General / Paul Krishnamurty / 22 June 2010 /

Paul Krishnamurty has been expecting a British major winner for some time. Now that one player has made the breakthrough, will others follow?

At long last, Britain has it's first major champion of the 21st century. Having argued that Pebble Beach offered a golden chance to end our 40-year US Open jinx several weeks ago https://betting.betfair.com/golf/golf-events/us-open/us-open-betting-three-picks-to-lead-the-strongest-250510.html , I would love to claim some credit, but that would be rather cheeky seeing as I never mentioned Graeme McDowell.

Nevertheless, the core argument laid out then, that British golf has never been stronger, is particularly relevant given McDowell's triumph. As an in-form player, who won his previous event in some style, he certainly wasn't a shock, yet nor was he anywhere near the most obvious British candidate. Sunday's victory has propelled McDowell 24 places up the world rankings to 13th, but there are still five Brits ahead of him, all in the top-10.

Over the past couple of years, when discussing their prospects, British candidates have often referred to the idea that once one of them made the breakthrough, others would follow. The forthcoming majors will offer a swift opportunity to test that theory. Next up is the Open Championship, to be played at St Andrews, which, as always, offers British players their best chance of a major.

Before dealing with British claims at St Andrews, an important caveat must be noted. On the evidence of Pebble Beach, Tiger Woods is not far off his best, and will take the world of beating at St Andrews. This is a course where his two previous appearances produced victories, by an aggregate of 13 strokes, and where his inaccuracy off the tee is less relevant than usual. Punters were quick to latch on to Saturday's return to form, shortening Tiger's Open price into [4.8].

Besides Tiger, I expect a plethora of Brits to be very popular in the outright market. Not least McDowell, who has thrived at the venue before, though at [25.0], it's fair to assume the market has already factored his enhanced claims. Back to back major winners are very rare, though another Irishman, Padraig Harrington, did manage it in 2008.

I'm more interested in another Northern Irishman, Rory McIlroy, currently available at around [21.0]. I've had Rory in mind for this date ever since he finished third there on his professional debut at the Dunhill Links Championship. He's already won the 'sixth Major' at Quail Hollow this season, and while he's yet to produce the goods consistently, he's likely to produce his very best on links courses. As it proved for McDowell and Harrington, Rory's schooling on links layouts will offer a significant advantage for this and future majors.

While Rory will doubtless have his supporters, he's unlikely to be a shorter price than [17.0] chance Lee Westwood, despite a disappointing showing at Pebble Beach from the Englishman. He can certainly be forgiven one bad major, having gone close in the previous three, and his wider St Andrews record is encouraging. Much water has passed under the bridge since Lee famously said St Andrews wasn't even the best course in Fife! Not least a victory there in the Dunhill Links.

The list goes on. Paul Casey, Luke Donald and Ian Poulter are all inside the world's top-10 and overdue a big run in a major. Or there's the resurgent Justin Rose, who has just won his maiden PGA Tour event. Justin's record always makes him worth considering in the Open, and I can easily envisage his current odds of [85.0] shortening up over the next month.

Nor can we write off Ross Fisher, who held the lead with 15 holes to go last year at Turnberry, and is another with the ideal game for St Andrews. Any hint of a return to form, and I'll be getting on at big prices. And finally, let's not forget several young emerging stars, such as rookie of the year Rhys Davies, Danny Willett or even a man who's made the top-5 on both Open championship attempts, Chris Wood. These are very exciting times for British golf.

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