The Open 2014

[Hirsty The Blue 94]

Although there is a golf thread I reckon because it is such a big event deserves its own thread? First of all is anyone on hear going and what day are you going?

Secondly betting, what does everyone fancy?

Tiger not to make the cut at almost 3/1 is very tempting.

Outright betting I quite fancy

McDowell
Kuchar
Furyk
Duffner.

As well as this I think top players from each country is also a good way to make some cash

Gallacher
Bjorn
Garcia
Cabrerra
Stenson
Kaymer

[Ric Flair]

I've had G-Mac earmarked for this all year, it's a major i'm convinced he'll win at some point. He's also in alright form and Hoylake as a course requires exceptional putting. The course itself isn't particularly long and it's more about control than distance, hence why the players with a very good short game will find themselves reigning supreme. The conditions look a bit mixed as well which is often the case at a British Open so it might pay to look at players who played well in 2012, when the weather on the saturday was absolutely diabolical. Clarke obviously won it that year but Rickie Fowler won the hearts of many fans with his superb golf and steely determination. Thursday looks to be really good with some bad showers on friday, depending on when those showers are due to hit if you can find your fancies who tee off before/after the worst of it then you could steel a big march on the rest of the field.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Bjorn, Na and Blixt are the first 3 at odds that I don't mind.

[Ric Flair]

Bjorn, Na and Blixt are the first 3 at odds that I don't mind.

I had Blixt down for The Masters at over 300s but since then he's looked very poor. Hope he goes well, he's great to watch.

[Donut]

Ill be at the Open on friday, it should be fantastic, as usual.

Its difficult to go on the outright markets at the Open because conditions are changeable, even hour to hour, and the draw can adversely affect or advantage a player. The fact that the course is also very strategic and likely to play very short takes away any advantage a bomber of the ball might have. Typically to pick a winner, itll be the player who manages his game the best in that week. Avoiding bunkers is the first priority. You need someone who is comfortable flighting the ball, up and down as well. Youll need someone with great imagination around the greens too. Reaching for the sand wedge and flopping the ball onto the green from lush greenside rough isnt the order of this week. Players will need to hit low spinning pitches when needed, bump and runs with a 7 iron, bellying wedges, negotiating pot bunkers, a completely different set of challenges presented week in week out on the world tours.

The problem with a player like Blixt will be that this type of golf wont play into his hands. Certain shots are going to be very difficult to play with his technique, as he gets the clubface shut with a strong grip and then rotates the core hard to hold the face off. In essence, it limits him to playing a mid trajectory cut shot most of the time. That kind of golf is absolutely ideal for the PGA tour which is his bread and butter, and majors like the PGA where conditions are soft, the rough is lush, and the greens slick. Of course, he could go brilliantly, you just never can be sure.

I wouldnt take 3/1 on Woods missing the cut. Underestimate Woods at your peril. He absolutely dismantled Royal Liverpool with his 2 iron last time, and hes only missed about 10 cuts in his entire career which frankly is astonishing. In the golf thread, i actually posted that a top 20 finish was 6/5 for Woods which i personally see as the better bet.

Itll be a very, very interesting watch, that is for sure

[Grandad.]

Someone was on about the rough not being very long, God knows if that has a huge bearing on things?

I'm having a few quid on Stenson.

[kingfox]

Will put some money on Stenson as well, always have a bet on the majors.

What about outsiders Ric? Opinions on Harris English chances please

[foxfanazer]

Gonna take a punt on Adam Scott and Martin Kaymer I think. Looking forward to just sitting and watching golf

[Donut]

Will put some money on Stenson as well, always have a bet on the majors.

What about outsiders Ric? Opinions on Harris English chances please

Harris English is very, very talented. Whether that will tranfer into the Open remains to be seen. If the conditions are still, i think hes got a great chance. Check the weather forecast as he tees off on thursday. I wouldnt fancy him if it wasnt still. He is the dictionary definition of a parkland golfer. There are many many variables in play at the Open

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Betfair are paying out on 8 places in the Open, most other bookies seem to be 6 or 7 places.

