Ernie Els 25/1 Ernie is a two time Open champion and has 11 other top 10 finishes besides. Those two Claret Jugs are significant in that t...
Ernie Els 25/1
Ernie is a two time Open champion and has 11 other top 10 finishes besides. Those two Claret Jugs are significant in that the first was won at Muirfield in 2002 (Els beat Appleby, Elkington and Levet in a playoff) and the second came last year at Royal Lytham. Ernie has already been to Muirfield early to practice and comes into this Major having won recently at the BMW International Open in Germany. He also comes off a tied fourth at the US Open. The bookies have him at 25/1; I think that’s excellent value. Matt Kuchar 40/1
Matt Kuchar surely warrants a mention from 40/1. He is taking this Open seriously, having travelled to Europe early to acclimatize at the Open de France. Kuchar’s Major performances have taken a marked turn for the better since 2010, with five top 10’s including at last year’s Open. Second at the Crowne Plaza and winner twice this season at the Matchplay and the Memorial, he has to be respected. Dustin Johnson 40/1
Dustin goes quietly about his business, but with seven PGA Tour wins and top 15’s in the last three Open Championships, he’s not to be discounted. I’m a huge fan of Johnson, I love his athleticism, his temperament and the dignity with which he handled bad luck and heartbreak in at least three Majors. Remember the US Open in 2010 when, paired with GMac at Pebble, he shot 82 on Sunday, the USPGA the same year when he was penalized for grounding his club on the final hole at Whistling Straits, and at The Open in 2011 when he hit his iron on 14 out of bounds when battling with Darren Clarke. I’d love to see DJ win this year’s Claret Jug, he’s worthy of it. Thomas Bjorn 40/1
Thomas’ recent best at The Open was a fourth place finish at Royal St Georges in 2011. That year he brought a win in Qatar into the event and went on to win twice more. He may not have a victory yet in 2013 but the Dane has been in super form since May with excellent finishes at the China Open (T8), the Nordea Masters (T4) and solo seconds at the Lyoness Open and BMW International Open. Five top 10’s in his Open career include tying second at St. Andrews in 2000 and again in 2003 when he got stuck in the bunker on 16 at Royal St. Georges whilst leading. If there is a God, he should give Tommy one Claret Jug! The only concern is his fitness after almost seven weeks continually out on Tour. Hideki Matsuyama 200/1
The Open always throws up some good sidebars and keep an eye out for young Hideki Matsuyama this year. He may only be a professional for three months and never played an Open but this kid is class, and the best of the next generation of Asian golfers. He’s already won twice on the Japan Golf Tour in April and June and is in the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings after a top 10 in the US Open. Back him each way, top Asian, to finish in the top 10, whatever but don’t say I didn’t tell you! Don’t Discount
Branden Grace 66/1This time last week, Branden Grace could be got at 125/1. However after getting into a playoff with Phil Mickelson at Castle Stuart the South African’s odds have been slashed to 66/1 with most major bookmakers.
Grace who won four times in 2012, unveiled Billy Foster as his new caddie in Scotland, immediately turning around his form of two missed cuts at the US Open and Memorial. He has played in two previous Open Championships, tying 43rd in 2009 and 77th last year.
Grace finished the Scottish Open 10th in driving accuracy, 24th in greens in regulation, first in putts per greens hit in regulation and first in putts per round.
Jamie Donaldson 150/1
The Open at Muirfield has always produced legendary winners like Els, Faldo, Watson, Nicklaus, Trevino and Player but I like Jamie Donaldson each way for a good showing. A winner at Portrush in 2012, Jamie added the Abu Dhabi HSBC title in January and though he didn’t set the world alight with a foray on the PGA Tour, he has been solid since returning to Europe at Wentworth. Tied for tenth in Carton House two weeks ago and worth an each way punt.
