2009 British Open Betting Odds - Tiger Woods +200 Favorite

The British Open Championship begins on Thursday from Scotland with Tiger Woods the heavy favorite in 2009 British Open odds. There are 156 players in the field this week but only a handful has a realistic chance of winning. Woods is the overwhelming choice in British Open odds at +200 but it may not be easy. The Ailsa course at Turnberry is tough and doesn’t allow for many mistakes. "You can't fake it on this golf course. You just have to hit good shots," Woods said. Tiger has been developing a strategy for this weekend.

"As far as hitting driver, it all depends on the wind. The last three days the wind has been coming from three different angles. I've adjusted what I've hit off the tees.” Woods said. “It's hard to tell you I'm going to hit 10 drivers or I'm going to hit zero drivers; I don't know." Woods is #1 in the world and a deserving favorite in golf odds but there are other golfers who have a chance and they are listed at attractive odds. The two-time defending champion of the British Open is Padraig Harrington but he is not playing well this year. Harrington has missed the cut in eight of his last fourteen starts including the last five. He is the third choice in golf odds at 25-1 behind Woods and Sergio Garcia but it seems unlikely Harrington can suddenly regain his top form this week. Garcia is also 25-1 in British Open odds but he never wins the big tournaments so how much of a chance does he really have?

One player that is getting some play in golf odds this week is Ian Poulter. His odds have dropped to 25-1 and he could be contender. He finished second in last year’s British Open. A golfer that has appealing British Open odds is Adam Scott who is listed at 45-1. He played well last week in the Scottish Open finishing fourth. "I'm feeling really happy about putting a good number on the board this week," said Scott. "It's been a while since I've done that, and the swing is feeling good. I feel the best I've felt this year to be honest. I think all aspects of my game have improved from past years, and it's really a bit of a confidence thing and hopefully I'll make a couple putts this week and get myself in it.” This is the fourth time that Turnberry will have hosted the Open, the last time being in 1994 when Nick Price beat Jesper Parnevik. The course is now longer than in the past, stretching 7,204 yards. It is rated as the #1 golf course on the British Isles.