The 2009 British Open Championship Six Pack

Notice how the Claret Jug is gleaming, yet last years Open champ looks a little fuzzy?

Pure irony at it's finest.

If Paddy Harrington somehow rises from the ashes of his 2009 season to win this thing, I will run through Government Center in Downtown Boston naked as the day I was born. I promise.

Unless you are brain dead, you probably have inferred that I certainly will not be picking Padraig Harrington to win the jug this year. I was truly amazed to see this guy routinely placed at 20/1 odds with the dismal performances he has carded this year. Hell, on one book I even saw PADDY at 10/1!!!

Before we go on probing and digging for this weeks winner, let me first congratulate myself on yet another insightful pick with Brandt Snedeker taking in a T5 paying out at 10/1 odds, allowing us to almost break even last week.

Did you know I have picked seven winners thus far in 2009?

Are you aware that I have picked 25 T5 or better players?

Can you believe that out of those 25 T5's, that SIX of them actually placed 2nd?

Guys, basically what I am telling you, is that I am on a roll this year.

Our next order of business is our good buddy Tiger Woods. There is no doubt that my entire six pack will be hedged by a single "break-even" bet on Tiger to win it all.

I truly believe Tiger will win this week.

What I love about Tiger being in the field, is the elevated value that goes into the odds of the rest of the field. On one sports book Tiger is listed as a 2:1 favorite. The next golfer in line was Sergio Garcia (giggle giggle) at 20:1!

We are witnessing truly amazing stuff here people, so pay attention.

In Yahoo's fantasy league I currently have 4102 points on the season and am outlasting all of their experts. Their closest expert is still Matt Romig at 3933 points. I have moved up in my group, The Fans of Hunter Mahan to 5th place in a field of 721 members. I really like my Yahoo team this week, so without further ado, here ya go:

GROUP A is actually going to see the red hot Jim Furyk(6) start over this weeks projected winner Tiger Woods(4) for round one. That I am sure will change as the weekend goes along.

GROUP B will start two Europeans. Graeme McDowell(9) and Lee Westwood(10) will get the nod to start, while the more than capable Hunter Mahan(6) and the surprisingly resurgent Brandt Snedeker(10) will back them up

GROUP C is going to see the Open Proven Retief Goosen(5) take aim, while impressive Englishman Ross Fisher(10) backs him up.

It took me quite sometime to whittle my top 15 down to six quality guys and it certainly was NOT easy. So just in case Tiger doesn't win, let's take a look at six guys that have a great chance to contend on the Ailsa Course at beautiful Turnberry Resort in Ayrshire, Scotland.

No. 1 Jim Furyk

Jim Furyk always plays well at The British Open, and I expect that will remain constant here in 2009.

Furyk has caught fire recently finishing T5,T9,T2,T33,T7 in his past five efforts. I love this consistently solid trending, paired with his experience in this major. Although he has been close many times, Jimmy has never captured the Claret Jug.

Furyk ranks 4th on the PGA right now in scoring average with 69.48 strokes per round. He got there through excellent putting (ranks 4th in putts per round at 27.91) and by having the ability to scramble when he needs to. He is the PGA's 5th best scrambler by saving par or better off the fairway 66.56% of the time.

Jim Furyk is certainly worth a look this week at 33:1 odds.

No. 2 Hunter Mahan

My favorite guy on tour is absolutely at the top of his game right now. What better time to claim his second victory as well as his first major ever?

Mahan had a disappointing 2008 effort at the Open, so I am sure he would like to bounce back to his '07 form by placing T6 or better.

Mahan's last five tourneys had him finishing T27,T14,T6,T4,and T2. He is without a doubt the most impressive player on my crib sheets, showing amazing upward trending by improving in each of his last five bids.

This time of the year also marks Mahan's best performances historically.

Mahan ranks 3rd on tour in Par Breakers at 24.19%, while also impressing many with his total driving ability, ranking 8th in the PGA. Let's face it, he can hit it far, and he can hit it where he wants to off the tee.

Mahan also ranks 5th on tour in scoring average at 69.5 strokes per round. A big part of that is the fact that he is also a very good putter. He is not statistically the best putter, but Hunter is definitely a very solid guy on the greens.

It is a no-brainer to jump on Hunter Mahan at 33:1 odds this week.

No. 3 Retief Goosen

Before I started my due diligence this week, I would not have guessed that Goosen would be here, and then I realized the truly impressive history this guy has had at The Open.

Retief has only missed the cut at this event two times in fourteen attempts. That alone is impressive. Eight of those finishes have been T20 or better, with many of those finding the top five.

Goosen has also been playing great as of late. You know he has "warmed up" over the pond, after placing T6 at the Scottish Open last week, an event that many feel he let slip away.

I think he may have been saving himself for the big dance this weekend, as he is certainly no stranger to major championship victories.

Goosen holds an impressive scoring average of 70.02 which ranks 19th on tour. He also ranks 16th in scoring average BEFORE the cut at 69.87 while also averaging 28.51putting strokes per round ranking 32nd.

Goosen is absolutely worthy of a shot at 33:1 odds in the British Open.

No. 4 Vijay Singh

We all know Vijay got off to a rough start this year, so his stats have suffered a bit.

That being said, he has been trending up in his last five events, and has a decent track record and good experience at the British Open.

I feel that Vijay is on his game right now and definitely has a shot to surprise many this week through his ball striking alone. Singh still ranks 36th on tour in total driving, which is going to be very important on this golf course this week.

When I saw Vijay with 50:1 beside his name, I just had to get on board and give him a shot this week.

No. 5 Kenny Perry

It's like beating a dead horse over here!

Kenny Perry continues to get no respect from the majority of the sports books, and this is proving to be especially true in majors after he blew his sure thing in Augusta in April.

It doesn't bother me one bit. I firmly believe that Kenny Perry is one of the greatest golfers in this field, and will absolutely contend to take home this major.

Kenny has not missed a cut this year, and has a victory in his last five starts.

He is statistcally impressive.

Perry ranks 3rd on tour in GIR at 70.19%, he is 5th "All-Around", 4th in total driving, and last but certainly not least, he is 2nd in ball striking.

Kenny Perry aka the Man of Steel is one of my favorite guys out there, and I think that 50:1 odds are way too good to pass up.

No. 6 Brandt Snedeker

Now it's time for my long shot, Brandt Snedeker.

A truly likable guy with lots of talent. His rib injury is clearly behind him, as he finished T2 last week and T5 the week before that.

Snedeker has only played in the Open once, and he missed the cut. I think that he has something to prove this week, and what better way to show that he is back, than by winning the British Open.

Although most of his stats are horrid, due to his playing with two broken ribs, he still maintains a respectable 22nd in driving accuracy at 69.24%, while also showing a keen ability to escape trouble by placing 38th in scrambling at 61.82 percent.

Snedeker is a guy that I always want to see succeed, but I especially would like to see him succeed this week, as he has a 125:1 odds of winning.

No matter who you like, I wish you the best of luck, and hit 'em right to left this week. Work that draw!