British Open Odds 2012: Stars Whose Odds Are Being Undervalued

The 2012 British Open is rapidly approaching and the Vegas odds are in! From unlikely favorites to underrated contenders, the evaluation of the field has a range of great possibilities.

As Vegas always seems to do, however, they've undervalued some of the star players with a great chance to take home the title.

The following slides will pay homage to the golfers who simply aren't receiving the recognition they deserve. While a majority of the players have odds that fit their abilities and current momentum, an acknowledgement of history and a certain wildcard have been thrown to the wayside.

That wildcard, of course, is that anything can happen. But who's the most likely to shock the world?

Stewart Cink

In 2009, Stewart Cink won the Open Championship by defeating Tom Watson in a four hole playoff. In 2012, Cink is battling the odds at 150/1.

In the words of Rodney Dangerfield, no respect!

Stewart Cink is currently on a bit of a rough patch. Fortunately, Cink's recent history was against him in 2009 as well, when he finished at 11-over par at the PGA Championship.

History could be repeating itself in more ways than one as Cink finally turns around his putting woes.

VegasInsider.com Odds: 150/1

Darren Clarke

Darren Clarke shocked the world in 2011 when the man from Northern Ireland won his first major at the age of 42. That major just so happened to be the Open Championship, which has come to low-ball Clarke for the second consecutive year.

Offering him low odds of 150/1.

In 2012, the British Open will be played at the Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club. It should be noted that the last time the Open Championship was played here was in 2001, when one Darren Clarke finished tied for third at 6-under par.

Who is to say that history can't repeat itself and momentum cannot carry over from 2011? Darren Clarke deserves much higher odds.

VegasInsider.com Odds: 150/1

David Duval

The last time the Open Championship was played at the Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club was 2001. That was the year that American David Duval won his first and only major tournament.

In 2012, we return to the land that David Duval last mastered.

As the man with the worst odds in the field, it's easy to pick David Duval as anything from a darkhorse contender to a golfer poised for a first round exit. After missing the cut in four straight events, expect Duval to turn things around at the tournament and venue that he's most comfortable with.

A big week awaits David Duval as he rights some career-worst wrongs.

VegasInsider.com Odds: 500/1

Davis Love III

In 2011, Davis Love III finished tied for ninth at the Open Championship. He finished just seven strokes back of eventual winner Darren Clarke and finished with one of the most consistent round-by-round lines of the tournament.

A year later, Love III has been written off as a non-factor. After shooting a 9-under par at the Greenbrier Classic just under two weeks ago, however, momentum is on Davis Love III's side to turn things around.

As is history.

It should also be noted that the North Carolina native has finished in the Top 25 in five of the seven events that he's made the final cut. The one measure of consistency is that each of his final rounds have been strong.

Another Top-10 finish is not out of the question just one year after he finished ninth at the British Open. A victory isn't, either.

VegasInsider.com Odds: 150/1

Tom Watson

Never count out a crafty veteran.

Tom Watson came within a four hole playoff of winning the 2009 Open Championship and finished within the Top-25 in 2011. This time around, it appears as if Watson has lost the faith of the world and will once again have his back against the wall.

A scenario that he is quite comfortable with.

The legendary golfer has posted two consecutive solid tournaments at the Greenbrier Classic and Constellation Seniors Players Championship. Considering he is even stronger with this event, where he won five titles in the 70s and 80s, believing that Thomas Sturgess Watson is out of contention seems foolish.

In this case, the truth is as it seems.

VegasInsider.com Odds: 300/1