[kingfox]

Harris English is very, very talented. Whether that will tranfer into the Open remains to be seen. If the conditions are still, i think hes got a great chance. Check the weather forecast as he tees off on thursday. I wouldnt fancy him if it wasnt still. He is the dictionary definition of a parkland golfer. There are many many variables in play at the Open

Thursday looks good throughout the whole day, he starts just before 9am. He had a decent finish last year, but how will Hoylake suit him?

[Donut]

Thursday looks good throughout the whole day, he starts just before 9am. He had a decent finish last year, but how will Hoylake suit him?

Assuming gentle wind conditions, i think he should go pretty well. Played well last year at Muirfield on his way to a top 20 finish, still conditions open things up to typical ''high ball'' hitters like English and take away the need to be as versatile. English is very high (was 1st coming into the Masters but not checked since) in the greens in regulation category on the PGA tour too, so if that continues, he should give himself plenty of birdie putts.

[Ric Flair]

Will put some money on Stenson as well, always have a bet on the majors.

What about outsiders Ric? Opinions on Harris English chances please

English has had a quiet year but that's often to be expected for a rookie who did so well the year before. He camed 15th last year along with one of my big fancies for this week Danny Willett. So he's got a bit of previous to build on his confidence. He can hit the ball a long way which as Donut has said, might not be key this week it'll be about accuracy, scrambling and ultimately putting. English's driving accuracy this year has been very poor. Another factor is that there's 4 par 5's and scoring low on these will be crucial to going well at Hoylake, very much like Augusta where you must take advantage of the par 5's and defend what you can on the tough holes otherwise you'll come up short. English has got very good stats for par 5's but his driving accuracy concerns me, but like Tiger he might choose to try and keep the ball in play off the tee rather than go for it with the big stick when it's not really needed.

I Like Willett's chances this week for several reasons, I think he's got as good a chance as any other English player. He is in great form in recent months and had a decent Open last year. He hits it a good distance but more importantly he's in control of his ball, which has improved even more so in recent weeks. He's a grafter as well which when the poor weather comes on Friday will be a big factor that could wipe out most of the field. He's only won once so far in his career but at 150/1 I see some serious value. He's finished 3rd in Ireland recently, 8th in Germany and a respectable 45th in the US Open which will have given him some further major experience.

Apart from my main two of Fowler and G-Mac I have 3 other long shots all over triple figures.

Jimmy Walker 100/1 - The 35 year old is one of the best putters in the game and he's had an electric season winning 3 times. His rise in form and the recent trend of 35+ year old winners of The Open means you must give some serious thought to Jimmy. He missed the cut at Muirfield last year but I walked round and watched him for a few holes and you could visibly see how much he loved playing british links golf, that was his first appearance I think and it'll have been invaluable.

Gregory Bourdy 300/1 - The frenchman is a class act on the European Tour and he's also in the top 10 on key stats for putting, driving accuracy, scrambling and strokes gained. I think the price is massive and although he's not been particularly successful in an Open yet i'm putting him forward to put that right.

Chris Stroud 400/1 - He'll be making his Open debut at Hoylake and is yet to win on the PGA Tour but that price is scandalous for a player of Stroud's ability. His putting and scrambling could see him sneak up the leaderboard this week, as i've said the weather may play a big factor and with value like that it's got to be taken.

[foxfanazer]

Betfair are paying out on 8 places in the Open, most other bookies seem to be 6 or 7 places.

Do you have to bet each way for that or do you just get a fraction of the winnings depending on where they place

[Donut]

English has had a quiet year but that's often to be expected for a rookie who did so well the year before. He camed 15th last year along with one of my big fancies for this week Danny Willett. So he's got a bit of previous to build on his confidence. He can hit the ball a long way which as Donut has said, might not be key this week it'll be about accuracy, scrambling and ultimately putting. English's driving accuracy this year has been very poor. Another factor is that there's 4 par 5's and scoring low on these will be crucial to going well at Hoylake, very much like Augusta where you must take advantage of the par 5's and defend what you can on the tough holes otherwise you'll come up short. English has got very good stats for par 5's but his driving accuracy concerns me, but like Tiger he might choose to try and keep the ball in play off the tee rather than go for it with the big stick when it's not really needed.

