To no one’s surprise, Rory McIlroy is the odds on favorite to win this year’s Open Championship, at 13/2 (meaning that a bet of $2 pays 13 if he wins). Rory has been so close (or winning) in recent Majors that he seems nearly certain to at least be a leader.
Still, there are those who are not convinced. Lee Westwood and Luke Donald (both 11/1) are the two deemed most likely to pick up the standard if Rory falls. In fact, I heard a commentator on The Golf Channel this weekend suggest that Luke Donald’s number one position, coupled with the win in the Scottish Open should make him the favorite. Bettors apparently don’t agree.
I like Luke Donald for the win at the Open Championship. He seems as though he has the steady hand that Championship requires. Length will kill him in the US Open, but in the isles …
The rest of the top ten are an interesting mix. Martin Kaymer is at 22/1. He’s had a solid year, but I’m still not convinced that he’s the real deal (yes, I know he won the PGA). Graeme McDowell and Sergio Garcia are in at 28/1. I’m putting Sergio on my team along with Donald. I really think this could be his year.
Steve Stricker is the leading American at 28/1. His victory this past weekend was quite the thing, but Stricker’s not had a good run at the Open Championship. His best finish was a T7 in 2008. Other than that, it’s been a long string of cuts, did not plays and finishes no better than 25.
My dark horse (if there can be a dark horse in the top 10) is Jason Day. He’s played so well in recent majors that he’s just got to break through soon. Look at his last three Majors: US Open 2011 – 2nd; Masters 2011 – 2nd; PGA 2010 – t10. Ok, so his best finish at the Open Championship was T60 in 2010, but that was his first appearance in a Major.
Nick Watney at 33/1 is the other American on the list. He’s got game. We’ll see how it holds up on the links.
The rest of the betting odds for the 2011 Open Championship are below, courtesy of Bodog, the world’s largest betting destination.
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Rory McIlroy | 13/2 |
| Lee Westwood | 11/1 |
| Luke Donald | 11/1 |
| Martin Kaymer | 22/1 |
| Graeme McDowell | 28/1 |
| Sergio Garcia | 28/1 |
| Steve Stricker | 28/1 |
| Jason Day | 33/1 |
| K.J. Choi | 33/1 |
| Nick Watney | 33/1 |
| Charl Schwartzel | 40/1 |
| Dustin Johnson | 40/1 |
| Justin Rose | 40/1 |
| Matt Kuchar | 40/1 |
| Padraig Harrington | 40/1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 40/1 |
| Retief Goosen | 40/1 |
| Adam Scott | 50/1 |
| Angel Cabrera | 50/1 |
| Ernie Els | 50/1 |
| Ian Poulter | 50/1 |
| Paul Casey | 50/1 |
| Francesco Molinari | 66/1 |
| Fredrik Jacobson | 66/1 |
| Henrik Stenson | 66/1 |
| Hunter Mahan | 66/1 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | 66/1 |
| Matteo Manassero | 66/1 |
| Peter Hanson | 66/1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 66/1 |
| Robert Karlsson | 66/1 |
| Ross Fisher | 66/1 |
| Y-E Yang | 66/1 |
| Alvaro Quiros | 80/1 |
| Bubba Watson | 80/1 |
| Geoff Ogilvy | 80/1 |
| Jim Furyk | 80/1 |
| Stewart Cink | 80/1 |
| Zach Johnson | 80/1 |
| Bo Van Pelt | 100/1 |
| Brandt Snedeker | 100/1 |
