Up to Golf Props

in Golf Props

British Open Betting - 1st Round Leader Props

Bookmark and Share by Charles Jay

When: Thursday-Sunday, July 16-19
Where: Turnberry's Ailsa Course, Scotland
Yardage/Par: 7,204 yards; par 70
2008 champion: Padraig Harrington
TV: Thu., Fri. 7 a.m.-7 p.m. ET on TNT;
Sat. 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. ET on ABC;
Sun. 8 a.m. ET-1:30 p.m. ET on ABC

Golf is a fickle game and making money on betting golf in the BetUS Sportsbook requires understanding the different categories and how to take advantage of those categories depending on odds.

In making a wager on the golfer to lead after the 1st round of the British Open this week, gamblers will be trying to pick the golfer that gets hot early.  The style of the golfer, luck, and just straight competitiveness are all important factors.

Let’s take a look at some of the golfers with a chance to be in the lead after the 1st round of the 2009 British Open.

Golf:  British Open 1st Round Leader

  1. Tiger Woods +400 - - Tiger is the favorite in literally every betting category in the Sportsbook where he is present.  That includes leading after the 1st round.  Woods just got done playing 18 at Turnberry.  So, he knows what he’s up against.  He also knows that if he plays his game, he should be right there at the end.  Getting off to a good start will be at the top of Tiger’s goal list as he didn’t in the U.S. Open and never recovered.

  2. Sergio Garcia +2000 - - Garcia’s finishes in the British Open in the past 5 years have been great, but his starts haven’t been that bad either.  He led after the 1st round in 2007 with a 65 and was one stroke off of Tiger in 2006 with a 68.

  3. Ian Poulter +2500 - - Poulter’s 72 in the first round of the 2008 British Open at Birkdale was 2 strokes off of surprise leader Greg Norman and 2 strokes better than Padraig Harrington.  He could be in line to do something similar at Turnberry even though his driver might be a disadvantage after Turnberry lengthened the course.

  4. Steve Stricker +3500 - - Stricker’s first round at the John Deere Classic last week was terrible.  Then, he shot a 10 under second round to get back in it.  His 63 after the 1st round in the Crowne Plaza Invitational, another tournament he won, was absolutely brilliant.  If he gets close to that at Turnberry, then he will at the top of the leader board.

  5. Padraig Harrington +3000 - - Paddy is known as a slow starter but he won’t have the luxury of taking it easy on Thursday.  He’s been awful in 2009 and needs to start off strong in order to have any chance at the British Open three-peat.  His 74 in 2008 in the 1st round of this tournament won’t cut it this year.  Now, if he can get a 69 after Thursday, like he did in 2007, then he could be right there atop the leader board.

  6. Rory McIlroy +2000 - - My issue with McIlroy in this category has to do with odds.  The odds should be higher on Rory to lead after the 1st round as he has only broken 70 twice in the 1st round in 8 PGA Events this year.

 

Best Longshot

Ben Curtis +5000 - - The 2003 winner doesn’t often get off to a fast start but he could easily be in line to do so on Thursday.  He’s a patient guy and has been very good in the past two British Opens because of his patience.  He’s also the type of player that could relish the weather conditions as well as lengthened Turnberry course.  At 50 to 1, needing only a possible 69, 70 or possibly 71, to be atop the leader board after Thursday, Ben Curtis might be a nice long shot wager in this category.