The Open / Joe Dyer / 24 June 2009 / Leave a Comment

Champion's swing woes force drift to over [30.0] in betting on The Open.

Padraig Harrington's disastrous form in 2009 has pushed the Irishman's odds to win this year's Open out their highest level yet - [32.0] having traded at a low of just [10.0].

Extensive swing changes implemented after his stunning four shot victory at Royal Birkdale last year are yet to take a positive effect, and in 13 starts on the PGA Tour this campaign he has failed to register a top-10 finish.

And the result of this poor form is that, with little more than three weeks to go to the Championship at Turnberry, layers are prepared to take Harrington on, pushing the three-time major winner out to over [30.0] for the first time since the market opened.

It is a measure of the Dubliner's decline that he stands next to Phil Mickelson in the betting, despite the American's almost certain absence from the Championships due to wife Amy's recent cancer diagnosis.

Three players are ahead of the current champion in the betting including Ulsterman Rory McIlroy, who impressed at the US Open, where he finished in a tie for 10th.

The 20-year-old is currently trading at [28.0] to win the Open after a hugely impressive first full year on tour with a win at the Dubai Desert Classic and a string of top-fives.

In his customary position at the top of the market is Tiger Woods who - at [3.85] - trades at almost a full point bigger than prior to the US Open.

Sergio Garcia, runner-up in 2007 and with an exemplary record since 2001, is second favourite at [24.0], though, as with Harrington, there are worries about his form this year.

A host of players trade in the high 40s with Paul Casey ([34.0]) and Henrik Stenson ([38.0]) the only other players under [40.0] in the betting.

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