Still in search of his first major title since winning the U.S. Open way back in 2008, world No. 1 Tiger Woods is listed as the heavy favourite at 8/1 odds to win the British Open championship.
The American star, who racked up 14 major victories including three British Open titles (in 2000, 2005 and 2006) before hitting his current drought, will tee off Thursday at 9:45 a.m. ET along with playing partners Graeme McDowell and Louis Oosthuizen.
Notoriously, Muirfield is also the site of Woods’ worst career scoring round as a professional in a major championship as he struggled to post 81 in wet and windy weather during the third round of the 2002 Open, before bouncing back with a 65 to finish tied for 28th behind eventual winner Ernie Els.
Els, the veteran South African with the syrupy swing, returns to Muirfield this week as the defending Open champion and is listed at 28/1 odds at sportsbooks tracked by OddsShark.com. Only six golfers are ranked in between the favoured Woods and the value pick in Els on the updated list of contenders, including reigning U.S. Open champion Justin Rose of England at 16/1 odds and 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott of Australia at 20/1.
Scott proved his mettle this spring at Augusta after blowing a four-shot lead with four holes to play during the final round of last year’s Open championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, allowing Els to sneak into the winner’s circle and claim his second Open title and fourth career major.
Phil Mickelson, the crafty lefthander with four major titles and coming off his first career win on British soil last week at the European Tour’s Scottish Open, is ranked third behind Woods and Rose at 18/1 odds, with McDowell at 22/1 and European stars Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy both listed at 25/1.
Former world No. 1 Luke Donald of England and mercurial Spaniard Sergio Garcia join Els at 28/1 odds, with South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel, talented young Aussie Jason Day and Henrik Stenson of Sweden rounding out the top tier of contenders according to the oddsmakers at 33/1.
Popular American players Brandt Snedeker, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Rickie Fowler are each listed at 40/1 odds to break through at Muirfield, with fiery Englishman Ian Poulter, unflappable South African Louis Oosthuizen and stoic German Martin Kaymer just behind at 50/1.
The lone Canadian in the field, Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., has turned heads this season on the PGA Tour with five top-10 finishes while making the cut in 16 of 19 events and rising to No. 65 in the world. Nonetheless DeLaet is listed as a longshot at 200/1 odds along with the likes of Boo Weekley, Brian Davis, Hideki Matsuyama, Kevin Streelman and Jimmy Walker.
Sportsbooks are also offering head-to-head British Open wagering options on many matchups including Woods, who is listed as -190 chalk to finish ahead of Mickelson (+150), and at -250 odds to beat his bitter rival Garcia (+185).
The par-71, 7,245-yard classic links course at Muirfield in Gullane, Scotland, has previously hosted the Open Championship 15 times dating back to 1892.
