The Open 2011

[traeth]

odds from bet365

the top half in the betting , there's more available if you fancy someone else

Book Closes 14 Jul 07:00 Each-way 1/4 1-2-3-4-5-6

Rory McIlroy 9.00
Lee Westwood 12.00
Luke Donald 12.00
Martin Kaymer 26.00
Sergio Garcia 26.00
Graeme McDowell 34.00
Nick Watney 34.00
Steve Stricker 36.00
Jason Day 41.00
Padraig Harrington 41.00
Matt Kuchar 41.00
Charl Schwartzel 46.00
K.J. Choi 46.00
Retief Goosen 46.00
Phil Mickelson 46.00
Justin Rose 51.00
Dustin Johnson 51.00
Ian Poulter 61.00
Adam Scott 61.00
Matteo Manassero 67.00
Henrik Stenson 67.00
Paul Casey 67.00
Hunter Mahan 67.00
Robert Karlsson 71.00
Ernie Els 71.00
Peter Hanson 71.00
Angel Cabrera 71.00
Ross Fisher 76.00
Fredrik Jacobson 81.00
Rickie Fowler 91.00
Louis Oosthuizen 91.00
Y E Yang 91.00
Alvaro Quiros 101.00
Francesco Molinari 111.00
Jeff Overton 111.00
Robert Rock 111.00
Jim Furyk 111.00
Bubba Watson 111.00
Zach Johnson 111.00
Bo Van Pelt 111.00
Geoff Ogilvy 126.00
Brandt Snedeker 126.00
Stewart Cink 126.00
Ryan Moore 126.

[traeth]

official site here The Open Championship - Official Site

Seeing its a links course I must admit I'm tending towards a British winner

could it be one of these

Rory McIlroy the man in form
Lee Westwood
Luke Donald winner at the weekend in the Scottish
Graeme McDowell
Padraig Harrington I can see a threat coming here
Justin Rose
Ian Poulter about time he gave a winning performance in a major

two overseas players that interest me are:
Kaymer and Quiros

any thoughts?

[traeth]

five to follow from the official site makes interesting reading

1. Jason Day

Now ranked seventh in the world, Australia’s Jason Day has played in just four Major Championships. He has finished in the top ten three times. He’s finished second twice. With such an astonishing record in his first attempts to win golf’s biggest prizes, it would come as no surprise if the 23-year-old was in with a great chance on Sunday. In his mind, three runner-up finishes in 2011’s first three Majors will not be high up on his to-do list. He’s here to win.

2. Charl Schwartzel
2011 Masters Tournament Champion Schwartzel produced the most impressive finish to a Major in recent years to take the title at Augusta, birdieing the final four holes to win by two. A top-ten finish at Congressional in the US Open followed. Last year, his best Major finish came at St Andrews, where he finished tied-14th. It proved, if proof were needed, that Louis Oosthuizen wasn’t the only South African player able to flourish on ancient links. Consecutive winners from the Republic? It’s a definite possibility.

3. Nick Watney
Currently ranked 10th in the world, 30-year-old Nick Watney made a comparatively slow start to his professional career, only making his Major Championship debut at the US Open in 2007. Since then he has produced five top-20 finishes, including tied-seventh at the 150th Anniversary Open Championship, last year. On Tour, this year, Watney has been a fixture in the top ten — eight times in 14 starts. And he won the AT&T National, last week, so you could say that he’s in form.

4. Ian Poulter
Ian Poulter believes that he will win The Open Championship, of that there is no doubt. Whether he does or not is another issue, but such is the 35-year-old’s confidence, that when he arrives on the first tee on Thursday, he will be convinced that the Claret Jug is his to lose. Poulter was runner-up to Padraig Harrington in 2008, one of three top ten finishes in the Majors. He won the Volvo Match Play in May, beating the current world number one, Luke Donald, in the final. He’s currently ranked 16th in the world, and he’s in with a great chance. Just ask him.

