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British Open Golf..Who do you fancy?
At Royal Birkdale....Australian Craig Parry will hit the first tee shot at 6.30am to start what will be a long day for most players.
Birkdale has hosted the Open before and Tom Watson last won his last British Open here in 1983 and will be in the field again this year. With no Tiger this year i think its going to be anybodys to win and i wouldnt be too suprised if the claret jug was being lifted late Sunday afternoon by a first time major winner from the European Tour. Now as we have done for all the big golfing events this year (and had plenty of succsess) it would be nice to know who are everyones five against the field...So lets get selections on this thread by Wednesday so we can all have a punt to make things even more interesting... |
The open championship
Ross Fisher @ 66/1
Miguel Angel Jimenez @ 40/1 Justin Rose @ 33/1 Boo Weekley @ 100/1 Soren Hansen @ 100/1 All the above prices are available at Ladbrokes and I believe are the best prices available at the moment,which is very unlike Ladbrokes,as I normally find them very tight on golf prices. I played Royal Birkdale last year and played really well and managed to break 90 , there are millions of bunkers everywhere and I felt like I visited them all. Accuracy off the tee is everything and if the wind blows,I think the pros will struggle to break par and should make interesting viewing. Ross Fisher is my pick for the open,I seen this lad at Loch Lomond last week and although he was hopeless on the final days play, he looks so hungry for success and hits the ball miles and straight,he must be there abouts on Sunday afternoon. Miguel Jimenez looks a character on the course and hits the ball very straight and hes been playing well in the majors this year is another player with a good chance. Justin Rose popped up as an amateur here about 10 yrs ago , and played really well on this course,although he been struggling lately,I think his experience and form on this course will stand him in good stead and I expect him to be thereabouts also.He has had numerous visits to the course this year for practice sessions and appears to have his sights set on the claret jug. Boo Weekley is another fancy of mine, I just like his name and love it when the crowd boo him on the tee. Soren Hansen is a big price too at 100/1 and he keeps the ball in play alot and could be good value. Theres also another hundred and odd golfers to consider and most of them have a chance except Colin Montgommerie who looks like he has the wait of the world on his shoulders. |
Superb review Taylor
Yes i have to agree with you on Monty.. if he didnt let every little thing get to him im sure by now he would have been a major winner.
Good shout with Justin Rose, has played well in a few majors without quite seeing all four rounds through and i think that playing here might just help him this time. Im having a study of form etc later so will give you my views on what i think will be a very entertaining 4 days. |
Heres my 5 + 1 against the field. After last Major probably better lays.
Ernie Els @ 16.5. A little off his best form but a decent finish at Loch Lomond, and I believe, best top 5 finish record in the last 10 years. Jimenez @ 44 now 38. Steady golfer, likes to draw the ball which should help if windy. Martin Kaymer @ 90. Possible star of the future, hits the ball for miles. No track record on links though. K J Choi @ 150 now 140. Very straight off the tee, in decent form and has links experience. Graham Storm @ 500 now 530 Brought up playing links golf in Seaton Carew. If he starts well should be a free bet. And finally Monty @ 130, shows what a sentimental mug I am |
Great Post's Guys
I dont really follow golf these days but as it's the open i'll have a small e/w on Jim Furyk ....why ?
'Gentleman Jim' hinted at a return to form in the AT&T National two weeks ago, his third place finish his best result since the start of May. But by his own high standards the 38-year-old from Pennsylvania has been in a mini-slump, without a win in nearly a year, and just five top 10s this season. He is 15th on the FedEx Cup list and after ranking in the top 10 in the world for more than 250 weeks between 1999 and 2008, he is now down to 12th. Not a prolific winner even when he was climbing to number two behind Woods, Furyk has amassed over $38 million in official winnings (fourth in the all-time list) but has just 13 PGA Tour titles to his name and just five since his victory in the 2003 US Open. He missed five straight cuts at the Open before his fourth place two years ago. He may have one more big win in him, :cool: but few would tip it to come this week ! Oh except Benny ;) 25/1 Ladbrokes |
Its all down to putting..
Seventeen hours from now Craig Parry will hit the first shot of the 2008 British Open at Royal Birkdale.
