Who needs Tiger? Last week’s Open must rank as one of the most exciting for years with overnight leaders Greg Norman (who had been matched to the tune of £1,845 at 1000 on Betfair pre-tournament), and Padraig Harrington, who started the day as 11/4 favourite, coming back to the rest of the field after dropping shots over the opening nine holes. Suddenly, there were a dozen players still in contention, including Ian Poulter who looked like a man possessed over the closing holes and was actually trading as favourite at one stage.

But when the Englishman took three putts at the 17th, you just knew that Harrington was going to hang on to his Claret Jug. In the end, his magnificent wood shot into the par-five 17th to set up an eagle putt from four feet clinched it for him - and the Paddy Power punter who had £2,000 each way on him at 28/1! Incredibly, Harrington, who was friendless in the pre-tournament market after his injury scare (thanks Pod!), was matched at 70 on Betfair when he teed off on Thursday and at a whopping 150 after he bogeyed the first hole. Beware the injured golfer as they say.

At one stage, I thought that Jim Furyk’s clubhouse score of ten over might be good enough in the conditions, but that may have been wishful thinking as I was on him at 28/1 for the title. Thankfully, it was enough for fifth place and a full place payout, meaning I avoided total disaster. It had all started so well with Graeme McDowell (40/1 outright), Rocco Mediate (200/1) and Anthony Kim (80/1) all looking like potential winners at one stage, but it was not to be. Mediate’s 76-76 finish was gutting as I’d backed him in the Top American market too at 40/1 - that honour eventually going to Furyk at 7/1. Oh well, that's golf betting for you.

I did learn one valuable lesson last week and that is to pay more heed to the draw. Half of my ante post bets were losers simply because they went out in the worst of the conditions on Thursday morning, and, to a lesser extent, late on Friday. And don’t believe a word the weather forecasters say! Next year, I'll wait to see what conditions are like on the day and place my bets accordingly, even if that means taking shorter odds.

Looking ahead to the rest of the golfing year, it has to be a concern for the Americans that they provided only four of the top-15 here. Apart from another solid display by Furyk and decent showings from Ben Curtis (again!) and Steve Stricker, they were simply blown away, and not just by the weather! With the Ryder Cup looming, their captain Paul Azinger will be having sleepless nights and, even on home soil, they make limited appeal at 11/10 (Blue Square). In contrast, the Europeans, fresh from a 1-2-3 here, are looking a rock solid bet at Evens with Boylesports.

Before that, we have the final major of the year to look forward to. With no Tiger, the betting for the USPGA Championship (Oaklands Hills 7th - 10th August) has a very open look to it, with some bookies going 10/1 the field. Phil Mickelson looks an uneasy favourite at that price with Ladbrokes, with Sergio Garcia and Padrig Harrington at 14/1 (Hills) and 16/1 (bet365) respectively. I think we can safely put a line through Garcia after yet another disappointing display in a major (collapsed to 51st place), while Harrington only wins Opens these days - this was his first victory since Carnoustie 12 months earlier! I see Paddy Power are going 16/1 for an Open Championship hat-trick at Turnberry next year and that looks a better bet.

Anthony Kim (a star of the future no doubt) makes some appeal at 33/1 (VCbet), but this tournament has a tendency to go to an American journeyman in the same mould as Rich Beem (2002) and Shaun Micheel (2003) - remember them?! Let’s see what happens over the next couple of weeks as momentum is everything, meaning virtually any player running into a bit of form is capable of making his presence felt - watch this space!