The Open Championship Special Bets Preview

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The world’s best golfers will be arriving in Scotland this week, hoping to master a tricky Turnberry course and become the 2009 Open champion. Tiger Woods is currently favourite on the outright market (12/5 Sporting Bet), although there are a host of other betting opportunities available, which means you don’t have to back the winner to make some money. However, it is worth noting that Boylesports are paying ¼ odds for the first eight places, so it’s worth heading that way if you’re backing each-way this week.

William Hill have used their flair to offer a ‘Winning Nationality’ market and it’s something of a surprise to see North American as the 4/5 favourite. An English winner is available at 5/1 and there are plenty of contenders in Lee Westwood, Paul Casey and Ian Poulter. The same firm actually offer odds on who the top Englishman will be, with the former of the above trio standing out at 7/2. Centrebet offer betting on ‘Top American w/o Woods’ and there is plenty of value around. Kenny Perry is playing some great golf at the moment and is priced at 14/1, while Brian Gay also sticks out at 18/1 considering he’s in form.

Boylesports have been quick to price up a novelty bet, and the 4/6 that Ian Poulter wears Tartan Check in his opening round might be a popular wager. A plain single colour is available at 5/2, while a kilt might not have as many takers at 500/1! On a more serious note, Stan James, William Hill and betfair offer prices on each player to place, with Tiger Woods a 4/9 chance (Hills). Some might think that the American should be laid at 9/13 on the exchange, especially if the wind gets up and the course is tougher to play. The German Martin Kaymer has just won the Scottish Open and looks an attractive bet at 7/1 (Stan James) to run into a place at Turnberry.

Skybet offer markets on Top Argentinian, with Angel Cabrera the 11/10 favourite (Sky Bet), while a host of firms have priced up Top Australasian. It’s worth noting that two-time winner Greg Norman won this market last year and the Great White Shark is a 25/1 chance (Bet Fred) this time around. Geoff Ogilvy (12/5 bet365) always promises so much yet delivers so little when it comes to majors, while Adam Scott (3/1 Victor Chandler) played some excellent golf at Loch Lomond and could make an impression at another course in Scotland.

Top Frenchman is a two-way tussle between Thomas Levet (4/6 Sky Bet) and Raphael Jacquelin (11/10 Sky Bet), while Henrik Stenson is the 7/4 favourite (William Hill) to be Top Scandinavian. He’ll have some stiff competition from the in-form Soren Kjeldsen (11/2 Stan James) and Soren Hansen (11/2 William Hill).

Finally, you can bet on whether there will be a Hole in One at Turnberry, although it’s clearly more exciting to back ‘No’ (8/11 Hills) and hope that no golfer manages this feat. It will be a rollercoaster ride with this kind of bet, although you can back ‘Yes’ at 23/20 with Centrebet and hope that one or more of these talented golfers can land you in the money. There are also a host of match bets which have gone live, including Lee Westwood v Ian Poulter, with the former looking value at even money (Stan James) to beat his Ryder Cup team-mate.

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