For golf fans around the world, the British Open is the most eagerly awaited tournament. It is the crown jewel of tournaments and offers more excitement than any other tournament. The links course at Royal Birkdale, home of the 2008 Open Championship, promises to put the toughest golfers to the test and the winner will be the player with the most patience, the right mindset, the first class judge of wind direction, the choice of stick. precision, determination to succeed and solid nerve. All of these qualities are part of the makeup of Tiger Woods. However, with the three-time Open champion absent through injury, what golfer on the course is capable of harnessing the necessary qualities and filling Tiger Woods’ shoes? Below is a preview of some of the main contenders, all of whom will be looking to hit the tee in search of main championship glory.
Ernie Els – Winner of the Open Champion in 2002, Ernie Els has been in fine form for most of this season and won the Honda Classic on the US PGA Tour earlier in the year. For many he is the most likely winner and has been installed as the favorite for this year’s Championship. He will be in a good frame of mind, knowing that he doesn’t have to compete against Tiger Woods, but that will be enough to inspire him to victory. Ernie is one of those players when the good is great, but when the bad is horrible. Rating 6/10
padraig harrington. – Padraig Harrington is the reigning and proven open champion on links courses. He has an excellent temperament and the ability to keep the ball in the fairway. His placement has been weak lately, but when he’s in contact he’s as good as anyone. He also has pride in abundance and won’t let his crown slip away without a tough defense. However, his form since he won the Open is pitiful and he will need to find some kind of miracle if he is to regain the title. Rating 5/10.
sergio garcia – Last year’s runner-up at Carnoustie to Padraig Harrington and labeled the best player currently playing, however, like Colin Montgomerie, Garcia has yet to win a Major. He has certainly come close on a few occasions and he alone is to blame for losing last year. Garcia has all the attributes to be a great champion, but the question is why hasn’t he done it yet? However, it seems that it is the year of the Spaniards, Nadal winning the French Open and maybe also Wimbledon and Spain winning Euro 2008, it could be his year. Though he may have already had his good fortune this season by winning the Players Championship in America. That tournament is generally referred to as the fifth Major, so perhaps that’s as far as Sergio will go in 2008, but he is the top contenders’ choice. Rating 7/10
Lee Westwood – Another near-man of golf, but perhaps harbors the best chance from the British representatives. Lee is a good Links golfer and has been in good form this season without winning an event. He fought hard against Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate in the final round of the US Open, only to lose on Day 17. If Westwood can focus on finding the fairway off the tee instead of going for distance, he may be in the running again here, but if you don’t, you’ll be in the mud. Rating 6/10
Phil Michaelson – The second most talented golfer on the planet, or rather he is when he plays in his native USA, however, Mickelson is not a great traveler and he is not the best links player in the world. He will come to Royal Birkdale full of his normal shotmaking experience and will be a real crowd pleaser as he finds a way out of the rough of the fairway. He will need all the shooting ability to win here. 6/10
With Tiger Woods absent from this year’s competition, British Open golf betting is as competitive as ever and the eventual winner could be one of several players. All of the top fantasies have decent claims of winning the title, and of those, Sergio Garcia looks like the most likely winner. However, nothing is certain in golf and it would not be a surprise to see one of the most unlikely players emerge victorious. It could also be time for a new pretender to the throne to step up to the plate and make his presence felt among golf’s elite players, and if that’s the case, Justin Rose could be the man, ten years after debuting in the competition. . , by finishing fourth he has rediscovered his form in recent years and a big win cannot be far from the British player.