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Ernie Els in this kind of weather? I take it all these journos were sheltering in the same pub.

My winner - Lee Westwood solid swing and a low centre of gravity, that and an ability to cope with foul weather should hopefully see him through.

Good Week: Well as the man said to his mother in law all things are relative. So I am going for Sandy Lyle. Don't actually expect him to even get close but would not be surprised if he made the cut. For him that would be a good week. In his day the supreme bad weather player and has always managed to trundle round the old girl in a reasonably competent manner.

Poulter to win - Woods to miss the cut and Wood to have a good week.

@1 An injured player to beat the field?

Winner - Harrington
Good Week - Chris Wood

Worth a couple of quid e/w Bradley Dredge 200/1 !!

Big Names to Miss Cut - Paul Casey; Phil Michelson; Garcia; Donald; Rose?

@3 Harrington was injured in 08
Bad wrist wasn't it.

@3 To control the ball in the wind you hit it softer. If you're injured you can't hit it too hard. Its a positive advantage. This theory will hold until the first shot is hit.

Ernie won at Muirfield in bad conditions & Muirfield is brutal so he has a chance for sure. Woods must not be counted out he has decimated fields here. I think it is wide open but no big shocks in store here this week with a former major winner holding up the claret jug.

my winner..
PHIL MICKLESON/totally ignored by most of the pundits whilst adds to his major haul.
never mind the past.st andrews suits him whilst hes been getting tips from st andrews greatest ever champion 'nick faldo'.

good week..
TOM WATSON/after last year only a fool would write him off again.i believe he will post a top 10 finish

Would love to see Lee Westwood competing to win but his latest injury rules him out of contention, I fear. Phil Mickleson has World No. 1 in his sights and I reckon we'll see his A-game. Outside bets; Ian Poulter or Justin Rose.

i dont think any of these guys are taking into account the abysmal weather.
in my oppinion mark calcalvecchia cannot be discounted for a top 10. he has made the most putts from 25 ft or more on the pga tour this season. G

Great value too ranging from 400/1 to 1000/1

@1. Sandy Lyle disgraced himself when the weather got bad in 08 by walking off the course, they reckon it cost him Ryder captaincy.

Geoff Ogilvy at 80/1. Got £10 each way riding on him but have promised the wife the winnings. He's spent the last two weeks playing links golf all over Scotland getting ready for this.

And as an accumulator, me to break 80 there in two weeks time when I play the Old Course again!

Laurie canter to win and a good week for tiger woods

Ernie Els to win it. Such a steady and consistent player. Is game suits ST Angrews with his decent drives, high fairway percentages and solid putting.

I'd have Thomas Bjorn to have a good week. For the 5 years he's been in decline. But came back to form to blitz the Portugal open field by 5 shots last week, showing that he still retains some of his old ability. As a great record in the open with two seconds and two other top ten finishes. Could be good value at 150/1.

6/1 Tiger Woods a bit too skinny, but wont be far way I am sure!

Main: Martin Kaymer has finished in the top 5 and top 10 the couple times he has played at St Andrews and scoring average of 69.50 I think he is a major player in the making and 45/1 is great value!

Good Week: Small interest on Vijay Singh, ok not the player he was, but 24 rounds at St Andrews in the past scoring average of 69.42, 2 top 5 finishes and 3 top 20 finishes...100/1 seems good and top 10 bet could be value!

I fancy Ernie Els to win it hes long overdue another major success. KJ Choi is my bet for a good week. Best hope for a European win lie with Mcilroy and Rose but I wouldnt be surprised to see Garcia do it to add to the Spanish sporting success recently.

@11 JPKinBelfast

I don't think Sandy Lyle disgraced himself by walking off at Birkdale.... what he was was naive. He didn't make up an excuse like most of the pros would have.

If Ernie Els doesn't win this year I'll eat my hat.

He just looks so relaxed.

anglo saxons only? give me a break.....

"19. At 6:23pm on 14 Jul 2010, sandro wrote:
anglo saxons only? give me a break....."

You called?

Is Tiger Anglo-Saxon?

My outside bets:

Alvaro Quiros
Chris Wood
John Daly (only kidding)
One of the Molinari brothers

Not a huge variety of names thrown in the hat there and obvious (but not unexpected) bias from some of them - and I don't even know what the WSJ chick was smoking to come up with her comments on Westwood and Moore.

The weather should open things up though.....

I got in early on Monday morning on Stephen Gallacher, EW at 200/1 and on the nose at 250s. He's not that price any more, so I'm glad I took up their ridiculous offers. He's been in great form for the last couple of months and he shot the joint lowest final round last Sunday in the bad weather at Loch Lomond. The forecast for the next few days isn't looking good, but as a hardy Scot, he should be used to it. And he's already won there.

Clarke/Lawrie/Lowry are other good "bad weather players", in fact most of the GB&I players should be. The weather might give us even greater hope of another home winner.

