Tiger Woods has predicted he’ll win his 15th major when the 144th British Open tees off tomorrow.
And bookies have taken the bait.
Where else would the 241st-ranked golfer in the world – who hasn’t won a major since the 2008 US Open – be rated a $36 chance?
Why else would he be granted marquee status with Louis Oosthuizen and Jason Day for the first two rounds?
But Tiger is Tiger, and most of the world still dote on him. Many firmly believe everything he says – including his other pre-tournament prediction if he doesn’t win then the greens were too slow.
Give him one thing, Tiger covers all bases – the greens will be his cop-out.
But the Open’s favourite by the length of the straight is Jordan Spieth, going for his third successive major win after his Masters and US Open successes.
He is going for his third successive tournament win after the US Open and John Deere Classic play-off wins.
The world number one in waiting is the genuine one to beat with bookies installing him a $7 favourite.
That’s far more realistic than Woods’ $36. Woods has played eight tournaments this year to finish 71st, 69th, 32nd and 17th twice, plus missing three cuts and two rounds in the 80s.
What is more interesting is comparing the 21-year-old Spieth with the greats of yesteryear, and the current world number one Rory McIlroy who will miss this week through an ankle injury incurred playing soccer.
Spieth has played in 10 majors for the two mentioned firsts, and a second with the 2014 Masters.
McIlroy’s first 10 major starts netted three thirds – the 2009 USPGA, 2010 Open, and 2010 USPGA.
Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player were the most successful legends in their first 10 major starts.
Nicklaus won the 1962 US Open, and was second in the 1960 US Open, while Player won the 1959 Open and finished second in the 1958 US Open.
Arnold Palmer wasn’t far behind by winning the 1958 Masters and finishing seventh at the 1956 US Open.
Woods won the 1997 Masters, Tom Watson the 1975 Open, and Seve Ballesteros the 1979 Open in their first 10.
So Jordan Spieth is in a class of his own when he tees off with second favourite Dustin Johnson,and Japan’s very talented Hideki Matsuyama.
Rickie Fowler, winner of last week’s Scottish Open, has drawn Justin Rose and Sir Nick Faldo
In other marquee groupings, Adam Scott will be with Martin Kaymer and Jimmy Walker.
Evergreen 65-year-old Tom Watson, playing in his last Open, has been drawn with Ernie Els and Brandt Snedeker.
Sergio Garcia will be with Lee Westwood, and Patrick Reed.
Phil Mickelson will have the company of Matt Kuchar, and Henrik Stenson, while Bubba Watson has drawn Ian Poulter, and Charl Schwartzel.
A fun group will be John Daly, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jason Dufner.
There will be 13 Australians on duty – Day, Scott, John Senden, Geoff Ogilvy, Marc Leishman, Steve Bowditch, Rod Pampling, Matt Jones, Scott Hend, Marcus Fraser, Brett Rumford, Greg Chalmers and Adam Bland.
Multiple Open champions in the field:
Tom Watson won the claret jug in 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982 and 1983.
Sir Nick Faldo in 1987, 1990 and 1992.
Tiger Woods in 2000, 2005 and 2006.
Padraig Harrington in 2007 and 2008.
And Ernie Els in 2002 and 2012.
One-off Open champions include Mark O’Meara in 1997, Justin Leonard in 1998, Stewart Cink in 2009, Darren Clarke in 2011 and Phil Mickelson in 2013.
So the home of golf will host a crack field this week, it’s just a pity there won’t be a Jordan Spieth-Rory McIlroy head-to-head as the icing on the cake.
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