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The Open 2008

This year's Open Championship takes place at Royal Birkdale on the Lancashire coastline where the world's finest golfers will be lining up to claim the third major of the golfing year. At Sportingbet they've got the best odds on this great event. Why not open an account with them? They have £150 worth of Free Bets available if you get started now.

Of course there is one major absentee this year and that is world number 1 Tiger Woods. The great man aggravated his dodgy knee while winning the US Open last month and he's out for the rest of the season, which means we have the most open Open of the decade! With Tiger out the way who can grab the initiative and lift the Claret Jug? Let's have a look at some of the big contenders…

Sergio Garcia heads our betting at 9/1 and the Spaniard will be eager to follow in the footsteps of his nations recent heroes: their football team and Rafael Nadal. The world number 7 looked in great shape in the recent European Open where he finished runner-up to Ross Fisher. This performance prompted a rush of money for Garcia and they cut him from 14/1 into 9/1.

The market leader before Garcia's London Club exploits was the 2002 winner Ernie Els. The South African has struggled with his form in the last couple of years but has a great Open record famously wining at Muirfield six years ago.Els can be backed at 14/1 to regain the Claret Jug.

There's no doubt that Lee Westwood's confidence will be high at the moment after his fantastic third place at last month's US Open. The Worksop citizen missed out on a play-off by one stroke and heads into the Open a 12/1 chance.

Phil Mickelson has never had a great time at the Open although he did finish third in 2004 and Lefty goes into this major as the highest ranked player in the field. Fancy backing him at 16/1?

Last year Padraig Harrington ended an eight year European major drought when he claimed victory in the Open at Carnoustie. Harrington hasn't been in the winner's enclosure since but with the major monkey off his back may be a good bet at 17/1.

Of the other contenders there will be a strong European contingent lining up at Birkdale with Justin Rose (25/1), Robert Karlsson (28/1), European Open winner Ross Fisher (40/1) and Henrik Stenson (50/1) all high in the betting. US Masters champion Trevor Immelman is 50/1 to make it a major double in 2008.

• Sergio Garcia 9/1
• Lee Westwood 12/1
• Ernie Els 14/1
• Phil Mickelson 16/1
• Padraig Harrington 17/1
• Jim Furyk 25/1
• Justin Rose 25/1
• Vijay Singh 25/1
• Luke Donald 50/1
• Paul Casey 50/1
• Colin Montgomerie 66/1
• Mark O'Meara 750/1

They'll also have a host of other exciting markets available like Top European, Will There Be A Hole In One? and To Make/Miss The Cut.

A MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Forget the Joy of Six - Paddy Power is offering a Magnificent SEVEN places on this year's Open Championship.

Despite the absence of Tiger Woods and golfers lining up at Royal Birkdale for one of the most open Opens in years Paddy Power will pay out on each way bets for the first seven golfers.

Paddy Power, spokesman for the bookie, said: "Punters can go to the first tee with one of Paddy Power's most generous golf specials ever. We led the down the betting fairway with six places (one ahead of the field!) but seven places will once again leave the other bookies bunkered."

THE OPEN

Outright Betting

9/1 Garcia

14/1 Els

16/1 Westwood

17/1 Mickelson

20/1 Harrington

22/1 Furyk

28/1 Rose

28/1 Scott30/1 Ogilvy

33/1 Singh

33/1 Goosen

33/1 Cink

35/1 Karlsson

35/1 Jimenez

40/1 Romero

40/1 Mcdowell

45/1 Allenby

45/1 Kim

50/1 Bar

e/w ¼ odds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Bet on the Open with Paddy Power and get a FREE £10 bet