Americans (or Irishmen) generally win the British Open/majors in general so I would lean towards that occurring once again. Poulter, Westwood etc. generally suffer from the same pressure and media hype that plague the English football team and Andy Murray every major tournament. However there is always a first time for everything so it should be an exciting four days at one of the most iconic courses in the world.

Who will win? My mind tells me Ernie Els or Tiger Woods but my heart wants Colin Montgomerie to win. Come on Monty!!

Current 'names ' at big odds : Jimenez 125/1, Cabrera 100/1,Harrington 25/1 , Mongomerie 200/1 - some high street bookies ( under the sea pink stuff ?) are offering one third of the odds for each way places as well... looks like the weather may be the winner though..

I wonder if being "drawn" with Mickelson will help or hinder Monty. If he was drawn with lets say Ricky Barnes instead of Mickelson, it would have just been another group out on the course, but there's going to be a big crowd following them and being Scotland, there's going to be a lot of sentimental support following him, even if there's very little belief that he'll acheive something.

I think Justin Rose will be the flop. Whether that's a missed cut, I don't know, but I think he won't do as well as many expect or hope.

St Andrews now favours the longer hitter even more. So Quiros is not a bad shout. But then again St Andrews always comes up with a legendary winner. Don't know why, but Phil needs this one to be that legend and be one of the biggest name in golf ever. Harrington probably knows the course as good as anyone.
Still, what i saw last week from the Molinari brothers and what they have done this year I think both of them are a pretty good bets.
And the one that is hardly mentioned here is Poulter. And if he wears the right trousers even the Scots will support him.

Im not a big golf fan but I really do enjoy watching the Open, last year was brilliant to watch and I get really excited about this upcoming event.

Tiger Woods favourite again like last year, but last year he didn't even make the final cut and I think that may happen again from tomorrow onwards. He had a stinker at Turnberry, and now with an even harder year on and off the golf course I think he will fail again.

Westwood will be up there I think, hopefully Rose and McIlroy will be aswell, but Jimenez started pretty decent at Turnberry last year a experienced golfer who is 100% in with a shot.

Stuck a few quid on Stephen Gallacher at 150/1 also think that Francesco Molinari will go well at 75/1.

McIlroy, Harrington will be there or thereabouts given there ball striking ability ans I fancy Garcia to give ma a run for my money at 80/1. He's not been playing well but he's a good ball striker and although he's prone to miss a few putts, his lag/touch putting is very good which will be needed this week.

JIM FURYK is your winner,2 wins on the PGA TOUR this year,7th on tour in fairways hit,12th in scrambling and 11th in bogey avoidance.40/1 seems like a good price to me for such a very good grinder.Neat n Tidy but not very long off the tee, we,ll see come tomorrow players better get off to a fast start,post a score,or will be going home early.

I love Vijays chances given his tee off times, 130s on betfair stands out as value and 25s for a top 5 finish.
The wind will get up Friday afternoon so anyone still on the course at 3pm will struggle so I have to like his 7.25am tee time.
I also think Ernie has everything needed to win another Open, but that 1.53pm Friday tee time worries me, word is those teeing off after midday Friday are likely to be 3-4 shots worse off than those in the morning.
Another intriguing Open that's for sure

Just going to throw one out there, but Stewart Cink to retain his crown. The tall American was perhaps unpopular in victory 12 months ago - but i see very little reason why he couldn't be there or thereabouts again come Sunday afternoon.

Other than that, i see a good week for wiley veteran Retief 'The Goose' Goosen. Also Ryo Ishikawa to impress.

I can't believe there has been no mention of Tim Clark! I think at 80/1 is an absolute steal for a player with a great all round game and who can putt with the best of them if on his game.

Regarding the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Television coverage of The Open. I do so hope that it will NOT turn into The Tiger Woods Show. Idolatry is all very well, but not from TV commentators and about someone who has let "the side down". Whilst I accept that Woods is a good player, I do not want too listen the innate ramblings of awe coming from certain mouths. There are other better golfers taking part: who wont look as if they are about too cry having made a poor shot!!. Lets hope the Ö÷²¥´óÐã does not ignore them.

Stephen Gallagher fans have to be a bit wary yes has won here, but also has 6 missed cuts....

On a experience angle of playing the course in the past 10 years...

Padrig Harrington 39 rounds scoring average 69.46
Ernie Els 38 rounds scoring average 69.53

Those two players that have played over 30 rounds in the past 10 years have broken 70...pretty impressive

Only one or two people mention what I understand to be a critical factor this week, i.e. the advantage of long driving at St Andrews relative to any other Open venue. This would narrow it down significantly.
Although I find him boring to watch, Goosen ticks all my boxes at 50/1, Rose seems to have a magic about him that ensures he peaks at majors and has a great chance though at a skinny price.

The American Jeff Overton hits a long ball and is my big outsider.

Interesting that with the Europeans looking more dominant than ever before, and Els, Goosen and others lurking, you could find the "Top American" coming in 5th or 6th overall which might give you a decent fall-back bet if you fancy one of them as I do.

It is all total guesswork. It depends entirely who is hot at the moment plus a bit of luck. There must be at least 30 players with a realistic chance and if you consider how close Tom Watson got last year you can just about extend it almost the whole field. If his game is back to normal then Tiger Woods would be the favourite.

here we go,best week of the year, no doubt
jim furyk £20 e/w 50-1 won couple of times this year
darren clarke £10 e/w 80-1 playing well
shane lowry £10 e/w 125-1 won irish open on links in terrible weather coming into bit of form
rory m £30 win 16-1 never shot wors than 69 round the old course
SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!

@17

Sandy Lyle did disgrace himself by walking off, im pretty sure he made excuses as well: He couldnt keep warm, his hands were wet and he couldnt see in the rain.

Winner: Poulter
Good week: Chris Wood

Dan Walker is as poor a golf presenter as Gary L. Tell him how to pronounce Villegas properly or stick with football. Cant see him lasting at golf if he does not improve.

Mickleson's just come off the back of an awful tournament, shot like an 81 wherever it was, Rose looks in good form but with the weather as it is who knows what could/will happen.

Winner - Mcilroy (mainly because I've got £10 on him at 15/1)
Good Week - Luke Donald, had some good results recently, could do well.

Form players are always key going into a major in difficult conditions, so Rose at 22-1 has been backed.

Also the current World number 4, who shot a 62 last week and won is outstanding odds, Stricker at 40-1.

Mickleson may have been off his game a touch in the past month or 2, but class always shines through. Knows how to win, and has the added incentive of becoming world number 1 at the home of golf. 20-1 backed!

A small punt on a longshot - Rhys Davies at 160-1. The guy has bottle, has shown he can win on the European Tour this year, and there are few better putters out there which is key on Old St A!

Can't believe so many pundits have avoided these last 3!

To those who mentioned Sandy Lyle - the men in white coats are on their way ......................

I'm sorry if this offends anyone but Peter Alliss has offended me to be honest:

"There's still life in Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen to do well and it will be interesting to see how the younger group of British players gets on - McIlroy, Poulter, Casey, Rose, Rhys Davies."

Rory McIlroy is from Northern Ireland, that is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, it is NOT part of Britain. I saw the same mistake made about Martin O Neill on this website recently and think its very bad reporting to be claiming these guys as British. There is a difference between the UK(Includes Northern Ireland) and Britain(Just England, Scotland and Wales). I don't mean to be dragging all this up again but it just gets under my skin when this happens, the same used to happen with Eddie Irvine in the F1.

Why is the Ö÷²¥´óÐã showing every shot played by Tiger Woods..? In the meantime, John Daly is leading and building a good score, with minimal coverage..!

Please don't be so biased Ö÷²¥´óÐã..!

Thankfully, Tiger Woods is now finished..! Perhaps the Ö÷²¥´óÐã will now cover some of the other players taking part.

@47, Because he is still number one in the world and the world wants to see him play. I am sure John Daly would get the same coverage if he had the profile and pedigree of TW, but unfortunately he doesn't. So sit back, relax, restrain your bias views, and watch the best player ever to play golf do his thing.

And please people stop judging him, neither of us is remotrely qualified to judge him, not even the priests considering recent revelations.

Tiger to win! he is simply the best of the lot.

Don't care much for the opinions of pundits - they are as good or bad at predictions as the rest of us!

It would be nice if the Ö÷²¥´óÐã commentators could learn to pronounce players' names properly.

Jimenez pronounced Gym-enez by both commentators really set my teeth on edge.

Badger55 re being British and from Northern Ireland - I'm not offended, but a little patronised by your semantic pedantry. As you point out the country is called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (although you could have included the Isle of Man and Channel Islands while you were at it), but no one would welcome being called United Kingdomish or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Irelandish. British is shorthand in the same way that 'Dutch' is used by Ö÷²¥´óÐã commentators to describe people from the Netherlands. If a journalist says "Mary Peters won gold for the British Olympic team in 1972" we know what they mean in plain English without their tying themselves up in ridiculous knots. McIlroy to win (for Ireland, Northern Ireland, the UK and North Down).

badger55 i can't quite understand your comment "i don't mean to be dragging all this up again" as far as i can see you do mean to. Don't you?

If you do however insist on nitpicking on nationality grey areas then please please please get your facts right. You're exactly right in saying that Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and not Britain. You are however completely and utterly incorrect in saying that people from Northern Ireland can't or shouldn't be classed as British. Assuming you are a British passport holder look closely at the photograph page of your passport and read carefully what it says under the Nationality section... yes that's right "British Citizen".

Northern Irish people can hold either a European Union Irish Passport or an European Union United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Passport therefore classing them as either an Irish citizen or British citizen.

So badger55 it seems you're wrong on this occasion, you'll have to find something else to get under your skin from now on!

Hopefully all those years of Irvine in F1, O'Neil in the premiership and more recently McIlroy on the European / PGA Tour haven't taken their toll and you have some skin left.

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