Golf Betting Column: What The Golfinggods Say….

Quite simply The Open is the tournament every professional golfer wants to win, and to win at St Andrews is the greatest victory in golf. With total respect to all the other majors played throughout the year nothing comes close to the myth and legend an Open winner receives. It is the greatest prize in golf.

This year's event will be emotional as always, but in particular because this is the last major tournament Jack Nicklaus will be playing. Although he has not made the cut in a major for some years everyone will be hoping he makes it to the weekend. With the expected dry conditions expected until the weekend he might have the course set up to suit him. I speak for everyone when I say good luck Jack and thank you for all the memories.

Although St Andrews is one of the oldest courses in the world it has been able to adapt to the changes in technology with six holes being lengthened this year. These changes will bring into play many of the bunkers, which proved defenceless in 2000. The massive greens have also been quickened and the fringes are now closely shaved to provide the players with many tough options around the green.

So what will it take to win this year?

1.Luck with the draw. Many times player's chances have been blown away with the weather affecting the draw. St Andrews could be no different with bitterly cold winds possible along with heavy rain clouds coming in from the west. Weather in Scotland is the definition of fickle and can change in an instant. If the weather turns sour then it will ruin many players' chances. 2.Long and accurate driving. St Andrews is a much easier course if you can find the fairway, avoid the pot bunkers and have short irons into the enormous greens. Past champions such as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and John Daly have all been good drivers of the ball and it will be required again this year. 3.Nerve. An obvious ingredient but one that must be in abundance to play the shots required on Sunday to lift the Claret Jug.

One thing that should be pointed out about The Open is that it has a history of producing surprise winners. In the past five years alone both Ben Curtis (750/1) and Todd Hamilton (300/1) have had amazing victories. It is appropriate to assume anyone in the field could win and therefore cannot be discounted, no matter how big their odds are. However for our money we feel the following players have a good chance this year.

Selections:

Tiger Woods: the scene of his superb 2000 victory when he never visited a bunker throughout the tournament. Back to his brilliant best at times this year Tiger is still the man everyone has to beat. If he can get the driver in play during the championship then he must go very close again.

Retief Goosen: perhaps the forgotten man in world golf with the 'Big Four' sharing most of the headlines. However Retief has a fantastic record around the Old Course and can beat anyone on his day. A fantastic wind player Retief may just benefit from poor conditions and is ready to add The Open to his US Open titles.

Padraig Harrington: a winner of the Dunhill Links tournament around St Andrews, Padraig has always played well here and on links courses in general. In particular he has the scrambling ability required on links courses and after a number of good performances in the majors, he is ready to take the next step.

Other players likely to contend are Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Thomas Bjorn and Adam Scott. Finally if you are looking for an outsider to win again this year then perhaps a few pounds each way on Craig Parry could be very profitable indeed.

May the Golfinggods be with you!