| Charles Howell III | 100/1 |
| Edoardo Molinari | 100/1 |
| Jeff Overton | 100/1 |
| Martin Laird | 100/1 |
| Robert Allenby | 100/1 |
| Robert Rock | 100/1 |
| Simon Dyson | 100/1 |
| Aaron Baddeley | 125/1 |
| Brian Davis | 125/1 |
| Chad Campbell | 125/1 |
| Ryan Moore | 125/1 |
| Alexander Noren | 150/1 |
| Anders Hansen | 150/1 |
| Anthony Kim | 150/1 |
| Ben Crane | 150/1 |
| Ben Curtis | 150/1 |
| Bill Haas | 150/1 |
| Camilo Villegas | 150/1 |
| Darren Clarke | 150/1 |
| Davis Love III | 150/1 |
| J.B. Holmes | 150/1 |
| Jonathan Byrd | 150/1 |
| Miguel Angel Jimenez | 150/1 |
| Nicolas Colsaerts | 150/1 |
| Paul Lawrie | 150/1 |
| Ryan Palmer | 150/1 |
| Ryo Ishikawa | 150/1 |
| Sean O’Hair | 150/1 |
| Steve Marino | 150/1 |
| Thomas Aiken | 150/1 |
| Trevor Immelman | 150/1 |
| Webb Simpson | 150/1 |
| Gary Woodland | 175/1 |
| George Coetzee | 175/1 |
| Gregory Bourdy | 175/1 |
| Lucas Glover | 175/1 |
| Mark Wilson | 175/1 |
| Pablo Larrazabal | 175/1 |
| Rhys Davies | 175/1 |
| Richard Green | 175/1 |
| Spencer Levin | 175/1 |
| Charley Hoffman | 200/1 |
| Danny Willett | 200/1 |
| Fredrik Andersson Hed | 200/1 |
| Gregory Havret | 200/1 |
| Jason Dufner | 200/1 |
| Joost Luiten | 200/1 |
| Justin Leonard | 200/1 |
| KT Kim | 200/1 |
| Peter Whiteford | 200/1 |
| Raphael Jacquelin | 200/1 |
| Rory Sabbatini | 200/1 |
| Scott Jamieson | 200/1 |
| Thorbjorn Olesen | 200/1 |
| Tom Lewis | 200/1 |
| Alejandro Canizares | 250/1 |
| Graeme Storm | 250/1 |
| Harrison Frazar | 250/1 |
| Kevin Na | 250/1 |
| Kevin Streelman | 250/1 |
| Kyle Stanley | 250/1 |
| Robert Garrigus | 250/1 |
| Seung-yul Noh | 250/1 |
| Simon Khan | 250/1 |
| Stephen Gallacher | 250/1 |
| Thongchai Jaidee | 250/1 |
| David Duval | 300/1 |
| Gary Boyd | 300/1 |
| Jerry Kelly | 300/1 |
| John Daly | 300/1 |
| Mark Calcavecchia | 300/1 |
| Markus Brier | 300/1 |
| Nathan Green | 300/1 |
| Tetsuji Hiratsuka | 300/1 |
| Todd Hamilton | 300/1 |
| Tom Lehman | 300/1 |
| Tom Watson | 300/1 |
| Yuta Ikeda | 300/1 |
| Bernhard Langer | 400/1 |
| Hiroyuki Fujita | 400/1 |
| Kenneth Ferrie | 400/1 |
| SM Bae | 400/1 |
| Bob Estes | 500/1 |
| Brad Kennedy | 500/1 |
| Bryden Macpherson | 500/1 |
| Francis McGuirk | 500/1 |
| Hiroo Kawai | 500/1 |
| Kurt Barnes | 500/1 |
| Prayad Marksaeng | 500/1 |
| Richard Mcevoy | 500/1 |
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I can’t figure out Kerplookee golf rates for certain players. I of course am picking Rory, who is 2.5m, and cheaper than Ben Crane, Anthony Kim, Phil Mickelson, Charlie Hoffman and 21 other players. I also have Alvaro Quiros who is a measley $500k.
So here are my ten picks (based on salary):
Donald
McIlroy
Scott
Choi
McDowell
Garrigus
Cink
Harrington
Yang
Quiros
I think in order of likelyhood it is McIlroy, Donald, McDowell – and then the rest. I hope Phil gets in there, but I just don’t see that. Westwood is not in my list and I sure don’t miss him, he is 200 to 1 in my book. As much as I would like an American, right now I don’t know if I could be any happier than if it is McIlroy or McDowell. Ok, I would be happier if it is Phil or John Daly.
Mark Wilson will win