The Open 2009 Betting tips

The 2009 Open returns to the spectacular cliff top links at Turnberry beginning on the 18th July, the fourth time it has been held at this most spectacular course. The Ailsa course is currently ranked as Britain's number 1 golf course by two leading golfing publications and this Par 70 course has been closed since November as adjustments and modernisation has taken place especially to holes 10, 16 and 17. Thus when the players tee up in July the course will be 247 yards longer at 7204 yards and will have 23 new bunkers than when the Open was last played at Turnberry in 1994.
 
The famous "duel in the sun" when Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus in 1977 was the first Turnberry Open. For three rounds the players were inseparable each carding 68, 70 and then 65s to put them three shots clear of Ben Crenshaw going into Sunday's Final Round. The weather had been glorious all week and the stage was set for one of the greatest head-to-heads in the history of golf. Watson went ahead for the first time on the 17th when Nicklaus missed his birdie putt from 4 feet. Nicklaus was in trouble off the tee at 18 whilst Watson hit a one iron and seven iron to within three feet. Surely it was all over but The Golden Bear holed a 40 foot birdie putt and suddenly Watson had to hole his putt for the Title. The American made no mistake and his 65 led to a one-shot victory and his second Claret Jug. His aggregate score of 268 beat the previous record by no less than eight shots!!
 
 In 1986 Aussie Greg Norman stormed to a five shot victory from Englishman Gordon J Brand helped by a stunning 63 in the 2nd round which at the time equalled the lowest ever score in the history of the Open.
 
In 1994 South African Nick Price "stole" the Claret Jug from under the nose of Jesper Parnevik. When the Swede birdied 17 he had a two-shot lead and it looked as if it was his Tournament to lose but he was oblivious to Price holing a 50 foot eagle putt on 17 and the Swede then proceeded to bogey 18. Price knew that a par on 18 would be enough to make him Champion Golfer of 1994 and after two safe irons and a lagged putt he holed a two-footer for par and the Open was his. David Feherty who is now such a popular golf commentator in the States was leading British golfer tying for fourth with Mark "Jesse" James. 
 
 
The changes
The 10th hole now has a new tee jutting out next to the beach which brings a new challenge and it is sure to be the most photographed hole on the course. The 16th has 45 yards added to it and it is now a left to right dog leg and with the burn in front of the green it is likely to have a major say in the outcome. The 17th hole has had 61 yards added to it and it will now be a tougher hole to birdie than in previous Opens. The course still only has 65 well placed bunkers compared to over 120+ on the other Open Championship venues. The course will suit a player that can keep the ball in play off the tee and is an accurate iron player and will not necessarily assist the long-hitters.
 
The challengers
 Irishman Padraig Harrington (14/1 with Stan James) will have his work cut out to equal Peter Thompson's record of 3 successive Opens, especially with the return of World Number 1 Tiger Woods who missed last year's Championship at Royal Birkdale due to knee surgery. Woods should have his game back in shape by July, but he does need to improve his wayward driving. Woods won the 2006 Open at Hoylake in glorious sunshine by hitting irons off the tees and he is likely to opt for a similar approach at Turnberry if the weather allows. He is currently priced at 11/4 and may continue to drift unless he returns to his best in the US Open next month. You never know what Tiger is going to do next, but one thing is for sure it will be fun watching.
 
Harrington at 14/1 is sure to have his supporters as he seeks his hat-trick, Sergio Garcia at 16/1 is seeking his elusive first Major, former winner Ernie Els at 20/1, dual US Open winner Retief Goosen at 33/1 are all good links players who are likely to feature again as can Columbian Camilo Villegas (33/1) who looked a natural shotmaker and links player when he made his debut at Southport last year. Ian Poulter (28/1) was runner up at the recent Players Championship and in last years Open and is recommended as leading British golfer, but American Justin Leonard (50/1) a past winner in 1997 at Royal Troon who has a tidy all round game is my sporting ew bet.

The Open Championship 2009
Ante Post Tournament Outright betting from Stan James
(place terms: 1/4 the first 5)
11-4 Woods, Tiger
14 Harrington, Padraig
16 Garcia, Sergio
20 Els, Ernie
20 Mickelson, Phil
25 Stenson, Henrik
25 Furyk, Jim
25 Mcilroy, Rory
28 Poulter, Ian
33 Singh, Vijay
33 Cabrera , Angel
33 Villegas, Camilo
33 Rose, Justin
33 Ogilvy, Geoff
33 Westwood, Lee
33 Perry, Kenny
33 Goosen, Retief
33 Kim, Anthony
33 Karlsson, Robert
33 Casey, Paul
40 O'Hair, Sean
50 Stricker, Steve
50 Leonard, Justin
50 Kaymer, Martin
50 Donald, Luke
50 Romero, Andres
50 Immelman, Trevor
50 Scott, Adam
50 Allenby, Robert
66 Choi, K-J
66 Weir, Mike
66 Mahan, Hunter
66 Mcdowell, Graeme
66 Cink, Stewart
66 Jimenez, Miguel-Angel
66 Love, Davis
66 Fisher, Ross
80 Appleby, Stuart
80 Johnson, Zach
100 Daly, John
100 Clarke, Darren
100 Ames, Stephen
100 Wilson, Oliver
100 Singh, Jeev-Milkha
100 Curtis, Ben
100 Clark, Tim
125 Weekley, Boo
125 Hansen, Soren
125 Baddeley, Aaron
150 Noren, Alexander

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