British Open Preview
By Dan Daly
VegasInsider.com
Spend 48 hours in New Orleans…get on a plane with a massive hangover…sit directly next to the engine in row 31 to accentuate said hangover…write a 1,500 hundred word British Open Preview.
Challenge accepted.
In other words please forgive anything below that makes no sense or sounds like it was written by an 8-year-old that stole my laptop.
Let's break down this year's British Open field, shall we. This year's groupings will be in honor of my weekend in New Orleans.
And once again, I go with the British Open over the Open Championship because I live in America.
The Late Night Harrah's Group (You might as well just take your money and light it on fire)
John Daly 300/1 - John Daly…Harrah's…what other possible group could he go in? David Duval is also 300/1 which unfortunately may also be his two day total this week. At least his opening round 81 at the John Deere was only the second worst score of the entire tournament so that's a positive.
Sergio Westwood 35/1 - Just trying to save space…this is still a major right?
Bubba Watson 35/1 - Tiger won here basically without using a driver and Bubba hated Pinehurst this year. Yeah, this should go well for him.
Zach Johnson 60/1 - Do they even have John Deere tractors in the UK? Look, if you can't close the deal at TPC Deere Run I'm pretty sure Hoylake is out of the question.
Phil Mickelson 25/1 - A year ago he was a long shot to ever win one British Open so I'll pass on him winning back-to-back years. That and the pesky little fact that he still doesn't even have a Top-10 on Tour this year. Let's clear that hurdle first.
Jim Furyk 60/1 - Is 5-Hour energy allowed in the UK? If not, he won't even have a chance to meltdown late on Sunday.
Keegan Bradley and Hunter Mahan 70/1 - These two guys at 70/1 is not a "good value." That's Vegas telling you they have absolutely no shot of winning this week. Neither one ever has odds this high in other tournaments.
Patrick Reed 115/1 - I'm no wise guy but 115/1 for a top 5 player on Tour seems odd to me? Oh, he's still not a top 5 player? My bad…
Brandt Snedeker 50/1 - I don't know much, but when a guy switches swing instructors in the middle of the season and two weeks before a major I would stay a Rory McIlroy drive away from that action. On that note, at what point has Butch Harmon achieved total world domination?
The One More Hurricane Group (It sounds like a good idea at the time but you pay for it later)
Tiger Woods 15/1 - For years I had one simple rule with Tiger…I might not bet on him but I would never bet against him…especially in a major. Well, that rule no longer applies. At least not for the time being. He will contend at the PGA next month but not this week. If Congressional was any indication of his current short game then 15/1 to win this week is laughable. I don't care how many irons he can tee off with, if he can't get the ball in the hole he can't win. I know, pretty scientific stuff right there.
Jordan Spieth 25/1 - Needs to play in a few more British Open's first…but once he does his game will be lethal over there. And as much as I love Spieth his odds are way too low for a guy that has only played in one British Open.
Matt Kuchar 40/1 - If you like to smile while you lose money, then by all means, this is the guy you need to bet on this week.
Dustin Johnson 40/1 - You can't possibly expect him to play inspired golf when his fiancé is following him around all day bundled up due to the crappy weather they have in the UK this time of year. He will win a major when it's 100 degrees outside and tight tank tops are in order.
Jason Day 25/1 - Day has only played in three British Open's (which surprised me) and has had a blow up round in each keeping him from ever finishing inside the top 30. Until he figures out how to put four solid rounds together at the British Open, save your money.
Henrik Stenson 25/1 - If Stenson couldn't win a major in 2013 with the season he had I'm pretty sure he is never going to be able to close the deal.
Ian Poulter 45/1 - Until they hold the Ryder Cup and the British Open the same weekend I'll pass on Poulter. But if they have a Twitter contest I think he is your odds on favorite.
The 3:00 am Krystal's Stop Group. (Always a solid option, but not your best bet)
Miguel Angel Jimenez 85/1 and Angel Cabrera 115/1 - Can you really put The Mechanic or The Duck in any other group? I know I can't.
