British Open 2011 Odds: Why Lee Westwood Is a Vegas Favorite to Win

Lee Westwood is currently ranked No. 2 in the World, and has been ranked No. 1 twice. Last year, Westwood was the player that ended the reign of Tiger Woods as No. 1, becoming the first British golfer since Nick Faldo in 1994 to claim the top spot.

He has played in every Open Championship since 1995 and finished all over the leaderboard, including four missed cuts.

On the last hole in 2009, Westwood was part of the leaderboard triumvirate along with Stewart Cink and sentimental favorite Tom Watson. He was about to join them in a mano-a-mano playoff, but after a bogey, he was out of it and finished one stroke back in third-place.

Last year at St. Andrews, Westwood came back roaring and shot nine-under. Still, it was not good enough to overtake surprise-winner Louis Oosthuizen who shot 16-under.

In the last two years, he was third, then second. It would seem like first-place is the progressive position to achieve this year. Or you can just say that with his two close calls in two consecutive years, the third time is the charm.

Let’s play Devil’s advocate and argue that Westwood's other top-five finish at The Open was in 2004 after he shot six-under at Royal Troon. The one time Westwood competed at Royal St. George's came in 2003 and he shot nine-over, missing the cut.

There is also the added pressure of playing in front of your countrymen. On Monday, two-time Open winner Padraig Harrington, who should know a thing or two about winning this tournament, said Westwood will have a better chance of claiming the Claret Jug at Muirfield, the venue in two years time.

Westwood is given by most people the unwanted distinction of being the best golfer in the world without a Major win.

So why should he fare better this year or even be considered a favorite?

When Tiger Woods announced that he would not compete in the 2011 British Open, odds-makers everywhere had to call an audible and modify betting lines across the board. Not because he would have been a favorite to win, but to compensate for the odds he had going for him.

That alone leaves everyone that was above Tiger in the odds, including Westwood, at shorter odds to win. By the same token it improves his chances at being considered a favorite to win The Open.

His play in the Majors recently has been short of spectacular. He has finished in the top five in three out of the last seven Majors. It just seems natural to think it is only a matter of time before he wins his first.

Westwood is better known for his International success than in the PGA. Westwood has two PGA Tour wins, the last being the St. Jude Classic in 2010, and 31 international victories, including one in Indonesia on the Asian Tour in 2011 to go along with that Ballantine’s title on the Euro Tour.

He’s had a series of impressive performances around the globe. The fact that he has such an International success, with courses and weather that are very challenging, sets him up well for a tournament like The Open.

Westwood hasn't had the best start of starts to 2011, but he had an excellent final round at the Masters to finish tied for eleventh. After that he went and won the Indonesian Masters and the Ballantine’s Championship

Every time this year after finishing out of the top ten, Westwood has bounced back with a top five. This includes his T3 finish at the US Open.

His previous finish before The British Open? A T14 at the Barclays Scottish Open. He is bound for another top five. He is improving each year at The Open. He has the game, the mindset, the experience and the attitude.

Lee Westwood has turned himself into one of the very best players in the world over the past few years. He is a veteran with a vast experience in the sport and has a clear understanding of his game.

He has all the signs pointing in the right direction at the right time. All that is left for him is to go out and claim the Claret Jug.