2010 Open Championship Predictions and Betting Odds: Part Two

We've got plenty of action and excitement ahead of us over the next few days in the build-up to the 2010 Open Championship at St Andrews.

Our previous article brought you some of our premier betting predictions for the Open and we're going to round things out with six more top.

There are so many talented American players lining up for this one that you really have to fancy their chances to win an "away" victory here. A European-based player to win the 2010 Open Championship is trading at an odds-on price of 10/11 while a Rest of the World winner rewards at 7/2.

There is only one odds-on player to finish top ten, and that's Tiger Woods at 1/3. John Daly likely wouldn't be making the trek if he wasn't prepared to play some serious golf, as he doesn't exactly have the brand recognition in the UK that he generally gets from the American fans.

An 8/1 price on Daly is very solid as players like Vijay Singh, Hunter Mahan and Robert Allenby are all trading at the same price. I think this new and improved Daly might make a major statement at the 2010 Open Championship.

Unless we see a total cock-up from the young Norn Irish sensation, Rory Mcilroy as the top Irish player is a stellar bet. He is being well-backed to win the tournament and you can get a 17/1 price on him to win outright- that's the same odds as Phil Mickelson.

I think that the price may be short as he's a UK-based player in a UK-based tournament and we're talking about UK-based betting odds, but you still get the feeling that there are big expectations here. I think he's nearly a lock to take this market though and a 2/1 price is very solid as he lines up against Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell at 11/5.

St. Andrews is a notoriously difficult course, but I think there are a few par 3's that some top players may just be able to capitalize on. This makes a hole-in-one bet mighty tempting. Again, it boils down to the sheer amount of quality lining up to play the Open this year and I think we could see a hole-in-one earlier as opposed to later.

Being able to start in an opening partnership with Tiger Woods is a really solid way to get a tournament started up, and Justin Rose is an excellent selection for a top five finish. He's been playing some first-rate golf over the past few months, and the timing of this tournament is just right for him. He's got plenty of acumen at St. Andrews and is a genuine contender to win this one. A 4/1 price is very solid and there are only five golfers rated at shorter prices than Rose.

Tiger Woods has a genuine shot at winning this one if he can find even a smidgen of his old St. Andrews form. He's had plenty of close calls on this course and he certainly knows how to shift the momentum in his favour. The bookmakers have priced Woods at 6/1 to win the 2010 Open Championship, but that price feels just a touch too short as Woods generally improves later in the tournament.

Generally, if you time things correctly, you can take advantage of a price increase after Woods posts a middling first-round score. Tiger has a great chance here, but it’s a fools bet to back him at 6/1.