The 2011 Australian Open golf tournament includes Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson, although it is Aussie Adam Scott that is the market leader
Tiger Woods is the star attraction at the Australian Open in Sydney this week but don’t expect the former world number one to finally return to winning ways Down Under (11/1
Betfred) with big-hitting Dustin Johnson (16/1) among several top players aiming for glory.
Woods’ participation in this year’s event at the Lakes Golf Club, which begins on Thursday, had caught the attention in Australia but it has been overshadowed somewhat in recent days following the race row involving his former caddie Steve Williams.
The American is keen to move on from the controversy after Williams apologised and Woods has instead set his sights on competing for the title in Sydney.
However, he faces a tough field in the tournament with local stars Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy and Jason Day, in particular, tipped to do well over the four days.
The feeling is that Woods is slowly rediscovering his top form but his wait for a 98th professional win is likely to go on for a while yet.
Scott is the 15/2 favourite to win outright with Totesport and is likely to be among the front-runners in Sydney but the value appears to lie elsewhere in the field.
Ogilvy, last year’s winner, can be backed at 14/1 and, ahead of the tournament, he certainly appears up for the challenge of defending his title.
“Outside of the four major championships, the Australian Open is the most important event of the year for any Australian,” he said.
“It’s definitely number five on my list, even if, to the wider populace, there are maybe a dozen bigger tournaments on the calendar each year. And even if some of those same tournaments might even do more for my career. But none of those have the emotional pull of your own national Open title.
“When I’m 55 and looking back on my career, winning the Australian Open will mean a lot more to me.”
Day is certainly one to watch, on offer at 8/1, and the second favourite will have plenty of backers ahead of the tournament.
Aside from Woods, the American charge is led by Hunter Mahan (12/1), Matt Kuchar (12/1) and Johnson and it’s from this trio we see the winner emerging.
Kuchar has eight top-10 finishes this season and his consistency moved him up to as high as sixth in the world earlier this year while Mahan, currently 19th in the world, has also been steadily performing well.
But it’s Johnson who looks well placed to take the title and he has hinted the course is well suited to his game after playing 13 holes on Tuesday.
“It is in great shape. It sets up pretty well for me,” when asked how he felt after the practice session.
Words to tempt you into backing the 16/1 shot for glory.