Justin Rose 12/1 - He went from totally geek to totally chic in the last two weeks by winning at Congressional and The Scottish Open back-to-back. Or in English he went from 30/1 to 12/1 and the betting favorite in less than two weeks. If you want a bandwagon pick this week then Rose is your guy. I'll pass for one very large reason: his record at the British Open is surprisingly awful. He has missed the cut in back-to-back years, three of the last four and five of his 12 starts. He also doesn't have a top 10 in the British Open since he burst onto the scene as an amateur in 1998 with a tie for 4th. I have no doubt he will play well this week but winning three in a row? Not happening. (And yes, I just dropped a Can't Buy Me Love quote on you above)
Rory McIlroy 15/1 - I'm guessing his tournament will look something like this…59, 85, 69, 67 for a backdoor top 10. I've never seen anyone as inconsistent from the first to the second round as Rory…it's fascinating actually but he has done it his entire career. When he wins, he has a good second round; it's as simple as that.
Louis Oosthuizen 60/1 - I just fell asleep thinking about him winning. Which is exactly why he is a solid option this week. As boring as this season and the first two majors have been this is right up his alley.
Luke Donald 45/1 - Length is not an issue for him here and with his short game he should contend…but he won't win.
Graeme McDowell 45/1 - If double digits under par wins he's not your guy, but if the weather dictates the score and par becomes a valuable number then I would never count him out. Too big of a variable for me to take.
Victor Dubuisson 85/1 - If this thing turns into a short game contest I certainly wouldn't rule him out.
Adam Scott 15/1 - He clearly has the game to win this tournament but after the memorable embrace here between Tiger and Steve Williams in 2006, Earl would never allow them to win this week.
Martin Kaymer 20/1 - After winning on Mother's Day and Father's Day, I'm not so sure he can pull this one off unless it's Sibling Day, Grandparent Day, or some other family recognition day. That and I refuse to believe he can win the U.S. Open and British Open back-to-back. But man can this guy putt from off the green.
Jason Dufner 50/1 - Ok, so I'm really putting Amanda Dufner in this spot. Jason won't win the British Open but his wife certainly won the 4th of July with this classic! USA! USA! USA! And once again, Mrs. Dufner increased her stock even more. Ten!
The Advil, Water, Steam Room and Massage Group (Winning):
I'm cheating again and taking two players this week. Hey, last time I checked there was no rule against betting on two players.
Ernie Els 60/1 - This is my long shot pick for the week. Great record at the British Open, played well here the year Tiger won and hello…The Big Easy! Coincidence? I think not.
And
Rickie Fowler 50/1 - At 50/1 I guess he isn't that much less of a long shot than Els but I am officially drinking the bright orange Kool-Aid. Two top-5 finishes this year in the first two majors of the year. His swing has come full circle. Course sets up great for his game. Loves links golf. Had a solid showing at the Scottish Open. And quite frankly I just think he is due to finally break through and win a major even though he still only has one more PGA Tour win than I do.
British Open Preview
By: Freddy Wander
StatFox.com
It’s that time of the year again where many of the North American PGA players head over the pond to embark on the challenge that is the Open Championship. The third major of the season, which is often referred to as the British Open, was established in 1860 and is currently played in a rotation between 10 different courses. The last time this event was played at the current venue (Royal Liverpool Golf Club), the year was 2006 and golf was in the middle of an immortal run by Tiger Woods as he won by two strokes over American Chris DiMarco with a near record-breaking performance of 18-under par. Last season, Phil Mickelson took down his first Open Championship at the tough Muirfield course, posting the only score under par (-3) amongst the field of 156 golfers. The majors are typically won by some of the top golfers in the world, as 15 of the past 18 winners have been players in the current top-30 of the World Golf Rankings. Let’s take a look at both some top golfers and possible surprises that could excel in this year’s Open Championship.
Golfers to Watch
Adam Scott (12/1): Scott has placed in the top-8 three times at the Open since 2006; including a runner-up finish last year and a T-3rd place in 2012. He has jumped into the first spot in the world rankings due to six top-10 finishes in 10 starts this year, including a win at the Crown Plaza Invitational in late May. His putting game is what has improved so much over the years, as he ranks 15th in strokes gained putting (.471) while hitting a tremendous 23% of his putts from 15-to-25 feet (4th on tour). It is surprising that Scott has just one major to his name over his career, and the No. 1 player in the world has a great opportunity to grab a second major championship this weekend.
