three top-10 finishes including a win at the Shell Houston Open in April. But Casey isn?t playing his best entering the British Open. He has missed the cut in each of his past two events. Casey also has never finished higher than sixth at a major.

Jim Furyk (+2500)

The 14th-ranked player on the tour?s money list is doing everything but winning. Furyk has seven top-10 finishes in 14 events this year, but hasn?t hoisted a trophy since 2007. He does, however, have five career top-10 finishes at the British Open and is due to break through soon.

Other notables: Lee Westwood (+2500), Anthony Kim (+2500), Henrik Stenson (+2500), Camilo Villegas (+3000), Robert Karlsson (+3000), Vijay Singh (+3000), Geoff Ogilvy (+3000), Adam Scott (+3000), Justin Rose (+3000), Ian Poulter (+3500) and the Field (+600).

Coverage begins Thursday morning on TNT at 6:30 a.m. EST.

Odds courtesy of BetUS.com.