5. Matt Kuchar
Last of our five is Mr Consistency, Matt Kuchar, the American who, incredibly, hasn’t missed a cut since May 2010. There have been eight top-tens in 2011 and, it would seem, a victory is just around the corner. Like Watney, 33-year-old Kuchar, who won the 1997 US Amateur Championship, did not realise the early potential that was promised by low-amateur performances at the 1998 Masters and US Open until his professional career was well underway. But now he’s a major player on the world scene and one to play close attention to come Thursday. He’ll be there or thereabouts, that would seem certain

[FC Basher]

Boyles go top 8 and Paddypower go top 7 on this event.

I like Garcia on this sought of course and he would be my idea of making an impact in this event,one for the top european market.

A fair Open player,Casey is 16's with betfred in the top englishman market,at 1/4 odds top 3 looks a fair bet.

[Rob44]

Given that kuchar is so consistent i fancy an ew on him at 41.0 paddypower 1-7 1/4 odds. there's always one yank near the top of the leaderboard and he seems the most likely.

no one seems to be talking about Yang who was in good form in the US. Is this because it is a links course? don't know if he has any experience?

Also it looks like the weather conditions are going to be fairly docile for the first 2 days, which should help the overseas players who are not so used to conditions on links courses. rain forecast for saturday.

[traeth]

I've decided on my bets

Rory McIlroy 1st round leader

all e.w.
1 Martin Kaymer @ 26.00
2 Padraig Harrington @ 41.00
3 Matt Kuchar @ 41.00
4 Charl Schwartzel @ 46.00
5 Alvaro Quiros @ 101.00

[Swooperman]

Docile ? Its been forecasting periods of consistent rain on friday, saturday & sunday for day now

I've been looking into this for a couple of days & to me experience is the main ingredient. Theres high winds forecast tonight & who knows whether that could continue. Also links by its sheer nature means the weather is unpredictable, as in one player could go off on both mornings & play in relatively docile conditions & another could tee off both afternoons in roaring gales, therefore its not a big betting event I dont think, certainly not outright wise. The winds do tend to be higher later on in the day.
This event tends to throw up shocks as well, Cink winning a couple of years back when Tom Watson possibly should have springs to mind.
I think the weather will hold the key, & I do obviously realise that rain doesnt necessarily mean it'll also blow a gale. I'm looking at someone used to these conditions & with experience. I'm only looking at an experienced Yank in these conditions, not in there's. I'm looking at value odds for an english player, possibly scottish & irish.

These are my thoughts, going on feel & research, but I dont play:

McIlroy - great player. Irish upbringing could well stand him in very good stead if weathers poor as expected. Simply unbackable at the odds, & no experience, relatively anyway. Cant really be said to be out of form though

Westwood - cant really put anyone off

Any Yank shorter than 20/1 - nope

Robert Rock - in form, won this season. Plenty of experience as a late bloomer. Used to conditions. 150/1 Laddies, 1/4 1-6. Top UK player 40/1 Hills 1/4 1-4, 25's top english.

Stewart Cink - not been at his best lately, but recent winner of this event. Stays cool under pressure, doesnt panic or get flustered. 150/1 Hills & Lads. Top Yank 25/1 1/4 1-5 Coral

Davis Love 3rd - just been appointed Ryder Cup skipper which generally means on the slide, but there is history of that giving guys a boost to prove something to there new team. For a yank hes seen it all over here & is a wily old fox in these conditions. 175/1 Hills, Top Yank 33/1 Hills 1/ 1234, 28/1 12345 Coral

Darren Clarke - brought up on same course as McIlroy which stands in good stead. Dogfighter in rough conditions but no major & this would be a bit Roy of the Rovers type thing, but has won a tourney in may. 50/1 Top GB & Ireland, Coral 1/5, 1234. 175/1 Hills, also 16/1 top Irish generally, obviously Rory & Padraig, but theres only 4 runners ?

