British Open Preview

I love the British Open, yeah links golf on TV is about as exciting as an E reality show and this year's course (Royal St. George) is the worst in the Open rotation meaning good shots turn bad and vice versa more than the normal 50% and the last time the Open was here "gentle" Ben Curtis became a major champion, but early starts and a winner by 1:00 pm eastern time on Sunday is the way to go. The forecast calls for more wind than normal which is like saying there is a heat wave in the desert and I don't know if you heard but Ben Curtis is a major champion because he won at this course. The course is in Sandwich England which seems about right for a country that still has a Queen. Rory will make his first appearence on a course since running away with the US Open at an equally unimpressive course and the American's will look to end their Cubs like drought in majors, so lets take a look at the odds and a few suggestions.



(150/1) Streelman, Love, Colsaerts, M.A. Jimenez, Byrd, Barnes, M. Wilson, Immelman, C. Campbell, A. Hansen, Lowry, Crane

Again Ben Curtis won a major here so a 150/1 shot is far from out of the question. I could see the veteran Jimenez contending even at 47 years of age and Barnes plays well in the wind and was in the top 8 until Sunday last year at St. Andrews and Crane shares the same first name with the aforementioned Curtis (very scientific).

(125/1) Sabbatini, Woodland, Rock, Ishikawa, Clarke, Glover, B. Haas, Holmes, O'Hair, Allenby, Howell, Bjorn, E. Molinari, Aiken

Robert Rock won the Italian Open this year and the Englishman is coming of a 7th place finish last year, at 125/1 he has a ton of value. Speaking of value Eddie Molinari could easily be half the price and no one would blink. I would personally love to see Clarke contend, but four rounds under major pressure is probably too much. You heard it hear first, Thomas Aiken will be the next South African to win a major and Gary Woodland has the game to contend across the pond, but probably needs a few under his belt.

(100/1) Laird, Z. Johnson, Kim, Villegas, Baddely, Simpson, Van Pelt, Curtis, Cink, Cabrera

Van Pelt has contended at every major and should be half the price, Z. Johnson is playing well and has the ball flight to play well in the wind. I wanted to like Marty Laird, but two Missed Cuts in two starts at the British doesn't breed confidence. At the 3rd major of the year it is not too early to talk about underachievers, come on down Kim and Villegas. Cink already stole one British so the odds against stealing two are about the same as A-Rod not taking a few months off during the regular season. If Cabrera wins this week he will be a PGA short of a career Slam and that would be more amazing than Ben Curtis becoming a major champion.

(80/1) Overton, Yang, Moore, Furyk, Quiros, P. Hanson, Wood, Ogilivy

Furyk is in the midst of a Jake Delhomme like fall and even 80/1 seems too optimistic, on the other hand Peter Hanson seems to contend every time he plays and isn't a Swede always in contention on the weekend? Quiros has played well in both majors this year until Sunday and Ogilivy has missed 6 of 8 cuts in the British. Wood and Overton are interesting young guys with potential, but a major would be big steps for guys who haven't won regular events.

(60/1) Snedeker, Karlsson, F. Molinari, Fisher, Fowler, Watson, Els

Snedeker has played well this year, but hasn't made in cut in two starts at the Open. Robert Karlsson is as overrated as Chris Bosh and his odds being lower than countryman Peter Hanson is a bigger joke than Bosh being called a superstar. Fowler and Watson will fit in with their outifts, but neither of their games are well suited for high wind. Fisher has contended three straight years and always has decent value in a major. Els is having a Furyk like year and a top ten would be his first of the season.

(50/1) Scott, Harrington, Goosen, Manassero, Mahan, Casey, Oosthuizen

Casey screams out value at this number until you look at his results this year, but he is worth a play at 50/1. This might be the last chance to get Manassero at such a nice number, while on the other hand I can't see Oosthuizen repeating or a return to glory from Goosen or Harrington. Mahan and Scott both play well in the Texas heat, a bit of a change in conditions from the English coast. The PGA in Atlanta seems like a better bet for both.

(40/1) Schwartzel, Kuchar, Stricker, Rose

Kuchar is the best bet on tour to finish in the top 10, but at the same time it is hard to see him winning. With that said at this number he is worth a play, Rose is on the list of underachievers this season and Stricker seems much more suited for conditions at the Deere.

(30/1) McDowell, D. Johnson, Mickelson, Choi

McDowell has contended this year but has been one bad round away from winning. His game is coming together and I like him the most of the group at this number. DJ and Mickelson are the best examples of why American golf is currently in a Houston Astros like state and I don't see two guys who like to hit driver and hit high shots contending in the wind. Unlike Phil and DJ, Choi is in the midst of a great season, but a one dimensional ball flight could be costly in brutal conditions.

(20/1) Watney, Day, Kaymer

The course is built for a scambler and there is no better scambler in the game currently than Day, he has two second place finishes in the majors so far this season and is good value at this number. Watney has always been a great ball striker, but his putting has led to his breakthrough and putting is one of the biggest differences on a links course that isn't discussed as much as it should be. Kaymer has been a dissapointment in the majors this year as he works on his swing and a player working on their game is too much of a risk for me on a links course.

(18/1) Garcia, (15/1) Donald, (7/1) Westwood, (9/2) McIlroy

Hard to believe that a guy who wasn't in the field a month ago is now the fouth choice on the board, but Sergio has been regaining his game as he displayed at the US Open and the month since that tourney. I still find it hard to envision him winning this tournament and though Luke Donald has been the best player of the season he will need a Dirk like weekend to change his reputation.

As for the two favorites; I wish McIlroy would have played last week in Scotland, but he still is the well deserved favorite, I think just like he learned how to win after losing he also might need to learn how to win after winning. Westwood is one of the few who actually likes this course and his ball stricking is built to last in tough conditions. During a run of Euro major winners 7/1 is good value for the best Euro of the last 5 years.