Monty tips up British trio

Colin Montgomerie believes Graeme McDowell (33/1 – Open Outright with bet365), Paul Lawrie and Justin Rose all have a chance at lifting the Claret Jug at Royal Lytham & St Annes in The Open this week.

The action gets underway in Lancashire on Thursday and hopes are high that there can be another British winner of the major after Darren Clarke’s triumph 12 months ago.

Monty has been talking up the chances of favourite Tiger Woods (9/1 Outright) and the man next in the market, Lee Westwood (14/1), but he also thinks McDowell, Rose (30/1) and Lawrie (60/1) all have big claims.

When asked who he thinks can win it, the former European Ryder Cup champion, who has never won a major himself, has backed some of the British hopefuls to do well.

“Graeme McDowell has been here since last Saturday and has been playing extremely well, proven by the fact he was in the last group in the US Open and hits the ball particularly straight off the tee,” he said of the Northern Irishman.

On Rose, meanwhile, he added: “Justin is an unsung hero rRyeally. I think he will do well here, he’s very confident and has a golden chance. Again he drives the ball very well, is strong and mentally confident.

While on Lawrie – the 1999 Open winner who triumphed at Carnoustie 13 years ago – Montgomerie added: “He is playing the golf of his life, driving the ball much better and holing out well.”

Westy has game to break major duck

Lee Westwood feels his form and consistency is good enough to win this week’s Open Championship and is looking forward to the chance of claiming his first major (Westwood 14/1 Open Outright with bet365).

The 39-year-old has never won a major despite being one of the most consistent players in the big-four events in recent times.

The Worksop-born star has had nine top-five finishes in the majors and has secured seven top three-finishes in his last 16 outings.

He has also been placed second and third in two of the last three Opens and has enjoyed another stellar season in the build-up to this year’s event.

The Ryder Cup star has won twice in his last seven starts, while he was in contention for the US Open on the final afternoon until losing a ball that got stuck in a tree to finish in a share of 10th place.

He has also managed five other top 10s worldwide and remains third in the world rankings.

Westwood is rarely out of contention in the big events and feels that the way he plays, with accurate drives and pin-point irons, means that he will always be there or there abouts in the majors (Westwood 6/1 Top European with bet365).

“I think my game suits most places,” he said. “That’s why I contend most weeks in major championships recently. They’re the ultimate test, and every aspect of your game has to be strong.”

And the Englishman is confident that he will, once again, be in the mix at Royal Lytham & St Annes at the weekend.

“I know my game is good enough to win when I play well enough,” he added. “That’s what I try to do.”

Woods worried by rough

Tiger Woods (8/1 Open Championship outright with bet365) believes the only way to have any chance of winning this week’s Open at Royal Lytham is to avoid being caught up in the treacherous rough.

The former world number one has been practicing on the Lancashire course over the last few days as part of his traditional Open build-up that sees him study the course to determine which are the best areas to play for.

Following his well-documented fall from grace in 2009, Woods hasn’t won a major since battling through in the 2008 US Open and, despite a number of strong final day charges, he has always fallen away in the closing stages.

However, he appears to have rediscovered some of his form this year, winning three times on the PGA Tour so far this season and looks to be peaking at just the right time to claim his fourth Claret Jug.

Woods (5/1 2013 US Masters with bet365) is well known as one of the wildest drivers in the game and says he could revert to his previous gameplan of using irons off the tee to ensure he hits the fairway as he believes spending too much time in the “unplayable” rough will ruin his chances of victory.

“It’s just that you cannot get out of it. The bottom six inches is so lush,” he said.  “The wispy stuff, we’ve always faced that at every Open. But the bottom six inches in some places is almost unplayable.”

Kelly secures place at The Open

Troy Kelly might have missed out on winning the Greenbrier Classic but the Tacoma native has done enough to secure a place at the Open Championship (Luke Donald 18/1 To Win Outright with bet365).

The 33-year-old took his berth as the leading non-exempt player at the Greenbrier Classic following his runner-up finish after a play-off defeat to Ted Potter Jr.

The play-off went to three extra holes and Potter, 28, who will also feature at Royal Lytham, took the spoils in White Suphur Springs in West Virginia after sinking a four-foot birdie putt.

Potter’s dramatic victory came after he closed down Kelly, who was four shots ahead with just five holes to play, to sign for a 64.

