What are the best bets for this week's Open Championship?

1. Back Steve Stricker to be Top American @ 12/1 (bet365)
Those players with the ability to keep their shots low under the wind will prosper this week and the American, who can boast top-10 finishes in two of his last three Opens, fits the bill. The world No.4 had been struggling since returning from injury in the spring but any doubts about his fitness were blown away by his record breaking win in last week's John Deere Classic, and I'm not worried about tiredness as he has posted consecutive top-five finishes in the past. I expect several non-American players to come to the fore this week so the best way to get with him is in the Top American market, especially as there are big question marks over both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

2. Back Tom Watson to be Top Senior Player @ 3/1 (Betfred)
After last year's near miss, I'm surprised bookmakers are going as big as 250/1 on the three-time Open champion and I wouldn't put anyone off having an each-way dabble at that price. However, the safe bet is on him to be 'Top Senior' as there is only one other runner in my book, Tom Lehman. The 1996 Open winner could make the cut as he did at Loch Lomond last week, but has there ever been a better links player than Watson? I think not, and his 2010 record isn't too shabby either with two wins on the Champions Tour, 18th at the Masters and 29th at the US Open at Pebble Beach. He's only 9/4 in a place so snap up the 3/1 while it lasts.

3. Lay Phil Mickelson in the place market on Betfair
Mickelson is amongst the market leaders this week but that's purely based on his reputation rather than his Open record, which consists of an abysmal one top-10 finish in 16 appearances, that coming at Troon in 2004. In theory, the more wide-open nature of St Andrews should suit him but 60th place in 2005 suggests otherwise and he's likely to give up altogether if falling out of contention. Most punters will be put off laying him at 19.00 in the win market, but a place lay at around 6.4 won't do too much damage.

4. Back Ian Poulter each-way @ 33/1 (Paddy Power - seven places!)
The Englishman has never been short of confidence but he's let his golf do the talking in the last 12 months or so and now looks ready to move up to the next level and claim his first major. The reigning WGC Matchplay champion has vastly improved since finishing 11th at St Andrews in 2005 and showed he has the game to win the Open when finishing runner-up at Birkdale in 2008. Recent form is a slight worry but he seemed happy enough with his game after finishing 18th in France last time, saying "Y'know, I feel good about my golf right now". I also like the fact he took last week off to get in some practice in Scotland, meaning he can look forward to a more relaxed early part of Open week.

5. Back Shane Lowry to finish in the Top 20 @ 6/1 (Totesport)
The 23-year-old famously won the 2009 Irish Open as an amateur and in poor weather conditions, so won't mind the forecast wind and rain this week. He did have to qualify for St Andrews but did so with a stunning 62 at Sunningdale and followed that up with 7th place at Loch Lomond. A win is probably expecting too much of him - although stranger things have happened - but a top-20 finish looks a realistic target.