Some ex winners in this years field include the last winner of the Open here Mark O'Meara (1000/1), Tom Watson (1000/1) whos last major win was here, everyones favourite John Daly (500/1) and Scotlands last winner Paul Lawrie (250/1) not forgetting last years playoff winner Padreig Harrington (18/1). Birkdale not being the longest course has some of the tightest fairways and small greens of any of the Major courses and i think over the next four days putting will be the key to victory. If the wind blows then were going to see some big scores and maybe an over par winner but if its calm then i think round -9 to -12 could be the winning score. Now without Tiger its all up for grabs and these are my fancies to give us a run for our money... SERGIO GARCIA (12/1)..Six top ten finishes in the british open over the last seven years shows that he loves this major and is bang on form so must rate a very good bet to lift the Claret jug for the first time as long as his putting holds up especially over the last two rounds. HENRIK STENSON (66/1)..Been a little hit and miss this year but loves playing British courses and has the right game for this sort of venue. Would need to improve on recent form but if he can get off to a good start day one then the 66/1 for an e/w finish will look very generous. HUNTER MAHON (66/1)..A player i have been tipping up for a biggie for a couple of years now and even though he hasnt looked like winning one yet his game has come along a lot this year and a shorter course will be right up his street and he looks like another good e/w bet to be around in contention come Sunday afternoon. JUSTIN LEANORD (33/1)..Past winner of the Open and one of the few Americans that look at home on British courses. Right back to form over the last few weeks in America and i think he can carry that form into this event and he will be a dangerous player if anywhere near the top three with a round to play. MIKE WEIR (100/1)..Now heres a player who can come right back to form at anytime and although he will need to hes one of the best short game players in the world and won at Valderama when the wind blew a few years ago. Has been in contention a few times for major glory but everytime Tiger was the man leading and Weir came up short. A massive price e/w in what looks like a wide open major... I think the value bet could be the 11/4 on offer for a playoff and maybe even the 12/1 on offer for a playoff of 3 or more players. Anyway whatever the result im sure were in for some great entertainment over the next four days and with the BBC starting coverage at 9am tomorrow and going through till 8pm a long day in front of the tv is gaurenteed. |
Thanks Tony, an excellent write-up as always. Whilst it is most unimaginative of me, I am going for Sergia Garcia
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Nice one guys...plenty of good selections and reasons why.
Now just got to find the best value...i know some bookies are paying 1/4 first 6... |
I have backed :
Jim Furyk - 25/1 Miguel Angel Jiminez - 33/1 Hunter Mahan - 50/1 Boo Weekley - 100/1 Oliver Wilson - 100/1 Mahan and Weekley i have followed all season - Wilson is having a great season, ultra consistent and seems to have recovered from his back injury with a very good showing in the Scottish Open - Jiminez i fancy as it seems to be Spain or a Spaniard winning everything this summer plus he is again playing very well, and Furyk just seems good value for someone who is usually so accurate tee to green, putts well and is high on the GIR stat category. Good luck all |
Some good fancys their Mark..
I cant wait for it to start and it looks like the wind will be blowing..
Ive had a couple more little bets on two players who i think are way to long in the betting. Nick Dougherty @ 150/1....local lad whos played this course all his life and has beem mentored by Nick Faldo. David Howell @ 150/1...was in the worlds top 10 only a couple of years ago but has slumped in form the last two years....could come into this as he has a solid game tee to green and with a little better putting could be another player to come back to form here. |
Well who would like to be a golfer playing the open today...? The way things are going +4 will be leading after today.....Wet and windy just what they didnt want..
Maybe the later starters will have a massive advantage....... |
luke donald must be fav , them ducks love the rain
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First Round
Score Player Holes
-1 R Mediate 18 -1 G McDowell 18 -1 R Allenby 18 Level G Norman 18 Level A Scott 18 Level B Bryant 18 +1 M Weir 18 +1 J Furyk 18 ...:cool:my man !! +1 G Havret 18 +1 R Goosen 18 Selected Others +2 I Poulter 18 +2 S Garcia 18 +3 C Montgomerie 18 +4 P Harrington 18 +4 J Rose 18 +5 L Westwood 18 +8 P Casey 18 +9 P Mickelson 18 +10 E Els 18 +10 V Singh 18 updated by bennyo:D |
Our selections after round one....
TONY2005..
