The Open 2006 (The Scouse one).

Bruce Rioja · Post by **Bruce Rioja** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:15 pm

So the time has come again where I ruin four days of an otherwise perfectly innocent professional, or even an amateur golfer's life by placing money on him to do the biz at The Open.

Two years ago it was Scottish Open Winner Thomas Levet whose game fell apart when word must have reached him that he was carrying my fiscal hopes. Last year at St. Andrews, Luke Donald was home and hosed in time for his Sunday breakfast !!

So with it all starting tomorrow, these are the golfers that I've looked at and my findings. There are of course many that I've missed, one or two imminent ones in fact, also you may think that I'm well of kilter with one or two of my opinions, but at least this should form a basis for discussion to carry us through the weekend.

Odds are as per William Hill. For the good of all, please shout if you know of better ones (I'm too lazy to go through them all on mi Jacks). Right, here goes;

Woods - (6/1) Last years winner but this is only his third tournament since the Masters. Absolutely foolhardy to ever write the guy off an is the bookies favourite, but not mine. Safe each-way bet but bobbins odds.

Mickleson - (11/1) The Pixie purse will be out for this one, but unless the right handed leftie can learn to travel a bit better and reproduce some of his home form then I don't see him reaping the plaudits on Sunday.

Els - (17/1) Breathtaking long game, I reckon that he'll undo his good work on the greens.

Harrington - (21/1) This years recipient of the Rioja 'on the nose' punt. Been playing some fantastic stuff this year and is almost deserving of it anyway. You've been warned.

Donald - (21/1) Sorry about last year, Fella

Had a great final day at Loch Lomond but couldn't do it over all four, I don't think he will here either.

Goosen - (26/1) Sorely tempted by this one, especially as my 'each-wayer' at those odds. His short game currently has a 10/10 rating in the PGA Skills chart. Might kick myself for not doing!

Monty - (29/1) Always the Bridesmade and has no-one to blame really. Runner up last year after a succession of one inch away putts. True to form, made a dog's dick of his winning position in the US Open. Big smiles but no trophy.

Garcia - (41/1) At those odds this just had to be my eachway bet. Has had three top ten finishes this year and has all that's needed.

Poulter - (67/1) Wants to start paying a little more attention to his golf and a little less on looking like a tit!

Anyone agree, disagree, have more insight, have better ideas, better odds etc. etc. etc. Fire away.

hisroyalgingerness · Post by **hisroyalgingerness** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:23 pm

I don't care, I'm going Sunday on corporate and get free food and drink all day!! who cares who's playing/winning

Thomas Bjorn - wink wink

Bruce Rioja · Post by **Bruce Rioja** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:32 pm

hisroyalgingerness wrote:I don't care, I'm going Sunday on corporate and get free food and drink all day!! who cares who's playing/winning

Thomas Bjorn - wink wink

Err, and what about last Sunday, Sonny Ginge?!?!?!

Thomas Bjoooooooaaaaaaaaahaahahahahahahaaa oooooooohhhh hahahahahahaaaa!

communistworkethic · Post by **communistworkethic** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:34 pm

Bjorn's a bottler.

It's hard to bet against Tiger but my two to watch from these shores are

David Howell

Lee Westwood

Howell is the UK's top player at the moment and Westwood showed signs last week at Loch Lomond that he's over his problems and running in to good form.

I'll report back on Day1's play with some pics!

hisroyalgingerness · Post by **hisroyalgingerness** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:37 pm

time to get excited about monty the way tennis fans get excited about henman

go monty

Montreal Wanderer · Post by **Montreal Wanderer** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:46 pm

hisroyalgingerness wrote:time to get excited about monty the way tennis fans get excited about henman

go monty

Actually I don't think I'll play....

Gertie · Post by **Gertie** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:47 pm

Brucie bet on Vijay Singh!!! I loathe him!!!

(is he playing??)

Micklson for me us Cak handers have to stick together.

Oooh and Porridge Harrington he's looovely!!!

wovlad · Post by **wovlad** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:53 pm

Poulter - (67/1) Wants to start paying a little more attention to his golf and a little less on looking like a tit!

Very true. He reminds me of Cat from Red Dwarf more conscious of being fashionable and not being
than on the matter at hand.

Hope Monty can do it. Don't want him to have the tag of being the best player ( UK certainly ) never to win a major.

ratbert · Post by **ratbert** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:11 pm

Heart wants Colin, but...

...I have a feeling that Howell and Stuart Appleby are the ones to watch this year

Little Green Man · Post by **Little Green Man** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:20 pm

With a bit of luck it will be an non-American this year. However, I doubt it. So...

Jim Furyk. Or Scott Verplank each way. Or take 2-1 on an American winning it.

Bruce Rioja · Post by **Bruce Rioja** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:53 pm

What knoweth anyone of this chap, Graeme McDowell from Narden oirland?

Sky are touting him as a really good outside bet.

Little Green Man · Post by **Little Green Man** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:17 pm

Bruce Rioja wrote:What knoweth anyone of this chap, Graeme McDowell from Narden oirland?

Sky are touting him as a really good outside bet.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/golf/th ... 192182.stm

I presume they are touting him because he is/was the next big thing in British golf and learned to play on links courses.

mummywhycantieatcrayons · Post by **mummywhycantieatcrayons** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:45 pm

Bruce, people tell me that Luke Donald has looked seriously good in his practice rounds.

Dujon · Post by **Dujon** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:33 am

I wouldn't discount Geoff Ogilvy. You could say he was lucky in the US Open when Montgomerie dropped his bundle, but he's been playing well. I don't know how he travels on links though.

hisroyalgingerness · Post by **hisroyalgingerness** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:43 am

big shout out to Network Rail who planned engineering works from Tues 18th July to Tues 25th July on the Liverpool to Hoylake line...

dickheads

Bruce Rioja · Post by **Bruce Rioja** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:16 am

Young Padraig, two over after one.

sluffy · Post by **sluffy** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 11:53 am

Just saw this quote - made me laugh!

Bravest man at Hoylake: This award goes to an unknown radio reporter for an interview with Colin Montgomerie.
Hack: "So, Colin, you played well in six Ryder Cups."
Monty: "Er, I've played in seven."
Hack: "Yes, but you only played well in six."

CrazyHorse · Post by **CrazyHorse** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:01 pm

Yeah well, all I know is that the traffic was shite on the M56 this morning.

500 Americans dressed in daft clothes, and I'm trying to get into work.

jetsetwilly · Post by **jetsetwilly** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 12:36 pm

Got £20 free bet on the Open so went for £10 on Davis Love to be in the top 10 (about 8/1) and Harrington to be top 5 (4.5/1)

See Harrington had a bad start, is it hopeless for him now?

I don't follow golf at all.

When does 'the cut' come. Has Harrington time to make up for his poor start?

jetsetwilly · Post by **jetsetwilly** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:06 pm

Come on, one of you must know