I Like Willett's chances this week for several reasons, I think he's got as good a chance as any other English player. He is in great form in recent months and had a decent Open last year. He hits it a good distance but more importantly he's in control of his ball, which has improved even more so in recent weeks. He's a grafter as well which when the poor weather comes on Friday will be a big factor that could wipe out most of the field. He's only won once so far in his career but at 150/1 I see some serious value. He's finished 3rd in Ireland recently, 8th in Germany and a respectable 45th in the US Open which will have given him some further major experience.

Apart from my main two of Fowler and G-Mac I have 3 other long shots all over triple figures.

Jimmy Walker 100/1 - The 35 year old is one of the best putters in the game and he's had an electric season winning 3 times. His rise in form and the recent trend of 35+ year old winners of The Open means you must give some serious thought to Jimmy. He missed the cut at Muirfield last year but I walked round and watched him for a few holes and you could visibly see how much he loved playing british links golf, that was his first appearance I think and it'll have been invaluable.

Gregory Bourdy 300/1 - The frenchman is a class act on the European Tour and he's also in the top 10 on key stats for putting, driving accuracy, scrambling and strokes gained. I think the price is massive and although he's not been particularly successful in an Open yet i'm putting him forward to put that right.

Chris Stroud 400/1 - He'll be making his Open debut at Hoylake and is yet to win on the PGA Tour but that price is scandalous for a player of Stroud's ability. His putting and scrambling could see him sneak up the leaderboard this week, as i've said the weather may play a big factor and with value like that it's got to be taken.

Stroud is absolute mustard. He is due a big breathrough. Excellent shout.

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Do you have to bet each way for that or do you just get a fraction of the winnings depending on where they place

Its an each way bet. 1/4 odds on a place, although its a maximum stake of £25 for the 7th/8th place.

T&C's from Betfair

Place your pre-tournament Sportsbook each-way singles bets on The Open Championship Outright Winner market.

Golfers finishing in 1st to 6th position inclusive will be paid out to your place stake at 1/4* odds

Golfers finishing in 7th or 8th position will be paid out to your place stake at 1/4* odds (£/€25 max qualifying place stake per customer, per selection)

Bet

[foxfanazer]

Its an each way bet. 1/4 odds on a place, although its a maximum stake of £25 for the 7th/8th place.

T&C's from Betfair

Place your pre-tournament Sportsbook each-way singles bets on The Open Championship Outright Winner market.

Golfers finishing in 1st to 6th position inclusive will be paid out to your place stake at 1/4* odds

Golfers finishing in 7th or 8th position will be paid out to your place stake at 1/4* odds (£/25 max qualifying place stake per customer, per selection)

Bet

Thanks

[Ric Flair]

 

Stroud is absolute mustard. He is due a big breathrough. Excellent shout.

 

He's 200/1 in the first round leader markets as well. He goes out in one of the last groups which could be favourable as conditions are sometimes a lot calmer in the early evening on links courses. He also has great stats as a fast starter. 

[Bert]

Finally fancy Speith to convert here. Dunno why. Just have a feeling. Looking at doing Donald EW too.

[kingfox]

Off to put my bets on, unless Manwell Pablo is hiding in the bushes with a gun, or I get hit by a bus then I won't make it.

[kingfox]

The bookies wouldn't let me in, yet they've let me in before 

[Bert]

The bookies wouldn't let me in, yet they've let me in before

You do know there's more than one bookies in Leicester?

[kingfox]

You do know there's more than one bookies in Leicester?

 

Not gonna traipse all the way into town to put a bet on.

 

I've got two Ladbrokes right on my doorstep so it's easier using them.

[Ric Flair]

Not gonna traipse all the way into town to put a bet on.

I've got two Ladbrokes right on my doorstep so it's easier using them.

Shop around for better odds Kingy, don't let them bastards mug you off

[Hirsty The Blue 94]

Furyk and Duffner played pretty tidy golf today, keeps me in with a shout. Might invest a few quid on Jimmy Walker who looks perfectly set for links golf.