Henrik Stenson (18/1): Stenson has been great on both the European Tour and PGA Tour this year, finishing in the top-7 in 5-of-8 tourneys over in Europe and taking two top-15 finishes at the first two majors of the year. He has been close at the Open before with three top-3 finishes in this event over the past six years, including being the runner-up to Phil Mickelson in last year’s installment. Stenson has the right mental fortitude and is possibly the best player out there without a major, so a big run should be in store for the Swiss-born player this week.
Martin Kaymer (18/1): Kaymer will look to win both the Opens this season, which would be his third career major, and he possesses all the tools to achieve this. Besides the win at the U.S. Open this year, Kaymer also hoisted the trophy at the Players Championship, a tournament known for its tough field and is considered a fifth major by many. He has a solid combination of driving distance (295.9 yards per, 45th on tour) and accuracy (64.9%, 32nd on tour), which should give him a leg-up on his competitors. Kaymer should be all over the highlights this week and be contending come Sunday.
Ian Poulter (45/1): Poulter is another tremendous golfer without a major to his name despite winning 16 times through various tours at the professional level in his career. The Open Championship is always close to home for the English-born player, and he has placed in the top-9 three times in the past six years, including a runner-up finish in 2008. Poulter has finished in the top-20 in both of the majors so far this year, and will be a hometown favorite to watch as the week goes on.
Patrick Reed (110/1): Reed seems poised to be one of the next great golfers in the game and already has three PGA Tour wins under his belt at the age of 23. Although he has played in just two majors over his young career, Reed proved that he could take on tough fields with a win at the WGC-Cadillac Championship earlier this year. He is an all-or-nothing type player as he has finished in the top-25 eight times this year, but has also been cut six times over 20 events. The payout would be great on this risky bet, and this will be a great forum for Reed to break out and really make a name for himself moving forward.
British Open Odds and Picks
By: Marcus DiNitto
Sportingnews.com
Adam Scott and Justin Rose garner co-favorite status for this week’s British Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England, while Tiger Woods is unfamiliar territory at 25-to-1 odds.
Woods missed the cut in the only tournament he’s played since having back surgery in March – the Quicken Loans National at Congressional – but Matt Kuchar, who played a practice round with Woods on Sunday, says don’t count out the three-time Open champion.
Kuchar, per The Guardian, said Wood was “impressive” on Sunday. “I absolutely think he could contend,” said Kuchar. “The Open, the knowledge he has, the skill-set he has? Yes, he could definitely contend.”
Woods, though, will have to show us something more before we back him at the bet window.
A few other favorites The Linemakers on Sporting News' Brian Blessing won’t have his money on this week.
“With the inconsistencies in Rory McIlroy’s game – especially his putting – I’m not playing him at (14-to-1).”
Phil Mickelson won last year’s British Open at Muirfield, but prior to last year, “links golf just didn’t suit him."
Says Blessing of how he approaches betting on a golf tournament, “Unless I’m all in with a guy who’s 20-to-1— I’m price hunting in the 40- or 50-to-1 or much higher range to start a tournament, and then I can get a really high-end player two or three shots off the pace heading into the weekend still in the 15-to-1 range – near where they started the tournament at.”
Here’s who is on Blessing’s list for the 2014 Open Championship:
“I keep chasing Louis Oosthuizen. He’s got back issues, but he’s got one of the sweetest swings and he’s got the game. He won his British Open in dominant style (in 2010). If he can keep himself upright for four days, I think Louis Oosthuizen at (60-to-1) is a guy worth a look.”
“Paul Casey, I think, will win a tournament this year. … He doesn’t have tour status and he’s trying to get his game back up into that world-class range. I think he’s showing signs of life here – not a crazy play at (50-to-1).”
Jamie Donaldson (60-to-1) is “one of the top players on the European Tour.”
80-to-1 is “too high a price” for Victor Dubuisson. “He is proving to be one of the most consistent golfers in the world.”
