British Open 2012: Tournament Betting Odds and Predictions

The 2012 British Open begins on Thursday, July 19 and should run until Sunday, July 22. It will be held at Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club, a true links course that is brutal for all competitors.

There are a number of elite golfers set to enter into the tournament, and many fans would be best served to place their bets on who they think will win it all sooner than later.

Here’s a look at some current odds, courtesy of Bovada.lv, and a list of competitors that you should take a risk on and some you must avoid at all costs when wagering on a winner. 

Bet on Phil Mickelson—33/1

Phil Mickelson had a respectable showing at The Scottish Open over the past weekend, finishing No. 16 and shooting a 12-under par at Castle Stuart.

This has given the 42-year-old star plenty of time to warm up for the British Open, and he should take advantage.

At 33/1, Lefty is the best long shot in the field to bet on.

Avoid Lee Westwood—14/1

The perennial contender had his best finish in 2010 at the Open Championship, placing second behind Louis Oosthuizen.

Lee Westwood is just not a major winner and is never able to finish, despite many strong shots.

Guys like Westwood are ranked high in the world for their ability to grind out tournament wins and collect cash prizes, but they don’t have the heart to win serious tournaments when the pressure is on.

Bet on Rory McIlRoy—16/1

Rory McIlroy has been struggling a bit in 2012, but that shouldn’t scare you from wagering on the British citizen at the Open Championship.

He’s missed the cut at the Players Championship, the Memorial and the U.S. Open so far this season, but McIlroy is still an elite golfer that manages to perform his best under pressure.

With almost everyone counting out the 23-year-old, it’s wise to wager on him with such great odds. 

Avoid Luke Donald—14/1

Like Lee Westwood, Luke Donald is another top-ranked golfer that can’t figure out a way to win a major.

The 34-year-old finished in the top five back in 2009 at this event and isn’t a major threat to win in 2012.

At 14/1, there are a lot of other golfers worth backing more than someone who has proven he cannot claim victory at a major. 

Bet on Tiger Woods—8/1

Tiger Woods is having a dominant 2012, but he still hasn’t captured a major since the 2008 U.S. Open.

He’s riding a serious victory at the AT&T National, a tournament he hosts at Congressional each year. There is a strong chance that Woods parlays that success into an extremely good showing at the Open this weekend.

Woods has a lot of obstacles to overcome before winning another major, but he’s the favorite for a reason and should be given consideration by gamblers.

Avoid Francesco Molinari—28/1

Francesco Molinari is one of the favorites for this tournament after losing a playoff hole to Jeev Milkha Singh at the Scottish Open.

The 29-year-old Italian is not a truly elite golfer and has no real shot of winning such a prestigious tournament out of nowhere.

Molinari would be a fine play at 100/1 or more, but 28/1 is just ridiculous.