The Open Championship Favorites 2013: Complete Predictions for Top Golfers

Tiger Woods arrives in Scotland as the favourite for The Open Championship at Muirfield this weekend.

The recovery from the 37-year-old over the last two years has been synonymous of the sporting character we’ve watched for so many years. Returning to his No.1 in the world spot, Woods has performed strongly in 2013 and the American is looking for his first win at a majors championship in five years.

Woods won the Open Championship back-to-back in 2005 and 2006, adding to his previous victory in the tournament in 2000.

In this calendar year alone, Woods has tasted success in the Farmers Insurance Open, WGC Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship. But success in the Masters passed him by, which will have disappointed Woods.

Muirfield’s fast-paced links course has been a challenge to the top golfers this week and Woods, as told to BBC Sport, sees that no differently. "It's playing really fast out there. The golf course is set up perfectly. I'm looking forward to a fantastic championship at one of the best venues."

Backed at mainly 9/1 and 10/1 across most bookmakers, Woods is the out-right favourite to take the Claret Jug. Below the American, his compatriot Phil Mickelson has rose up the betting list following his play-off win at the Scottish Open in Inverness last week.

Lefty won his first trophy on British soil and has four majors to his name—but none in the UK, so far. Mickelson, though, is high on confidence after his win at Castle Stuart, as The Independent’s Paul Mahoney reports, “It’s difficult to win the week before a major and then follow it up winning the major,” Mickelson said. “But then again, the last person to do it? You’re looking at him.” 

The odds on Mickelson picking up a double this week are at 20/1 with Ladbrokes, Coral and William Hill.

Priced at 22/1 with PaddyPower and Coral, Justin Rose, the US Open Champion, is hoping to break the duck of English golfers in major tournaments. Sir Nick Faldo in 1996 was the last to pick up a major triumph, something echoed by Luke Donald—at 33/1 with Coral and Ladbrokes—last month, via Jon Harvey at Metro UK.

Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy have a chip on their shoulder for varying reasons coming into this Open Championship. The Northern Irish duo are 25/1 and 28/1 with Coral, respectively, for the Claret Jug.

Lee Westwood, who is priced at 33/1 on PaddyPower, has looked to boost his preparations, as Neil Squires reports in The Independent.

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Lee Westwood has turned to golf’s hottest coaching property Sean Foley in a radical attempt to land the Open Championship this week.

Westwood, 40, believes the unconventional Canadian, who counts Tiger Woods and Justin Rose among his successful stable, is the man to help him deliver the Claret Jug at the 19th time of asking.

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The 2012 champion Ernie Els is 33/1, along with Sergio Garcia on Paddy Power. Further down, South African and former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen is 70/1 with Coral and Ladbrokes and Padraig Harrington at 85/1 on YouWin.