-The appeal of the four major golf championships is very similar to that of the major tennis tournaments, they are played on completely different surfaces. The Masters is all about beauty; that is until you have to putt. The Us Open is playing with a tennis ball on a course made of velcro. The Open Championship (British) plays similarly to its tennis counterpart (Wimbledon) in that it plays low and fast. The Open isn't always played on a links style course, but this year it returns to arguably the most beautiful one in the world, Turnberry. Links golf is how the game was originally played; on flat ground, with indiscernible hole boundaries, a tree every 12 holes (if that), and more sand than Father Time's hourglass.
Tiger Woods comes to Turnberry never having played the course before. You might think that would be a disadvantage, but you might think wrong. The last time he came to a course under those circumstances he walked away from Royal Liverpool with his 3rd Open Title back in 2006, so there goes that school of thought. Tiger has the most wins on tour this year, and oddsmakers have made him the heavy favorite. Add in some extra motivation (this is the first time Tiger has not held at least one of the four major trophies since 2004) and I tend to agree with the oddsmakers.
Sergio Garcia has the second best odds to win the tournament, which is a bit of a surprise considering that he has yet to win a major title. But his style of play is suited for a links course. He is an exceptional ball-striker, but his putting and driving accuracy occasionally leave something to be desired. Those negatives can be neutralized (at least partially) on a course that is set up like Turnberry is.
But again, I'm still taking tiger, because there really is no way anyone can convince me that anyone has a better chance than him. He might not be a lock, but if everyone has only got a chance to win, I'm taking the guy with the biggest slice of the pie.
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