Paul Lawrie - past winner, & if conditions bad will suit him down to the ground. 7/2 top scot @ Laddies appeals. 250/1 Hills 1/4 12345, Top BG & Ireland 66/1 Coral 1/5 1234

Looking for the forecast bad weather, & a golden oldies weekend. Bets to follow but they'll be based around the above

[ONEDUNME]

Had Westwood at 10/1 ew with Boylesports EIGHT PLACES!

Five others at big prices with a view to backing and laying in running which has always served me well with the exception of the last major which I had a shit first and second day and ended up scrapping and scraping in the see saw of the final round to get me back to about even. Hard work for nothing

My five are
Jason day 40/1

The others at 55 on betfair
Choi
Goosen
Mickleson
Rose (who I still think is a bottler)

[Swooperman]

Taken:

Rock
Clarke
Cink
Davis Love
all 150/1 1pnt e/w

Lawrie 250/1 1pnt e/w

Lawrie 66/1 top gb & ireland 5pnts e/w 1/5 odds 1234

Cross doubles
Cink & Davis Love top Yanks, 25/1 & 28/1 1/4 odds 12345
Clarke & Lawrie top GB & Ireland 50/1 & 66/1 1/5 odds 1234
4 doubles, 1.25pnts e/w

[Rob44]

the forecast does look mixed. i only looked at the 5 day forecast. however although there is rain forecast at various points the wind doesn't look as punishing as it can be, although there will be gusts to contend with.

the weather makes the first day very interesting with first day leader likely to come from the afternoon players who'll have better conditions. Lee Westwood looks good for the first day lead at 19.0. He lead the Scottish after first round.

Of the choices put forward so far i'd agree with Love, Choi and Rock. I also think Kuchar and Stricker.

They are all good ew but I do think it will be a Brit to win this year. But which one? The 3 obvious choices don't look very good value.

[TopDog]

Good Luck

Im sweet on Justin Rose

Each Way @ 55-1 [Paddy Power] 1/4 place 1234567

After bad patch of form has really played well the last couple of weeks,and when hits form tends to thrive

[Winrew]

Tom Watson @ 500/1
K J Choi @ 50/1
Phil Mickelson @ 45/1

All Each Way

Also first round leader , Donald and Kaymer at 18/1 and 30/1..

With strong winds expected on Thursday, some tees at Royal St George's may be brought forward for the first day of the Open Championship.

Gusts of up to 30 mph are forecast for Thursday, making some fairways unreachable off the tee for many players.

Peter Dawson, chief executive of the Royal and Ancient, has revealed that the par five seventh and the short 11th, which is 243 yards from tee to green, are among the holes that could be modified.

[Rob44]

i've taken kaymar 41.0 also based on a radio report saying that he was a low hitter. should be a useful skill for this course by the sounds.

[traeth]

the weekend starts but it raining here in Wales , so watching the golf , my selections have been poor , so with time spare I'll do an update , please note the tourney is still in progress , Jimenez and Bjorn still out , the leaders are at 4 under as I'm typing , cut looks to be +3

basher
Gracia -level
Casey +2

winrew
Watson +2
Choi +4
Mickleson -1

Rob
Kaymer -3

top dog
Rose +2

swoops
Rock -level
Clarke -4
Cink -level
Love -2
Lawrie +4

odm
Westwood +4
Day +1
Choi +4
Mickleson -1
Rose +2

traeth
Kaymer -3
Harrington +4
Kucher +11
Schwartzel -2
Quiros +11

well done to swoops with the leader and rob with Kaymer one shot behind

looks like I've only got two going forward , two of my selection are 139th as I'm typing this ...

p.s hope I havn't missed anyone , if so please post , anyone having a bet after the cut?

[Rob44]

kuchar is really disappointing. he hadn't missed a cut for 2 years but as soon as i back him

rock and cink are by no means out of it at level, and traeth you have schwartzel - well in the mix! lot of golf to be played yet but i may lay after 3rd round as its very tight.

oh and if you are with paddypower -2 will pay out at the moment as it's joint 7th.