And here's a couple of bombs for your consideration:
Brooks Koepka (200-to-1) had the lead at the U.S. Open and ended up finishing tied for fourth.
Thongchai Jaidee (150-to-1) is “one of the best players no one knows anything about.”
The Open Championship Preview and Picks
By Matt Fargo
Covers.com
We hit our third Major of the season with the 143rd edition of The Open Championship taking place from Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England. This is the 12th time Royal Liverpool has hosted The Open Championship with the last coming in 2006. That year it Tiger Woods who won by two shots over Chris DiMarco. His 270 aggregate score was the second lowest at an Open Championship since 1994 with Woods also owning the lowest, a 269 at St. Andrew's in 2000 when he won by eight shots.
Royal Liverpool was founded 145 years ago in 1869 and was redesigned early in the 20th century by Harry Colt. Along with St. Andrew's, it has been the only par 72 in the rotation since 1990 and this year is will play to a length of 7,312 yards which is only 54 yards longer than it was in 2006. Like any Open Championship venue, weather can be a huge factor even though conditions were benign here in 2006. Don't expect a repeat of that as winds are typically very strong off the sea and rain is in the forecast.
Of the last 22 Majors, there have been 18 different winners with Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer being the only two-time Major winners. Not since 2008 has there been a repeat major winner. Padraig Harrington is the last player to do so, winning The Open Championship and PGA Championship back-to-back. It will be up to Kaymer this week to break that streak after capturing his second Major at the U.S. Open last month.
American players had won three straight Majors after Webb Simpson's victory at the 2012 U.S. Open but the American's went 0-4 in the next four. Since then though, U.S. players have captured three of the last four. History could be on their side as since 1995 at St. Andrews, Americans have won 12 of the 19 Open Championships. However, just two of the last seven winner have been Americans, Stewart Cink in 2009 and Phil Mickelson last year.
Phil Mickelson (+2,300) is the defending champion and there have been only two repeat champions since 1983, Tiger Woods in 2005 and 2006 and Padraig Harrington in 2007 and 2008. Mickelson came into last year with three top threes in his previous five starts but this year he has not played very well with not a single top 10 in his last 14 starts. He finished T22 here in 2006. Better options available.
Henrik Stenson (+1,800) is one of the favorites this week as he continues to play consistently. He has been in the top five in his last three starts at the Nordea Masters, the U.S. Open and the BMW International Open and has been T7 or better in five straight starts. His Open Championship record is not the best overall but he has a solo second and a pair of T3's over his last five starts.
Jason Day (+2,800) is still in search of his first Major and while the Open Championship has not treated him well, he has the mental game to get through the bad weather which he said he actually likes. His best finish at the Open Championship is a T30 back in 2011 but a T4 at the U.S. Open last month was his fifth top-four finish at a major, while he has seven top tens in 14 starts.
Rickie Fowler (+3,500) has been all over the place this year with his new swing but he has done exceptional at the big events. He finished third at the Accenture Match Play and followed that up with a T5 at the Masters and a T2 at the U.S. Open. His last start was last week at the Scottish Open where finished T8. He has a pair of top 15's at the Open Championship including a career best T5 in 2011.
Jamie Donaldson (+6,500) is coming off a missed cut at the Scottish Open last week but brings a lot to the table this week. He has two wins on the European Tour, one each in 2012 and 2013, and this year he has four top fives including a pair of runner-ups. While he missed the cut at the U.S. Open, he finished T14 at the Masters. He has made the cut here each of the last two years.
Mikko Ilonen (+8,500) is not going to be on many people's radar this week but he has been in excellent form. He won the Irish open last month, his fourth victory on the European Tour and his fourth top 10 this season. He has played in the Open Championship five times, making the cut in his last four starts. This includes a career best T9 in 2001 and a T16 when in was last played here in 2006.
Recommended Tournament Win Five Pack at The Open Championship (all for One Unit)
Henrik Stenson (+1,800)
Jason Day (+2,800)
Rickie Fowler (+3,500)
Jamie Donaldson (+6,500)
Mikko Ilonen (+8,500)
2014 Record to date after 26 events: -73 Units