The 2008 British Open has been thrown wide open following the withdrawal of Tiger Woods due to injury, with the market now headed by Sergio Garcia, priced the 11.000 favourite on PinnacleSports.com’s British Open betting.
The Spaniard has been a model of consistency at the British Open, with six top ten finishes in the last seven years, including in 2007, when beaten by Padraig Harrington in a play-off. Despite being the defending champion, the Irishman is longer odds then Garcia, priced 17 in the British Open betting at PinnacleSports.com.
South African, Ernie Els, another Britsh Open specialist is the 15 second favourite at PinnacleSports.com on the strength of his excellent record in the event. The Big Easy has six top five finishes in the last eight years, winning in 2002, but his recent form either side of the Atlantic only ranks him among the top 25 golfers.
Last year at Carnoustie, Harrington became the first European since Jose Maria Olazabal at the 1999 US Masters, to win a major, but it wasn’t the most stylish of wins. The Irishman fell over the line having gone to 18 with a one-shot lead over Garcia, only to double-bogey, eventually beating the Spaniard in the playoff. Also available at the same price as Harrington in the British Open betting at PinnacleSports.com is Lee Westwood – current leader in the European Tour money standings - and Phil Mickelson, third on the USPGA earnings rankings, but with just one top ten British Open finish in eighteen attempts.
Justin Rose also offers domestic hope priced 26 in the British Open golf betting at PinnacleSports.com. Now 27, Rose landed the 2007 European Tour Order of Merit with his thrilling win at the Volvo Masters. However, he has just four European tour titles to his name and none on the USPGA. Though he finished fifth in the 2007 US Masters, his fourth place at Birkdale a decade ago remains his best finish at a major, and bettors will have to judge whether the course will inspire similar heroics a decade on, or the pressure of expectation prove too great.
The British Open, the third golf major of the year, will also be critical in determining the final qualification places for the 2008 Ryder Cup teams. The event carries twice as much weight as regular tour events, giving extra motivation for players desperate to be playing at Valahalla in September. Luke Donald is out of the British Open through injury, so is likely to be one of Nick Faldo’s two captain’s picks, leaving only one other wildcard alongside the top ten ranked players on the European money list.
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