Tiger Woods opened as a consensus 9/4 future book favorite to capture his fourth British Open Championship, in Turnberry, Scotland, July 16-19. Two-time defending champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland is the distant second choice at odds of 14/1.
Woods opened as a slightly lower 7/4 favorite in futures a year ago before withdrawing to have season-ending knee surgery. The world's top ranked golfer has played in 13 British Opens, never finishing worse than 28th after his 68th place finish in his debut appearance in 1995. He's finished in the top 12 five straight years (2003-07) and has seven top 10 finishes overall. Woods, who owns 14 Major titles, second only to Jack Nicklaus' 18, finished in a tie for sixth in this year's first two majors, The Masters and US Open, and clearly is the man to beat.
Harrington, who defeated Spain's Sergio Garcia in a four-hole play-off at Carnoustie in 2007 to become the first player from Ireland to win the British Open since Fred Daly 60 years earlier, doubled up with a four-stroke victory at Royal Birkdale last year. Harrington, who has a pair of fifth place finishes to go with his two wins in 12 British Open starts, also won the PGA Championship last year.
Surprisingly, perhaps, because he's never won a Major championship in 42 attempts, Garcia is the third choice in future book betting at odds of 16/1. El Nino, as he's known, has done his most consistent work at the British Open, adding five top 10 performances to his heart-breaking runner-up finish in 2007.
After Woods, Harrington and Garcia, you can get at least 20/1 on any other golfer winning the 2009 British Open, including 50/1 on reigning Masters champion Angel Cabrera and 100/1 on recent US Open winner Lucas Glover.
Paul Casey, Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson also are in the wagering mix. Casey and Mickelson each are listed at odds of 25/1 while Poulter and Stenson, who finished second and third, respectively, at the 2008 British Open, each are offered at 33/1.
Ernie Els, the British Open champion in 2002, also can be found at 33/1 while David Duval, who all but disappeared from Major contention after winning the British Open in 2001 before his re-emergence at this year's US Open, is 100/1.
Others of interest include two-time British Open champion Greg Norman and 1995 winner John Daly, each at 200/1.
Longshot players no doubt will recall that two of the biggest upsets in Major history, at least from a golf betting standpoint, happened in the 2003 and 2004 British Opens when Ben Curtis (200/1) and Todd Hamilton (250/1), respectively, won back-to-back titles.
Whichever golfer wins the 2009 British Open, he will have to conquer-—or at the very least survive--the challenging Ailsa Course, currently ranked as Britain's finest by two leading publications.
The 7,204-yard, par 70 course, the host of the 1977 British Open where Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus by a stroke in the "Duel in the Sun," features narrow fairways and unpredictable winds. The 5th is a nasty 474-yard par-4 that requires two good shots to reach the green while at 231 yards, the 6th is one of the longest and most difficult par-3s in Britain.
The 8th, a 454-yard par-4, features a tricky second shot to the green in treacherous cross winds.
The par-4 16th, which has been lengthened to 455 yards, is a left-to-right dog-leg protected by steep banks to the right and front of the green.
The 559-yard par-5 17th offers birdie opportunities but the 461-yard par-4 18th will not be as hospitable. Players need an accurate tee shot to avoid the bunkers on the left and the thick gorse, the scene of Nicklaus' famous final round second shot at the 1977 British Open, on the right.
Given the complexity of the course and the fickle nature of Scottish weather, the 2009 British Open should be a challenge for both players and golf betting fans.
