The Open Championship

FINAL RESULT: 1-2; +1.63pts

Garcia mc
Love 5th
Appleby 36th

What an incredible piece of luck! I though Love had blown his chance of a place finish when he failed to birdie the par-five 16th hole, but he holed out from the fairway on the last hole to secure the profit on the outrights. Had never looked like getting this into profit until that one shot.

Outright plays (1pt):

Sergio Garcia to win 20/1 e.w. @ Ladbrokes
Would love to back Els for this event, but his odds are just a bit too skinny at 15/2. Instead siding with Garcia as the main selection. Links golf requires imagination, flair and a good putting stroke and the Spaniard has all three. Top-10 finishes in each of the last three years are supportive and his game has finally began to return since the end of last year. He has won two out of his last five PGA Tour starts and again looks like the world class player that he once was.

Davis Love to win 33/1 e.w. @ BetInternet [6 places]
Is past history on links courses is a good indicator, then Love should be set for another good week in this event. He didn't secure his first top-10 in this event until Royal Troon in 1997, but his worst finish ever since has been 21st. An excellent weekend performance saw him finish 7th in the Western Open two weeks ago and suggest that he is close to his early season form. If so, this should be another top-10 finish for Love in the Open Championship.

Stuart Appleby to win 50/1 e.w. @ BetInternet and Tote [both 6 places]
Appleby was edged out in a four-way playoff two years ago, but with a total of three top-15 finishes in the last four years, it was hardly a surprise performance. He completes a trio of players who are comfortable playing wind and he showed this to good effect in winning the Mercedes Championship in Hawaii at the start of the year. Like Love, a strong showing at the Western Open two weeks ago - he finished 5th - suggests that a return to his early season form may be imminent.