For the greater part of a decade, when it came to golf betting, the key question always was whether to take a short price on Tiger Woods or put your cash on some other player at much longer odds.
Chalk bettors—-those gamblers willing to take anywhere from 4/5 to 3/1 on the world’s top ranked golfer—-suddenly are confronted with the new and, for them, more difficult question of who to bet on now that Woods is out of the the British Open at Royal Birkdale in Southport, Lancashire, England, July 17-20.
Woods, who won the US Open in La Jolla, California as the 2/1 favorite on June 15, will be sidelined for the rest of the year.
The absence of Woods, a winner of 14 Major golf titles, including a trio of British Opens (2000, 2005-06), and the early 7/4 favorite for this year’s event, creates opportunities for a number of golfers, not to mention any bettors who want to wager on them.
The Woods scratch at odds of 7/4 removes 36.36 points on the Betting Percentage Table that oddsmakers use to compute prices, meaning that those points had to be redistributed among the remaining golfers by lowering their odds slightly. So, Ernie Els, who was the 12/1 second choice when Tiger was in the field, now elevates to the role of 9/1 favorite. Els won the British Open in 2002, has three runner-up and two third place finishes and has been sixth or better nine times so he’s a logical favorite in Tiger’s absence.
Sergio Garcia, who was 18/1 with Woods in the field, now is down to 12/1. The runner-up last year, Garcia is 0-11 at the British Open and still is searching for his first Major.
Defending British Open champion Padraig Harrington, a 22/1 shot prior to the Woods departure, now is offered at odds of 14/1. Justin Rose, who opened at 25/1, and Lee Westwood, originally 28/1, each are down to 16/1 to win this year’s British Open.
Interestingly, Phil Mickelson, who like Rose originally was listed at 25/1, has improved to just 20/1 since the Woods exit. Lefty hasn’t fared well in his 16 British Open appearances, finishing 81st last year and out of the top 20 on 11 other occasions. He did finish third in 2004, however.
Others in the hunt include Vijay Singh, Retief Goosen, Geoff Ogilvy and Jim Furyk, each at 25/1, as well as Adam Scott at 28/1 and Masters champion Trevor Immelman at 33/1. Rocco Mediate, who made Woods play 19 extra holes to win the US Open, is 100/1.
As is the case in most Major events, the course at Royal Birkdale has been, ahem, “altered” for the British Open. Yes, it’s more difficult. While just 155 yards have been added to the 7,173-yard, par 70 layout that Mark O’Meara conquered in 1998, 20 new bunkers—-16 fairway and four greenside-—and significant mounding to seven greens should make for a more challenging four days of play. Five holes have new angles, including the 17th which has added both 25 yards and an elevated green, making the 572-yard par 5 far more difficult, especially for those who try to reach the green in two.
It’s worth remembering that Royal Birkdale is situated on the northwest coast of England so weather could play a pivotal role in the scoring. Traditionally, British Open courses play very firm, with lots of roll. But rain or wind could change that, factors that golf betting fans will want to consider before playing an over/under on the winner’s 72-hole score.
Books, particularly those in the UK, also will be offering props on the first round leader, winning margin, top European, top Englishman, hole-in-one, playoff, lowest round score, and whether a number of individual golfers will make or miss the cut.
Tiger may be on the sidelines this year but British Open golf betting won’t be lacking wagering opportunities.
