Tiger Fails To Advance In The 2009 British Open

Sports Betting News - July 17, 2009 - Written by Ryan Smith

Tiger Woods entered Friday's second round match play of the 2009 British Open just one stroke over par and frustrated at the windy Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire Scotland. Woods finished Thursday's first round with 4 bogeys but managed to putt in 3 birdies accumulating a decent score of 71 on a modest par 70 golf course. Golf Critics as well as myself thought the short par 70 course would be to the advantage for Tiger Woods long iron game. That was not the case this weekend for Tiger Woods who could not seem to find a fair way.

Tiger started Friday's second round play parring the first 6 holes in a row and followed that up with a birdie on the 7th hole, the first par 5 on the course. Woods usually uses Par 5's to his advantage often finishing par 5's with birdie or eagle putts. Turnberry golf course only plays two par 5's for this years British Open and, this seems to be Tiger's Achilles heal. After the birdie on the 7th hole Tiger bogeyed the 8th bogeyed the 9th and some how double bogeyed the 10th hole and all fell apart after that. Tiger constructed a par on the 11th hole par three and than bogeyed again on the 12th and another double bogey on the 13th hole. Tiger was obviously frustrated often times holding back from tossing his golf club as far as he could. Tiger seems healthy even though his swing is obviously not in order at the moment and showed no indications that his repaired Knee is not at 100%.

Tiger figured a way to finish the second round with some momentum birdieing the 16th and 17th holes and parring the rest, finishing +4 over par and tied for 74th place. This effort might not have been sufficient enough as most believe the cut for weekend play at the Open this year is +4 over par. Tiger's combined score form both the second and first round is +5 over par. Tiger will most likely not compete on Saturday for a chance at his fourth British open title, not a good showing for a player who had 2/1 odds on winning the event.

Still, even without tiger playing on the weekend the United States still has a strong chance to take the trophy home as all three leaders are Americans. Tom Watson who leads the score board at -5 under par started his second round Friday morning rough but managed to turn it around. Tied for first place with Watson is American Steve Marino who followed his first round 67 with a second round 68. Watson seems to be the favorite to win the Tournament after birdieing 4 of the last 12 holes to stay at even on the day and -5 under on the weekend. I hope the old man wins the tournament and takes home his 6th British Open Title.