2010 British Open
In this year’s third Major tournament, the best golfers in the world return to the home of golf, the Old Course at St. Andrew’s Links in Fife, Scotland for the 150th anniversary of the Open Championship. The first round is scheduled to get underway on Thursday, July 15th with the final of four rounds scheduled for Sunday, July 18th.
Last year at Turnberry, Tom Watson almost turned back time in what would have been an historic victory for the ages, but it was not meant to be as he lost a four hole playoff to Stewart Cink. This year there is once again a star studded field of the best golfers in the world as they attempt to add their name to the Claret Jug either again or for the first time with a victory this week.
The following is a preview of some of the favorites to win this week along with their current odds as listed on Bovada.com
Tiger Woods 5/1
Woods is a three time Open Champion; in 2000, 2005, and 2006. He won the tournament by eight strokes when it was last played at St. Andrews back in 2000. After a strong performance at the U.S. Open last month at Pebble Beach, Wood’s game appears to be getting back to the point where he is once again a serious threat to win the minute he steps on the first tee.
Phil Mickelson 16/1
Mickelson has won four Majors in his career including a win at Augusta earlier this year, but a win in the Open is still on his to do list providing some serious motivation to cross it off the list this week. A fourth place finish at Pebble Beach is also a sign that his game is ready to get the job done.
Rory McIlroy 16/1
The Northern Ireland native will certainly be a crowd favorite this week, but he has been slowly developing the game to be a serious contender as well. The old Course suits his style of play and he should feel right at home if weather becomes a factor this week.
Ernie Els 18/1
As the No. 1 ranked player on the money list, Els is primed for a break out win this week as he is easily playing his best golf over the past few years of his career. He finished third last month in the U.S. Open and has two PGA tour victories earlier in the season to his credit.
Lee Westwood 18/1
Many thought that this year’s U.S. Open would be the perfect stage for Westwood’s first win in a Major, but after a disappointing 16th place finish, the English native will now turn his attention to winning the Open in his own backyard.
Padraig Harrington 20/1
Harrington’s game has struggled a bit as of late, but on a course like St. Andrews you can never count the Dublin native out of contention. He finished 22nd in the U.S. Open but followed that up with a fifth place finish in the Traveler’s Championship a week later.
Graeme McDowell 25/1
The surprise winner of this year’s U.S. Open will try and make it two Majors in a row when he tees it up on the Old Course this week. It would be a huge stretch to bet on him to win this week playing in such a strong field, but what were the odds on him before he teed it up at Pebble Beach to win there?
In what is easily the most diverse group of professional golfers assembled for a Major, you have to think that someone else not on Bovada.com’s current list of players with individual odds is destined to come up with a big performance this week and steal the show.
My Pick- The Field (10/1)
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