The 2009 British Open To Begin Next Week

Sports Betting News - July 9th, 2009 - Written by Ryan Smith

The 2009 British open is scheduled to start July 16 through July 19 and coverage begins Saturday July 18 at 9 am on ABC giving us just one week to prepare. The early Favorite to win the event is of course golf phenom Tiger Woods, Woods has won the British Open on three separate occasions in 2000, 2005, 2006 so don't be surprised to if he pulls it off again. The UK's favorite and my pick to win the 2009 British open is 2007 and 2008 winner Padraig Harrington. Though i like Harrington to win, this years Open is held at Turnberry Golf course which is a shorter par 70, these types of course are designed for the long ball style of play so Tiger should have an advantage. 

Still Padraig Harrington is from Ireland not to far away and has more experience on these rugged British open courses and, when it comes to Major tournaments experience often wins. Experience is also the reason why we should not rule out the possibility of pass British open winners taking the crown this year. well maybe we can exclude John Daly even though he won the 1995 British Open.  Ernie Els won the tournament in 2002 and hasn't won much else since than but, we shouldn't rule Ernie out he has played well in recent events including the US Open so don't be surprised if Els has an early stint on the leader board come Saturday.  Justin Leonard won in 1997 and yea that seems like along time ago but Leonard is an 80/1 favorite to win not bad odds for a former winner.  Even old timer and Australian Greg Norman should play in the Open barring any set backs, Norman won over twenty years ago in 1986 and again in 1993 and in his 1986 championship victory the Open was held at this years golf course Turnberry. I'm a big fan of Greg Norman but I'm not sure he will have the stamina to stand up against the likeliness of a Tiger Woods or Padraig Harrington. 

It's the 138th British Open championship and it should be a great weekend of golf. Turnberry is one of the nicest golf courses the British isles have to offer with it's Rock cliff edges that drop directly down into the ocean.  Turnberry can often get very damp in the mornings with early morning sprinkles and windy in the afternoons do to it's beach side location. Those who tee off early in the morning will most likely have to play a shorter brand of golf keeping the ball in the fair ways as much as possible. Tiger will probably start slow as he often does but we know he will turn it on later in the week, i just hope somebody is fighting right along side him come Sunday. 

2009 British Open Odds To Win:

Anthony Kim - 25/1
Henrik Stenson - 25/1
Ian Poulter - 25/1
Jim Furyk - 30/1
Kenny Perry - 35/1
Lee Westwood - 30/1
Padraig Harrington - 30/1
Paul Casey - 25/1
Retief Goosen - 25/1
Sergio Garcia - 20/1
Vijay Singh - 40/1
Tiger Woods - 2/1
Angel Cabrera - 50/1
Camillo Vilegas - 50/1
David Duval - 60/1
Ernie Els - 40/1
Geoff Ogilvy - 30/1
Lucas Glover - 80/1
Justin Leonard - 80/1
Stuart Appleby - 80/1
Steve Stricker - 40/1
Long Shots To Win The British Open
Rory Sabbatini - 125/1
Stewart Cink - 80/1
John Daly - 150/1
Greg Norman - 200/1
Chad Campbell - 150/1