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With the news that Tiger Woods has bowed out of the 2009 British Open, bookies the world over can breathe a tremendous sigh of relief. Typically more than half the bets on any Major Championship are placed on Woods.
It would be only the second time that he had failed to play the final 36 holes in a major. The other was in 2006 when, shortly after the death of his father, he missed the last two days of the US Open.
At seven over par with three holes to play he looked dead and buried, before birdies at the 16th and 17th holes heightened his chances. But one more birdie at the final hole was a necessity if he was to be sure of his place on Saturday morning.
His second shot to the final hole ran just through the back right edge of the green and his make-or-break pitch pulled up three agonising feet short of the hole.
Heading into Saturday much of the leaders were those who appeared among the ‘field' betting options, relative unknowns the likes of Steven Marino (now at +1400 odds at Bookmaker.com), Tom Watson at +2500 odds and Mark Calcavecchia, who would pay out $3000 for every $100 if he were to win.
Those with somewhat shorter odds early on who were among the top 10 included Ross Fisher (now at +900 odds) and, in particular, Retief Goosen, who along with Lee Westwood, are now listed with +700 odds heading into Saturday. Vijay Singh has name recognition but also had long odds coming into the 2009 British Open. He promised a payout anywhere from $6000 to $7500 for every $100 bet early on and was now listed with odds of +1000, which would pay out $1000 for every $100 bet at Bookmaker.com.
More good news for the online bookies is that Padraig Harrington has dropped significantly during Friday's play. He won the British Open the last two years.
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
