Woods is being listed at odds as low as 3/1 to win his fourth Open Championship this weekend while McIlroy, Els and Mickleson are also in the running.
Wednesday 14th July 2010
The 139th Open Championship begins tomorrow at the Old Course at St Andrews with American golfer Tiger Woods overwhelmingly fancied by online bookmakers to win the event for the fourth time.
The Open is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf and is the only one held outside the United States. It takes place each year following The Masters and the US Open but before the PGA Championship and is rotated around the UK returning to St Andrews every five years.
Woods won the event the last time it was held at St Andrews in 2005 after finishing five strokes better than his closest rival, Scottish player Colin Montgomerie. Bwin.com is offering odds of 3/1 for a repeat for the American while Coral.co.uk is offering 9/2.
Thirty-four-year-old Woods finished tied for fourth spot at both the US Open in June and The Masters in April but could be due for a win with ExtraBet.com, ToteSport.com and Bodog.com showing the Californian at odds of 5/1 to walk away from Scotland victorious followed by StanJames.com, Bet365.com, PaddyPower.com, BetFred.com and BoyleSports.com with 11/2.
If he was to win again, Woods would become only the eleventh man to have triumphed four or more times at the Open while BetDaq.com is listing this eventuality at odds of 31/5. Slightly longer, BlueSq.com, WilliamHill.com, WBX.com, SportingBet.com, 888Sport.com, SkyBet.com, Ladbrokes.com and VictorChandler.com are going with 6/1 while punters can get 63/10 from Betfair.com.
Despite not making the cut for last year’s event, 21-year-old Rory McIlroy is also among the favourites with BetFred.com showing the Northern Ireland native at odds of 14/1.
McIlroy recorded his first PGA Tour win in May after shooting a new course record of 62 in the final round of the Quail Hollow Championship. This saw him become the first player since Woods to win a PGA Tour event prior to turning 21 and BetDaq.com shows the youngster at odds of 147/10 to win the ‘Open’. Slightly longer, BoyleSports.com and StanJames.com are going with 15/1 while bettors can get 16/1 from Bodog.com, SportingBet.com, WilliamHill.com, BlueSq.com, Bwin.com, VictorChandler.com, ToteSport.com, 888Sport.com, SkyBet.com, WBX.com, ExtraBet.com, Bet365.com, Ladbrokes.com and Coral.co.uk.
McIlroy’s style of play is often compared to Woods’ and Betfair.com shows the Holywood native at odds of 81/5 to win in Scotland followed by PaddyPower.com listing 17/1.
After tying Woods for fourth at this year’s US Open and winning The Masters, American golfer Phil Mickleson is also among the favourites with ExtraBet.com, Bwin.com, WilliamHill.com, VictorChandler.com, Bodog.com, Coral.co.uk, Ladbrokes.com and StanJames.com listing the 40-year-old at odds of 16/1 to win in Fife.
Mickleson’s best finish at the Open came in 2004 when he finished in third spot but punters can get odds of 83/5 from BetDaq.com on him winning this year’s edition while WBX.com shows 17/1 followed by Betfair.com with 171/10.
At the far end of the spectrum, Bet365.com, ToteSport.com, SportingBet.com, SkyBet.com, BoyleSports.com, PaddyPower.com, 888Sport.com, BetFred.com and BlueSq.com show Mickleson at odds of 18/1 to win this year’s Open.
South African Ernie Els won the Open in 2002 and is again in the running to take home the title following a third-place finish at this year’s US Open. The 40-year-old is being offered at odds of 12/1 by Coral.co.uk while BoyleSports.com, ExtraBet.com and StanJames.com show 16/1.
Els also finished as this event’s runner-up in 2004 and was third in 2006, which leads SkyBet.com, Bwin.com, 888Sport.com, BlueSq.com, Bodog.com, Bet365.com, ToteSport.com and PaddyPower.com to offer odds of 18/1 on the twice US Open champion taking the title. This is followed by WBX.com listing 97/5 while Ladbrokes.com, BetDaq.com, SportingBet.com, WilliamHill.com, Betfair.com, VictorChandler.com and BetFred.com show 20/1.