GARCIA.... +2 WEIR...... +1 STENSON.+6 LEONARD.+7 MAHON...+10 TAYLORMADE FISHER.. +2 JIMENEZ. +2 ROSE..... +4 S.HANSON. +5 WEEKLEY.. +10 PART TIMER JIMENEZ.. +2 KAYMER... +5 CHOI........+2 STORM.... +6 ELES....... +10 THE SHARK FURYK... +1 JIMENEZ.. +2 MAHON....+10 WEEKLEY.+10 WILSON.. + 7 TONGA GARCIA....+2 BENNYTHEDIP FURYK....+1 |
Current positions of our picks after the 2nd days play,Im thinking all the players who have made the cut have a chance of victory,Mr Choi is on fire and putting like a demon but I think the wheels will come off tmorro for him.The leaders will struggle tmorro afternoon to maintain there lead and I think the field will close up for sundays play . I think theres some great value prices to be had in backing some of the players tonight.
Goosen,Rose,Hansen,Fisher are all capable of making a move tmoro before the gales hit the leaders in the afternoon.Infact most of the early starters will be closer by the end of the day to the current leaders . TONY2005.. GARCIA.... +5 current price 16/1 WEIR...... +7 100/1 STENSON.+8 150/1 LEONARD.+7 125/1 MAHON...on his way home TAYLORMADE FISHER.. +6 100/1 JIMENEZ. on his way home ROSE..... +6 50/1 S.HANSeN. +4 50/1 WEEKLEY.. on his way home PART TIMER JIMENEZ.. on his way home KAYMER... +7 100/1 CHOI........-1 6/1 STORM.... +6 150/1 ELES....... +9 100/1 THE SHARK FURYK... +1 10/1 JIMENEZ.. on his way home MAHON....on his way home WEEKLEY.on his way home WILSON.. on his way home TONGA GARCIA....+5 16/1 BENNYTHEDIP FURYK....+2 10/1 |
Thanks Taylor....
Well after two days of hard slog i have to agree i dont think anyone who made the cut is out of this....i said if the wind blew the winning score could be over par and tomorrows forecast is for near gale force winds.
There are so many top class playere 6 or 7 off the lead i think my advised pre tournement bet of a play off of 3 or more players must be odds on now. If any player whos 6 or 7 off the pace can shoot two 67s then it could be theirs. Should be a great weekends entertainment and it all starts again on tv at 10am in the mornibg.. |
The current prices dont seem to be reflecting the form, Els +9 100/1 Garcia +5 16/1 Storm +6 150/1 Rose +6 50/1. I think it is more to do with pre tournament bets. Can we see some names mentioned rather than if this and if that happens any one can win!
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Oh to be a bookie......
Part Timer, i think the bookies havnt really got a clue either whos going to win. Usually in a major like this at the halfway stage theres maybe 20 players in with a shout but the way things have gone here so far 10 shots off the lead isnt that much...
I wouldnt be having anymore on Garcia at 16/1, that price looks very skinny to me....Can you back Norman ? personally i dont think so and the same for David Duval, great players but i just cant see them being the winner come Sunday. I backed Weir at 100/1 before the tournement and hes 7 back and still the same price... If i had to pick two players now they would be....Justin Rose who i think has played well without really getting any breaks and Retif Goosen who is a player that can shoot a couple of under par rounds when the pressure is on. |
Well ive just had a few quid e/w on BEN CURTIS @ 66/1 hes started well and remember he trebled the first on day one..
Also had a couple of quid e/w on Stenson @ 150/1.. Looks mighty tough out there today. I think +2 will be leading after today.......what do you think ? |
Curtis -3, getting a run for your money. I have backed Choi and think he will take some beating, but at 7's on Betfair not much value as there is a double bogey waiting on every hole. Out of the leaders A. Noren is only 3 behind and trading at 50, seems a very big price, but who the **** is he????
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Loooo i think there could be a few of those "who are they" types up there by 7pm tonight..
Yes Curtis is going well still 33/1 with Laddies.... Should be a good afternoons entertainment...... John Daly 29 over after two rounds.....make me feel as little better about my game |
Graham Storm is -1, +5, trading at 100. Might still get a place. Noren doubled the 1st on day 1, level par since then?
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Looks like the run of Curtis has come to an end.........
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Tony ?
Hows my man Jim Furyk doing..?
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Tees off at 2.20
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Had a couple of quid on Noren at 55, went bogey triple bogey, now 230 :'D
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Come on Furyk !!!
