The Open / Ed Hawkins / 12 July 2011 /

Is the Northern Irishman value for back-to-back Major successes? Ed Hawkins is not so sure and worries about a lack of preparation

Reality has taken hold ahead of the start of The Open at Sandwich on Thursday. Last week, with patriotic fervour raging, Rory McIlroy's price was contracting faster than the subscription numbers for News International websites.

But that has changed. At around [7.0] he is now trading at [9.0]. The reasons for the surge were obvious. Nothing quite captures the imagination for The Open like a live home chance. And McIlroy, of course, is exactly that.

There would have been a clamour to back McIlroy at Royal St George's this week if he had merely triumphed at the US Open. But with him achieving it in record-breaking style at the Congressional there is a wide-held belief that the Northern Irishman is the next Tiger Woods (for the right reasons, folks). A prodigy whose freakish natural ability provides a comfort rug to bettors.

Of course McIlroy would have also been well-backed by those of, shall we say, a less secure constitution. A lot of money will be down to punters backing him because they want McIlroy to win, rather than that they think he will.

Certainly this columnist reckons that a back-to-back success in Majors is beyond McIlroy. There are just too many elements, some more relevant than others, which make us uncomfortable about the favourite.

For a start Sandwich is a course which is unlikely to suit McIlroy. The 22-year-old's natural ball flight is high when the course of such unique challenges demands it to be lower, so as to avoid catching the wicked winds that swirl around links. For example Lee Westwood has tinkered his swing recently to bring his ball flight down.

There are also fears over McIlroy's putting. Okay, it seems ridiculous after his short-stick sensations stateside but the Sandwich greens are tricky. While much of the attention focuses on the variables of the links, the undulating greens can be forgotten. This is a course where new members are told never to concede a putt, no matter how short.

McIlroy is ranked 146th on the putts per round list on the European Tour. He has often been accused of failing to recognise the maxim 'drive for show, putt for dough'.

Perhaps most pressing of all is that since his US Open win, he has been feted wherever he has gone, eschewing the course for the glamorous trappings of success. Instead of honing his game he thought it better to have three weeks off, glad-handing and gallivanting around Wimbledon and at the David Haye fight in Hamburg.

It raised eyebrows. Notable, and wise, ones, too in the form of Jack Nicklaus who was perplexed by the youngster's lack of application. A consequence of being away from the tour is that this week he will turn up and all people will want to talk to him about was his Congressional heroics. Focus could be lacking.

It is tempting indeed to get against McIlroy. You can lay him at [1.3] to make the cut and [1.99] for a top ten finish. However, the price that stands out is the [3.1] to lay for a top five finish. If he can manage that despite his lack of preparation, he really is something.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: