2008 British Open Odds (Top Englishman)
2008 British Open odds were available for the top Englishman with Lee Westwood as the easy favorite at 2/1 odds at Bet365.
In the absence of Tiger Woods, who is recovering from a knee operation, there is genuine hope that, come Sunday, a home winner will be lifting the Claret Jug for the first time since Paul Lawrie at Carnoustie in 1999, writes Peter Dixon of the London Times.
At 35, Westwood, who once climbed to No 4 in the world, has taken a long time getting to the point where he feels that he can win a major. He has trimmed down, muscled up and added an improved short game to impressive long play. The fruits became obvious at the US Open last month, when he finished third behind Woods and Rocco Mediate, having led with nine holes to play - and his newfound confidence is something to behold.
Justin Rose comes in with 9/2 odds to win the 2008 British Open as the top Englishman.
Rose is one of many talented 20-somethings overhyped by fans, media (and his own website: "Europe's No. 1 Golfer"). Lately he's made a habit of finding himself in contention in the early rounds of majors, only to wither away on the weekend, writes Brandon Tucker, of WorldGolf.com:
He takes a No. 9 ranking into this week's Open, two behind No. 7 Garcia, but the local eyes will weigh much heavier on Rose. No Englishman has won the Open Championship since Nick Faldo in 1992, who also holds the nation's last major win, at the Masters in 1996.
The Brits should be getting impatient with their phenom right about now. Expect the U.K. newspapers to be all over Rose's shortfalls this week if he can't top his T4 finish from 1998.
So Sergio is (relatively) off the hook this week. It's "show me" time for Europe's self-proclaimed "No. 1 Golfer."
Ross Fisher and Paul Casey also had single digit odds: 8/1 and 9/1, respectively.
Ross Fisher of England completed a wire-to-wire victory in the European Open at the London Club on Sunday.
The 27-year-old, who shot a course record 63 in the first round, led for all four rounds of the tournament and finished on a 20 under par total of 268, seven shots ahead of second-placed Sergio Garcia of Spain. All four of Fisher’s rounds were under 70 and he finished in style on a wet and windy final day by chipping in from a greenside bunker on the 18th for a round of 68. It rounded off a superb week for Fisher which started with him qualifying for the British Open at Royal Birkdale later this month.
Paul Casey is ready and rarin' to go.
"My preparations have gone very well," said the world number 48. "Three weeks off after finishing third in Germany was nice. The only tournament I missed from my usual schedule was the European Open and it gave me the chance to prepare very nicely for this.
"I came up here three times to learn the course as well as I could. I've seen a lot because I didn't know it.
"I'd never played it before, I was here just as a spectator 10 years ago but don't remember much, I have to confess.
"There is quite a bit to learn so my three weeks off wasn't just time off, I was still working.
"I've also recharged the batteries and I'm raring to go this week. We've got some good golf the next few weeks and I wanted to be fresh for that and I am."
The British Open is the biggest single betting event of the year in the United Kingdom. The 2008 British Open odds for top Englishman can be found Here
Lee Westwood 2/1
Justin Rose 9/2
Ross Fisher 8/1
Paul Casey 9/1
Ian Poulter 10/1
Oliver Wilson 14/1
Nick Dougherty 14/1
David Howell 25/1
David Horsey 30/1
Simon Khan 33/1
Simon Dyson 35/1
Graeme Storm 40/1
Steve Webster 40/1
Richard Finch 45/1
Anthony Wall 45/1
Philip Archer 50/1
Simon Wakefield 66/1
Paul Waring 100/1
Peter Baker 100/1
Gary Boyd 150/1
Jonathan Lomas 150/1
Chris Wood 150/1
Jamie Elson 150/1
Peter Appleyard 250/1
John Bevan 250/1
Jamie Howarth 250/1
Thomas Sherreard 250/1
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Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com
Originally published July 16, 2008 9:50 pm EST