Tiger Woods is the 6/1 favourite with bet365 to win the Open which takes place in Lancashire between July 19-22.

The American is a three-time winner of the event although he has not tasted glory since 2006.

Defending champion Darren Clarke is 150/1 to take the Claret Jug again with bet365 while Padraig Harrington, who won back-to-back Opens in 2007 and 2008, is an 18/1 shot and Rory McIlroy is 16s along with Lee Westwood.

G-Mac desperate for more Major glory

Graeme McDowell says he is desperate to add to his one Major triumph in 2012 and wants to put a disappointing 2011 behind him (McDowell – 50/1 The Open 2012 outright with bet365).

‘G-Mac’ struggled last year as he failed to build on what was a fine 2010 – when he won that one Major to date, the US Open – but he wants to be back competing with the best once again in 2012.

The Northern Irishman also played a key role in the Ryder Cup triumph for Europe two years ago but the past 12 months have been forgettable as he has had to play second fiddle to fellow countrymen Rory McIlroy (8/1 – 2012 Open) and Darren Clarke (150/1).

McIlroy won the US Open while Clarke claimed his first Major when lifting The Claret Jug at Royal St George’s and now McDowell wants a piece of the action once again.

“I would like this year to get back to being consistently giving myself chances week in and week out,” he said.

“I want to shake off the frustrations of 2011 and get back to playing the way I know I can, and competing in the Majors.”

McDowell, who has not won a title for 15 months now, missed the cut in three of the four Majors last year but hopes a good showing at the Abu Dhabi Championship this week will set him up nicely for the rest of the season and improve his consistency in the big events.

“That is the target I am setting myself this year. I missed the cut in three of the four Majors last year and that’s not good enough, so I am looking to get my consistency levels back,” he added.

Johnson talks up Major hopes

Dustin Johnson (22/1 to win 2011 USPGA Championship with bet365) feels his time will come in a Major Championship, after narrowly missing out again on one of the big four titles.

The big-hitting American had to settle for a share of second at The Open Championship, as Darren Clarke secured the Claret Jug with a three-shot victory.

Johnson (9/1 to top the US Money List) was left rueing a moment of madness on the 14th, when he carved his second shot out of bounds and carded a double-bogey seven.

The 27-year-old twice went close to breaking his duck in the Majors last year, taking a lead into the final rounds of both the US Open and US PGA Championship but eventually losing out.

But despite some questioning whether he has the mental toughness to win a Major, the man from South Carolina believes he has what it takes.

Johnson stated: “The more I put myself in this situation, the better. The more I learn, the more I understand my game and what happens in this situation.”

Clarke excited for the weekend

Darren Clarke (16/1 British Open Outright) is relishing the prospect of poor weather at the British Open this weekend after carding an impressive 68 on Friday to grab a share of the clubhouse lead.

The 42-year-old’s round included an eagle, five birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey to set a four-under-par halfway total of 136.

If Clarke continues his good form we could see the Northern Irishman claim his country’s third Major in less than two years, after compatriots Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy claimed successive titles at the US Open.

However, the Ulsterman has been in a similar position before and his making sure he keeps his feet on the ground and doesn’t get too far ahead of himself.

“It would mean an awful lot, but obviously this is only after two rounds” he said.

“There’s an awful long way to go yet, and I believe the forecast for the weekend is very, very poor, which I quite look forward to.”

After two reasonable days on the Kent coast, the weather is expected to deteriorate over the weekend, meaning the already difficult Royal St George?s layout could become almost impossible.

Clarke however is looking forward to the challenge as he looks to break his Major duck (125/1 to win USPGA outright).

He added: “It’s a case of getting used to playing in bad weather on links again, and that’s what I’ve been doing all over the winter at home

“Hopefully it will stand me in good stead.”

Donald ready for ‘mental’ test

Luke Donald concedes this week’s Open Championship will be “very mentally and physically tiring” but insists he is ready for the challenge.

The world number one is looking for his first major at the age of 33 and many, including Colin Montgomerie, believe this is his best chance to date.

Donald has been in inspirational form so far this year, with three tournament wins – the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, BMW PGA Championship and the Scottish Open – and seven top-ten finishes. Those following the Open betting certainly can’t rule him out.

That run of results has led to many pundits tipping the Englishman to end the 12-year wait for a British winner of the Claret Jug and Donald admits victory would be “very special”.

