The British Open Favorite? There Really Isn’t One

[clevfan]

July 15, 2008

The British Open Favorite? There Really Isn’t One

By LARRY DORMAN
NY TIMES

SOUTHPORT, England — Because Tiger Woods is absent from one of golf’s four majors for the first time since the 1996 P.G.A. Championship, speculation abounds about the impact his absence will have on the 137th British Open that starts Thursday at Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

The only sure things at this point: there will be an impact; just about everyone on the grounds at Birkdale and in the legal betting shops in Britain has an opinion on what it might be.

The golfer who might know best is among Woods’s closest friends, Mark O’Meara. O’Meara, who in 1998 won the last Open played at Birkdale, said Woods “will be sorely missed.”

With Woods on the mend from knee surgery, someone else has to be favored, and the betting public has, according to Ladbrokes.com, installed Sergio García of Spain as the 11-1 favorite. The groundswell for García, the runner-up at last year’s Open at Carnoustie but who has yet to win a major, is believed to be tied to popular support for the continuation of a Spanish sports summer. It began with Spain’s victory in the European Cup soccer finals and continued last week with Rafael Nadal’s Wimbledon win.

Who do bettors like as the American player most likely to win? Phil Mickelson, the No. 2 player in the world, is the top choice so far. Although Mickelson’s record in the British Open is far from stellar — one top 10 in 15 Opens, three missed cuts and finishes of 73rd and 79th at Birkdale — he is fancied by wagerers ahead of Jim Furyk. Furyk has four top 10s in 12 appearances.

Ernie Els, who is the second choice of bettors, said the winner would have to deal with an unusual question: “The best player of this generation is not there,” Els said, “and whoever is going to win next week is going to have to answer questions of, ‘Do you think you would have beaten Tiger if he was here?’ It’s one of those things.”

Mickelson had a different take.

“If you look at Nicklaus’s 18 majors, or Watson’s majors, I don’t look back at the field they played,” said Mickelson, who has won three majors. “I just look back at the tournaments they have won. I haven’t won a major in a couple years and it would mean a lot to me to certainly win an Open championship, as well as the P.G.A.”

GOT CLUBS? Last year, the airlines lost seven sets of Open contestants’ golf clubs en route to Carnoustie, Scotland; this year, just one set has been lost. Australia’s Rodney Pampling, who flew into Manchester from Atlanta on Saturday, had his clubs turn up missing when he arrived.

Pampling was having another set made Monday in the Taylor-Made Tour Van in case the airline was unable to find his originals.

[Tommyjay]

The favorite is Sergio 10-1, regardless the topic for this thread.

[Tommyjay]

I meant to keep typing but I hit the send button by mistake.

My pick is Andres Romero at 33-1. I like this guy here and he reminds me of Garcia when he was young, only Andres is better.

Harrington is injured, wrist, in case no one heard the news.

[Hartley]

I'm on Karlsson at 33/1, Jiminez at 40/1 and Leonard at 50/1.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Nice week to hit a longshot. The string of anonymous Brit Open winners is pretty lengthy. Has to be the highest Avg payout for Golf Major wins.

Ben Curtis was 500/1, if you could even find him on the board. Literally came from nowhere.

Hart, I've seen Leonard touted, too. Might try him, but I'm leery. Something about the Brit Open Wind/crappy surface that makes it a crapshoot.

[Tommyjay]

The wind is going to be outragous Thurs. and Fri. 20MPH both days constant. Good wind players such as Leonard, may be a good play. Guys were practicing their drives without a tee today. We're going to see some tops, and snap-hooks, maybe even a whiff or two.

[KoolPappy]

I thought they cancelled the balance of this season???

[Hartley]

Leonard does well in Britain. The courses generally don't require a lot of power but rather accuracy and low shot hitting which plays into his game. He won in 1997 shooting -12 on a similar course and as you recall he got into the 3 man playoff when Van de Velde fell apart at Carnoustie - Paul Lawrie went on to win that. Plus Leonard is playing well now.

[Hartley]

I think the key this week is to bet on matchups opposing Padraig Harrington. Apparently he isn't well and hasn't practiced. He said he doesn't think he'll finish the week.

[buffbetonsports]

Who hits long and low?
Kim
Stricker
What is there like 150 guys trying out?
Shit, anything could happen at Birkdale.

Good Luck everyone.

[parkendhead]

I live a few miles down the road from Birkdale, no wind currently but it is very damp. FWIW (and I know very little about golf) I am on David Howell @ 300 and Niclas Fasth @ 190,

Regards

Parkendhead

[buffbetonsports]

It must have been brutal out there today.
Seven of the top 30 golfers in the world shot +9 or worse including Mich.

Hartley; Kim and Jiminez tied at +2

Did you get some?

[Hartley]

I bought Jiminez at 40/1. I think he still has a good chance. All depends on the weather. If it is similar to today where it died down a bit at the end of the day, Jiminez will be in trouble as he goes out early. From what people tell me wind is usually strongest in the morning. That could mean Goosen and Weir have good shots.

[Mr Falcone]

Good hop this jerk off Norman around on Sunday, so I can watch him Choke

[ICE CUBE]

rocco at 19-1 is great value

[Hartley]

Hard to believe Duval is still up there. I'd love to see the guy make a comeback, the game could use him.

[Hartley]

Duval is 11 over through 11 holes today - never mind. See if he can break 90.

[buffbetonsports]

He had a meltdown today after a good round yesterday.
Another old shark is getting it done for the third decade in a row!

[Buck Swope]

Anthony Kim @ 20-1 tomorrow is a good bet IMHO if you believe The Shark will have a meltdown