Nike Players:
While the world waits and watches what happens next in the career of Rory McIlroy, spare a thought for his fellow Nike staffer Thorbjorn Olesen. At odds of 80/1, Thor is, in my book, a Major Champion in waiting but a run of six straight missed cuts since tying sixth at Augusta, have his fans mystified. A final round of 74 dropped him into a tie for ninth at Lytham, a level par final round would have seen the Dane third on his own. Let’s hope both he and Rory can find some form at Muirfield.Previous Top 15’s
2012 Royal Lytham 7000
1 Ernie Els 67 70 68 68 -2 -7 273 $1,405,890
2 Adam Scott 64 67 68 75 +5 -6 274 $812,292
T3 Brandt Snedeker 66 64 73 74 +4 -3 277 $464,725
T3 Tiger Woods 67 67 70 73 +3 -3 277 $464,725
T5 Luke Donald 70 68 71 69 -1 -2 278 $304,610
T5 Graeme McDowell 67 69 67 75 +5 -2 278 $304,610
T7 Nicolas Colsaerts 65 77 72 65 -5 -1 279 $222,599
T7 Thomas Aiken 68 68 71 72 +2 -1 279 $222,599
T9 Miguel Angel Jimenez 71 69 73 67 -3 E 280 $124,343
T9 Geoff Ogilvy 72 68 73 67 -3 E 280 $124,343
T9 Ian Poulter 71 69 73 67 -3 E 280 $124,343
T9 Alexander Noren 71 71 69 69 -1 E 280 $124,343
T9 Vijay Singh 70 72 68 70 E E 280 $124,343
T9 Dustin Johnson 73 68 68 71 +1 E 280 $124,343
T9 Matt Kuchar 69 67 72 72 +2 E 280 $124,343
T9 Mark Calcavecchia 71 68 69 72 +2 E 280 $124,343
T9 Thorbjorn Olesen 69 66 71 74 +4 E 280 $124,343
T9 Zach Johnson 65 74 66 75 +5 E 280 $124,343
2011 Royal St Georges 7200
1 Darren Clarke 68 68 69 70 E -5 275 $1,452,032
T2 Phil Mickelson 70 69 71 68 -2 -2 278 $689,737
T2 Dustin Johnson 70 68 68 72 +2 -2 278 $689,737
4 Thomas Bjorn 65 72 71 71 +1 -1 279 $419,476
T5 Chad Campbell 69 68 74 69 -1 E 280 $293,105
T5 Anthony Kim 72 68 70 70 E E 280 $293,105
T5 Rickie Fowler 70 70 68 72 +2 E 280 $293,105
8 Raphael Jacquelin 74 67 71 69 -1 +1 281 $209,738
T9 Sergio Garcia 70 70 74 68 -2 +2 282 $168,333
T9 Simon Dyson 68 72 72 70 E +2 282 $168,333
T9 Davis Love III 70 68 72 72 +2 +2 282 $168,333
T12 Steve Stricker 69 71 72 71 +1 +3 283 $126,384
T12 Martin Kaymer 68 69 73 73 +3 +3 283 $126,384
T12 Lucas Glover 66 70 73 74 +4 +3 283 $126,384
15 George Coetzee 69 69 72 74 +4 +4 284 $109,709
2010 st Andrews 7200
1 Louis Oosthuizen 65 67 69 71 -1 -16 272 $1,305,593
2 Lee Westwood 67 71 71 70 -2 -9 279 $767,996
T3 Rory McIlroy 63 80 69 68 -4 -8 280 $394,238
T3 Henrik Stenson 68 74 67 71 -1 -8 280 $394,238
T3 Paul Casey 69 69 67 75 +3 -8 280 $394,238
6 Retief Goosen 69 70 72 70 -2 -7 281 $268,799
T7 Robert Rock 68 78 67 69 -3 -6 282 $186,239
T7 Sean O'Hair 67 72 72 71 -1 -6 282 $186,239
T7 Nick Watney 67 73 71 71 -1 -6 282 $186,239
T7 Martin Kaymer 69 71 68 74 +2 -6 282 $186,239
T11 Alvaro Quiros 72 70 74 67 -5 -5 283 $125,439
T11 Jeff Overton 73 69 72 69 -3 -5 283 $125,439
T11 Luke Donald 73 72 69 69 -3 -5 283 $125,439
T14 Rickie Fowler 79 67 71 67 -5 -4 284 $87,840