The Ryder Cup star says “everything is going to plan” ahead of Royal St George’s and that he feels he is ready to contend for the title.

With forecasts suggesting possible strong winds on the first couple of days, Donald’s lack of length may be a concern. But the Englishman played in gusty conditions in his practice round earlier in the week and is well aware how tough the course can play.

Donald admitted: “It will be a challenge out there – very mentally and physically tiring. You have to really work on the control of your golf ball. The best golfer will win.”

The man from Hemel Hempstead, who turned professional in 2001, didn’t have a particularly good record at the Open until the last couple of years. Donald finished tied-5th at Turnberry in 2009 but ending up tied-11th at St Andrews last year.

McIlroy Drawn with Els, Fowler

The groupings for the 140th Open Championship were unveiled on Monday. There are 52 groups of three golfers, teeing off at St. George’s every few minutes between 06:30 and 16:11.

On Thursday, Rory McIlroy will make an early start at 09:09, alongside fellow group mates, Ernie Els, of South Africa, and the American, Rickie Fowler. Els was the winner of the British Open in 2002, while Fowler, who is only 22-years-old, tied for 14th at last year’s event. McIlroy’s countryman, Graeme McDowell was drawn in Group 39, with Australian hopeful, Jason Day. Those following the Betfair Golf Open odds will be keeping a close eye on these players.

Luke Donald will resume his quest for his first Major trophy eleven minutes later, at 09:20. Sergio Garcia and the ‘Bashful Prince’, Ryo Ishikawa, of Japan, will join the Irishman in Group 16.

Donald’s closest rival, Lee Westwood tees off at 14:10. The Englishman is joined by John Deere Classic winner, Steve Stricker of the US, and the South African, Charl Schwartzel. Schwartzel won the US Masters in 2011, and tied for ninth at the US Open, making him a threat to Donald’s title hopes.

Group 42 contains the reigning Open champion, Louis Oosthuizen, as well as Phil Mickelson, and Germany’s Martin Kaymer. The trio will tee-off at 14:21. The golf Open 2011 betting indicates all three could be in with a chance.

Elsewhere, Ian Poulter, in Group 13, will spend Thursday with Yuta Ikeda and Dustin Johnson. Northern Ireland’s only other entrant, Darren Clarke, will accompany Jonathon Byrd and Ye Yang in Sandwich on Thursday. Padraig Harrington, from the Republic of Ireland, will tee-off at 13:21, along with Matt Kuchar and Bryden Macpherson.

The tee times for Friday have also been released and, while the groups remain the same, the golfers will begin at different times. McIlroy, Els, and Fowler, for example, will tee off at 14:10.

Poulter Savours Open Challenge

While commanding a great deal of respect in the Ryder Cup, English golfer, Ian Poulter is often written off by fans of the Majors, a point which Spanish golf legend, Seve Ballesteros, summed up perfectly at an Open Championship in the mid-2000s. Ballesteros remarked that a picture of the Claret Jug on Poulter’s trousers was likely to be the closest that the Englishman would ever get to the Golf Champion Trophy.

Poulter, who fancies himself as a “pro-golfer, fashion designer, and personality” will head into his tenth British Open in eleven years next week, with just one top ten finish under his belt, in 2008. His performance in the other three Majors, the Masters, the US Open, and the PGA Championship has been equally tepid; Poulter tied for tenth in the Masters last year, and achieved an almost identical position in the PGA in 2006, tying for ninth. Those looking at the Golf the Open betting will be wondering if he can push on at Royal St George’s.

The 35-year-old is ranked 16th in the world, one place ahead of the injured Tiger Woods.

Poulter’s presence in the British Open will be noted, – his trousers will surely guarantee that much – but whether he will be able to compete with the likes of McIlroy is debatable and the Betfair golf betting shows as much. However, the Buckinghamshire golfer is reluctant to believe that McIlroy is anything more than human.

“It is not about a talent that you were given at birth, or about being naturally gifted. If you want something, go and get it. It’s simple,” Poulter said.

Ian Poulter’s putting ability is arguably, his greatest asset, but if US golfer, Johnny Miller is to be believed, the maverick fashion designer needs to work on striking the ball; Poulter’s long game leaves something to be desired.  If he doesn’t sort that, he could struggle in the days ahead.