"He missed five straight cuts at the Open before his fourth place two years ago. He may have one more big win in him, but few would tip it to come this week ! :cool:
Oh except Benny 25/1 Ladbrokes";) |
Well these leaders are making this look virtually impossible to play......i reckon +4 will be leading after today..
About 30 players have a chance to win this tomorrow... |
Third Round
Score Player Holes
+2 G Norman 18 +4 P Harrington 18 +4 KJ Choi 18 +5 S Wakefield 18 +7 B Curtis 18 +7 R Fisher 18 +7 A Kim 18 +7 A Noren 18 +8 I Poulter 18 +8 H Stenson 18 Selected Others +9 J Furyk 18 +9 S Garcia 18 +9 R Goosen 18 +11 A Scott 18 +12 C Montgomerie 18 +12 P Casey 18 +13 E Els 18 +13 P Mickelson 18 +17 L Westwood 18 +18 J Rose 18 |
I think if the wind blows again tmorro its a straight duel between Norman & Harrington,they both played brilliant golf today and under similar conditions tmorro they will not be caught by the chasing crowd.The forecast for tmorro is light winds and Im thinking a score of 65 is achievable by someone,so I think this narrows the winner down to those players on +7 or below.I hope this player is Ross Fisher ,who I backed at start of championship @ 66/1 and had a few £s each way yesterday @ 100/1. I been following him lately and he is most impressive in all aspects of the game and in good form and at 7pm tmorro night he will be crowned open champion. The BBC have neglected him in their coverage so far, but I think we see a lot of him tmorro.He is currently available @ 25/1 with corals which I think is still good value,
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I cant see............
Norman being in contention come the turn tomorrow, i think hes mentally drained and will fade fairly quickly.
Harrington has to be there so does Choi...as for the rest well i think +7s could still challenge but the wind will need to blow otherwise i cant see anyone coming from futher back then +5. Whatever it will be a great days viewing and anyone holding tickets with a player +7 or better then they stiill have a great chance...im hoping the wind blows and the scores are high............ Dont think Tigers being missed...8-P |
This has been one of the best Majors ever. Players severely penalised for bad shots, not like others where the further you missed the fairway the better your lie.
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Well he rode his luck...
And in the end Harrington lifts the claret jug for the second year running.....
I think everyone will agree he had all luck going with good breaks after poor tee shots and a few lucky breaks with approach shots but in the end a worthy winner. Anyway back to the bets...we managed to get a good e/w bet up with Stenson (66/1) finishing third and paying 16.5 /1 .... Roll on the PGA the last major of the year and then the Ryder cup.... |
effing typical was on holiday so didn't have a bet but i neely always have a little each way on poulter just for value :-C:-C:-C:-C
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I fancied Harrington to win the US Open (tipped him on here) but couldnt back him for this after he kept saying he might not play due to wrist problems.....well in four days i never even saw him wince once....(unlike Tiger when he won the US Open..genuine pain).......thanks for that Padreig..
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Thats exactly what I was thinking,how can you back a man who has a sore wrist.not as if the wrist isnt a vital part of your swing.Anyway he played well today and deserved the victory,congratulations to him.My pick Ross Fisher is a ****,but he will win a big one soon,I find the problem with betting on golf is if you player is in contention,he hunts the hole , which can turn into a nightmare score on a windy day,if he just played safe ,I may of picked up each way money,but thats life I suppose,gla
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Rue !!!
Jim Furyk gets up and down from a bunker at the last to set the new clubhouse target at 10 over. A well-played 71 from the 25-1 each-way tip but it might just be a shot too many to get the each-way cash. He must rue yesterday's back nine 43.:cool: Hmmmm me too !!:scribe:
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Well in the end i think that Harrington, Norman and Choi were the only unbackable players throughout the whole tournement....their price were just so skinny in a field where most still had a chance after the cut..
11/4 Harrington 3/1 Norman 4/1 Choi prices before the last round Most punters i think tended to look for the big value and as usual the bookies cleaned up especially as i doubt there was much cash around for Harrington pre tournement.. |
I layed Harrington @ 3.95 last night after a heavy drinking session, very expensive drinks lol. We live to lose another day. Fortunately backed Choi @ 150, layed him @ 4.2 yesterday, still an overall loss. The golf though was excellent, a proper Championship. The Americans think their USPGA is tough.
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