British Open Attracts UK Online Betting Fans

Professional golf tournaments attract some of the most lucrative land and online betting action around the world, and the United Kingdom is no different, especially with the prestigious 2009 British Open Golf Tournament just around the corner, with a top field expected including Tiger Woods.

In fact, Tiger Woods is expected to be the big favourite going into this year's British Open, which runs from Thursday, July 16th to Sunday July 19th at Turnberry Golf Club in Ayrshire, England. As such, UK golf betting fans will no doubt have him at the top of their pick lists, alongside some local players.

These include Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Ian Poulter of England, Paul Casey of England, Lee Westwood of England and Ross Fisher of England. Judging by their current online betting odds, all of these players are in with a decent shot at upstaging Tiger, who seems hungry to win this tournament again.

Tiger last won this auspicious tournament in 2005 and 2006 - at St Andrews in Scotland and Royal Liverpool Golf Club respectively, although for the last two year it has been Irishman, Padraig Harrington, who has earned himself British Open glory. As such, Harrington will also be a big favourite to win this year.

One of the greatest features of the British Open Golf Tournament is that it always attracts a big field comprising the best golfers from all over the world, including the United States, Australia, South Africa and Spain. Since the tournament was launched in 1860, the country with the most winners is Scotland with 22.

However, in recent years the British Open has been predominantly dominated by Americans, although the five players with the greatest odds to win this year's Open comprise an American (Tiger Woods), a Spaniard (Sergio Garcia), a Northern Irishman (Rory McIlroy), and Englishmen (Ian Poulter and Paul Casey).

Here are the top 20 players with the highest online betting odds to win the 2009 British Open Golf Tournament:

Tiger Woods 3.25
Sergio Garcia 21
Rory McIlroy 23
Ian Poulter 26
Paul Casey 31
Henrik Stenson 34
Hunter Mahan 34
Lee Westwood 34
Padraig Harrington 34
Anthony Kim 36
Ernie Els 36
Jim Furyk 36
Geoff Ogilvy 41
Retief Goosen 41
Ross Fisher 41
Steve Stricker 41
Adam Scott 51
Camilo Villegas 51
Martin Kaymer 51
Graeme McDowell 61