Filed under: Golf, Betting, The Open
As British golf booms Tiger Woods optimistically declares his best days are ahead of him. Really? I doubt it, not now he's dispensed with his daily routine of bedding cocktail waitresses. What better lifestyle could a man lead? He really needs to take up a hobby to fill the void, golf perhapsTo assume Tiger will win more majors than the 14 he has already bagged, well, to do that, you need to be a) wildly optimistic or b) Tiger Woods.
Most golf pundits don't expect Tiger to eclipse Jack Nicklaus's tally of 18, when previously it looked a given. Incidentally, it should be noted that the Golden Bear was runner-up in a major on a staggering 19 occasions.
After the roaring success of Rory McIlroy in the US Open the golf media has a new superstar to crow about.
The young Irishman boasts youth, charisma, power and precision in an all-round game and, like Tiger, the capability to be called by his first name. If all the hype is to be believed we could see Rory go on to rival the major tallies of Nicklaus and Woods, No pressure, or anything.
Wait, did I say charisma? That's one of the reasons why the Americans have fallen in love with the 22 year-old Irishman. It's the one thing Tiger lacked, other than the ability to keep his wood in his bag, so to speak.
Woods walked the course as if he'd just had a tooth pulled, single-minded yes, but surly and sulky with it. He viewed press conferences as a time wasting obligation, the way my wife views me.
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Compare that to 'Rory' whose media conference was broadcast live from Royal St George's on America's top sports cable network ESPN, such has been the interest in the young Irishman.
Colin Montgomerie has predicted that in Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and McIlroy, the UK will enjoy an Open 1-2-3. Bookies bet365 quote 5-2 that the winner comes from that select UK trio.
Monty's forecast is perhaps a little on the patriotic side although it does underline the emergence of the Brits as a force in golf - or perhaps it underlines the decline of the American challenge.
No American has figured in the top two in any of the last four Majors. Their golfers are on the ropes - a further sign of their wayward tee-shots - and the shortest-odds Yank with Hills is Nick Watney, a 25-1 poke. That's a sobering thought, unless you're John Daly.
Pre-Woods predicting the winner of any major could be compared to a lottery, except there aren't as many rollovers. Although to be fair predicting the name of the person to pick up the Claret Jug has never been straight forward.
The last time the Open pitched up at Royal St George's 300-1 no-hoper Ben Curtis won.
With victories in recent years for Paul Lawrie, Todd Hamilton and Louis Oosthuizen this major has become increasingly difficult to forecast.
Given the unpredictability of the course William Hill have taken the bold move of laying man-of-the-moment McIlroy at a best price of 10-1, until they build up a liability of £1million.
Although Ryder cup cheerleader Monty forecast McIlroy to finish in the top three he had previously said the winner of the Open would hail from the field of the Scottish Open.
A few critics raised eyebrows when McIlroy decided to delay his arrival in Sandwich until Tuesday and play just one 18-hole practice round the morning before the Open. Is this simply bad preparation or the supreme confidence of a man at the top of his game?
McIlroy said, "I've been practicing a lot and I was over here last week for a couple of days and got two good practice rounds in."
Ladbrokes have reported two bets of £20,000 at 8-1 on the US Open champion becoming the first debutant winner of a major to win the very next major since World War II.
When asked if these were gambles of "shrewd punters or desperate men", he replied: "I'll go for the first option."
My head tells me he won't win and my bank manager would probably tell me the same but what the hell, 10-1 is too big, and seeing as he's led seven of the eight major rounds played so far this year you seem certain to get a run for my money.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/07/14/betting-golf-the-open/
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