T14 Tom Lehman 71 68 75 70 -2 -4 284 $87,840
T14 Charl Schwartzel 71 75 68 70 -2 -4 284 $87,840
T14 Ignacio Garrido 69 71 73 71 -1 -4 284 $87,840
T14 Jin Jeong 68 70 74 72 E -4 284 -
T14 Robert Karlsson 69 71 72 72 E -4 284 $87,840
T14 Sergio Garcia 71 71 70 72 E -4 284 $87,840
T14 J.B. Holmes 70 72 70 72 E -4 284 $87,840
T14 Dustin Johnson 69 72 69 74 +2 -4 284 $87,840
2009 Turnberry 7200
1 x-Stewart Cink 66 72 71 69 14 -1 -2 278 $1,221,005
2 Tom Watson 65 70 71 72 20 +2 -2 278 $732,603
T3 Lee Westwood 68 70 70 71 - +1 -1 279 $415,142
T3 Chris Wood 70 70 72 67 - -3 -1 279 $415,142
T5 Luke Donald 71 72 70 67 - -3 E 280 $255,597
T5 Mathew Goggin 66 72 69 73 - +3 E 280 $255,597
T5 Retief Goosen 67 70 71 72 - +2 E 280 $255,597
T8 Thomas Aiken 71 72 69 69 - -1 +1 281 $147,172
T8 Ernie Els 69 72 72 68 - -2 +1 281 $147,172
T8 Soren Hansen 68 72 74 67 - -3 +1 281 $147,172
T8 Richard S. Johnson 70 72 69 70 - E +1 281 $147,172
T8 Justin Leonard 70 70 73 68 - -2 +1 281 $147,172
T13 Ross Fisher 69 68 70 75 - +5 +2 282 $82,866
T13 Thongchai Jaidee 69 72 69 72 - +2 +2 282 $82,866
T13 Miguel Angel Jimenez 64 73 76 69 - -1 +2 282 $82,866
T13 Matteo Manassero 71 70 72 69 - -1 +2 282 -
T13 Francesco Molinari 71 70 71 70 - E +2 282 $82,866
T13 Jeff Overton 70 69 76 67 - -3 +2 282 $82,866
T13 Andres Romero 68 74 73 67 - -3 +2 282 $82,866
T13 Justin Rose 69 72 71 70 - E +2 282 $82,866
T13 Henrik Stenson 71 70 71 70 - E +2 282 $82,866
T13 Camilo Villegas 66 73 73 70 - E +2 282 $82,866
T13 Boo Weekley 67 72 72 71 - +1 +2 282 $82,866
2008 Birkdale 7173
1 Padraig Harrington 74 68 72 69 -1 +3 283 $1,498,875
2 Ian Poulter 72 71 75 69 -1 +7 287 $899,325
T3 Henrik Stenson 76 72 70 71 +1 +9 289 $509,618
T3 Greg Norman 70 70 72 77 +7 +9 289 $509,618
T5 Jim Furyk 71 71 77 71 +1 +10 290 $359,730
T5 Chris Wood 75 70 73 72 +2 +10 290 -
T7 David Howell 76 71 78 67 -3 +12 292 $193,743
T7 Robert Karlsson 75 73 75 69 -1 +12 292 $193,743
T7 Ernie Els 80 69 74 69 -1 +12 292 $193,743
T7 Paul Casey 78 71 73 70 E +12 292 $193,743
T7 Stephen Ames 73 70 78 71 +1 +12 292 $193,743
T7 Steve Stricker 77 71 71 73 +3 +12 292 $193,743
T7 Robert Allenby 69 73 76 74 +4 +12 292 $193,743
T7 Anthony Kim 72 74 71 75 +5 +12 292 $193,743
T7 Ben Curtis 78 69 70 75 +5 +12 292 $193,743
2007 Carnoustie 7421
1 x-Padraig Harrington 69 73 68 67 15 -4 -7 277 $1,542,450
2 Sergio Garcia 65 71 68 73 16 +2 -7 277 $925,470
3 Andres Romero 71 70 70 67 - -4 -6 278 $596,414
T4 Ernie Els 72 70 68 69 - -2 -5 279 $411,320
T4 Richard Green 72 73 70 64 - -7 -5 279 $411,320
T6 Stewart Cink 69 73 68 70 - -1 -4 280 $299,235
T6 Hunter Mahan 73 73 69 65 - -6 -4 280 $299,235
T8 K.J. Choi 69 69 72 71 - E -3 281 $194,863
T8 Ben Curtis 72 74 70 65 - -6 -3 281 $194,863
T8 Steve Stricker 71 72 64 74 - +3 -3 281 $194,863
T8 Mike Weir 71 68 72 70 - -1 -3 281 $194,863
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