The 137th edition of the Open Championship, also known as the British Open, will take place this weekend at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. Ireland's Padraig Harrington is the defending champion after last year's thrilling playoff win over Spain's Sergio Garcia, and Garcia will be eager to claim his revenge while aiming for his first major win.
Garcia is the favorite at 800, and like most Europeans, he will have an edge over his American counterparts due to his familiarity with links-style golf. Garcia has also fared well at the British Open in the past, racking up six top-tens in his last seven starts. The fiery Spaniard has two top-fives in his last four starts on the PGA Tour, including a playoff win at The Players Championship. If his putter stays consistent, Garcia will be well on his way to finally earning a major title.
South Africa's Ernie Els is next at 1200, and the “Big Easy” is looking to add to his 2002 Open Championship win. Els has seven top-fives in his last seven trips to the British Open, and he always seems to be in contention. However, it has been an inconsistent year for the 20-year veteran with a victory, three top-15 finishes and four missed-cuts.
England's Lee Westwood is rated at 1250, and there may not be any better time than now for Westwood to win a major. He has been playing some of the best golf of his life recently, and he will have the galleries behind him with the tournament being played in England. With a T-11 at the Masters and a third-place finish at the U.S. Open, Westwood should look to strike while the iron is hot.
Harrington is rated at 1600, but you would do well to stay away, even with his win at the Irish Open last weekend. Harrington injured his right wrist in the third round of the tournament, and he has had to cut two practice rounds shoty because of the pain. While Tiger Woods famously won last month's U.S. Open with an ACL tear and two stress fractures in his left leg, Harrington is no Tiger, so do not expect a repeat.
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