LOOKING TO BET ON THIS WEEK\u2019S 2011 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP? CHECK OUT BODOG SPORTSBOOKS PGA Betting Odds Today!!!!!<\/a><\/h3>\nLAST WEEK:<\/strong> Tough break last week. David Toms, our pick, pulled out with a hip injury. Steve Stricker proved that the long shot of winning a tournament three times in a row isn\u2019t actually a long shot for someone as suited to one particular golf course as he is. Next year, I\u2019ll know better and pick him to win four straight.<\/p>\nDate: Thursday July 14 \u2013 July 17
\nEvent: British Open Championship
\nCourse: Royal St. George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent, ENG
\nPurse: $7,300,000
\nDefending Champ: Louis Oosthuizen
\nWinning Share: $1,305,593
\nFedEX Cup Points Up For Grabs: 600<\/strong><\/p>\nOnto the British Open or, as it\u2019s actually known, the Open Championship. Naturally, we should pay attention to particularly strong (or at least weak) wind players. ![\"\"](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/07\/british-open-championship-e1310489604536.jpg\" "\\"British")
British Open Predictions<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\nWe should also know that driving accuracy isn\u2019t necessary a big concern, as you can find an imperfect lie wherever you put the ball at Royal St. George\u2019s and the rough isn\u2019t overly devastating.<\/p>\n
THE ELITE<\/h3>\n
Rory McIlroy <\/strong>
\nBritish Open odds: +500<\/p>\nRory almost deserves his own category, as his +500 odds are the best since Tiger and Phil\u2019s respective peaks. He led the 2011 Masters after every round before blowing it on Sunday and led the U.S. Open wire-to-wire before his victory, meaning McIlroy has led after seven of his last eight major championship rounds. The only problem is that McIlroy himself has admitted to not being a great wind player.<\/p>\n
Lee Westwood<\/strong>
\nBritish Open odds: +800<\/p>\nWhen will it happen for Lee Westwood? He\u2019s finished in the top three two straight years and is widely considered the best current golfer without a major. Some bettors may believe it\u2019s only a matter of time before Westwood wins the big one. I\u2019m not one of them. He\u2019s the new Colin Montgomerie. The pressure of winning on his home soil may be just a little bit too much.<\/p>\n
Luke Donald<\/strong>
\nBritish Open odds: +1000<\/p>\nDonald faces the local pressure, too, but he\u2019s early enough in his career that he isn\u2019t jaded by near misses like Westwood might be. He\u2019s the best player in the world right now, he has the clutch putter than can make magic in majors, and his approaches have been accurate all season long. Is it his time?<\/p>\n
THE CONTENDERS<\/h3>\n
Sergio Garcia<\/strong>
\nBritish Open odds: +2500<\/p>\nSergio has quietly crept back into relevance this season. He was seventh at the U.S. Open and, more recently, was second at the BMW International. Sergio is a good ball striker, 20th<\/sup> on Tour this season, and he\u2019s had success in the past at the British, posting six career top-10s.<\/p>\nJason Day<\/strong>
\nBritish Open odds: +2500<\/p>\nI like Day\u2019s grinding skills; he\u2019s tops on Tour in sand saves, fourth in scrambling and 13th<\/sup> in bogey avoidance. Day was also second place at both the Masters and U.S. Open this season. He\u2019s on the cusp of something huge. Can he finally put it all together?<\/p>\nNick Watney<\/strong>
\nBritish Open odds: +2500<\/p>\nIf Donald is No. 1 this season, Nick Watney is 1-A. His win at the AT&T National was his second this year. Watney is throwing darts, ranking fourth on Tour in greens this season, and he\u2019s fifth in putting. I like him for the same reason as Donald this week \u2013 but Watney offers more than double the return on your bet.<\/p>\n
SOLID PICKS<\/h3>\n
Matt Kuchar<\/strong>
\nBritish Open odds: +3000<\/p>\nKuchar makes for a solid play because of his ball striking and overall game \u2013 but it doesn\u2019t feel like he\u2019s peaking in time for the British Open. After a great finish to 2010 and start to 2011, he has two top-10s in his last seven tries.
Date: Thursday July 14 \u2013 July 17 Onto the British Open or, as it\u2019s actually known, the Open Championship. Naturally, we should pay attention to particularly strong (or at least weak) wind players. We should also know that driving accuracy isn\u2019t necessary a big concern, as you can find an imperfect lie wherever you put the ball at Royal St. George\u2019s and the rough isn\u2019t overly devastating.<\/p>\n Rory McIlroy <\/strong> Rory almost deserves his own category, as his +500 odds are the best since Tiger and Phil\u2019s respective peaks. He led the 2011 Masters after every round before blowing it on Sunday and led the U.S. Open wire-to-wire before his victory, meaning McIlroy has led after seven of his last eight major championship rounds. The only problem is that McIlroy himself has admitted to not being a great wind player.<\/p>\n Lee Westwood<\/strong> When will it happen for Lee Westwood? He\u2019s finished in the top three two straight years and is widely considered the best current golfer without a major. Some bettors may believe it\u2019s only a matter of time before Westwood wins the big one. I\u2019m not one of them. He\u2019s the new Colin Montgomerie. The pressure of winning on his home soil may be just a little bit too much.<\/p>\n Luke Donald<\/strong> Donald faces the local pressure, too, but he\u2019s early enough in his career that he isn\u2019t jaded by near misses like Westwood might be. He\u2019s the best player in the world right now, he has the clutch putter than can make magic in majors, and his approaches have been accurate all season long. Is it his time?<\/p>\n Sergio Garcia<\/strong> Sergio has quietly crept back into relevance this season. He was seventh at the U.S. Open and, more recently, was second at the BMW International. Sergio is a good ball striker, 20th<\/sup> on Tour this season, and he\u2019s had success in the past at the British, posting six career top-10s.<\/p>\n Jason Day<\/strong> I like Day\u2019s grinding skills; he\u2019s tops on Tour in sand saves, fourth in scrambling and 13th<\/sup> in bogey avoidance. Day was also second place at both the Masters and U.S. Open this season. He\u2019s on the cusp of something huge. Can he finally put it all together?<\/p>\n Nick Watney<\/strong> If Donald is No. 1 this season, Nick Watney is 1-A. His win at the AT&T National was his second this year. Watney is throwing darts, ranking fourth on Tour in greens this season, and he\u2019s fifth in putting. I like him for the same reason as Donald this week \u2013 but Watney offers more than double the return on your bet.<\/p>\n Matt Kuchar<\/strong> Kuchar makes for a solid play because of his ball striking and overall game \u2013 but it doesn\u2019t feel like he\u2019s peaking in time for the British Open. After a great finish to 2010 and start to 2011, he has two top-10s in his last seven tries.
\nEvent: British Open Championship
\nCourse: Royal St. George’s Golf Club, Sandwich, Kent, ENG
\nPurse: $7,300,000
\nDefending Champ: Louis Oosthuizen
\nWinning Share: $1,305,593
\nFedEX Cup Points Up For Grabs: 600<\/strong><\/p>\nTHE ELITE<\/h3>\n
\nBritish Open odds: +500<\/p>\n
\nBritish Open odds: +800<\/p>\n
\nBritish Open odds: +1000<\/p>\nTHE CONTENDERS<\/h3>\n
\nBritish Open odds: +2500<\/p>\n
\nBritish Open odds: +2500<\/p>\n
\nBritish Open odds: +2500<\/p>\nSOLID PICKS<\/h3>\n
\nBritish Open odds: +3000<\/p>\n