Absolutely can't wait. Outside of football and RL, my favourite sporting event of the year. Back to St Andrews this year after a 5 year gap. Interesting that the famous 17th has been lengthened and I wouldn't bet against a 9 or 10 being notched if someone gets in the bunker.

I get the feeling that Tiger may get the magic back this week. He's won here by 8 shots and 5 shots on his last two visits and whilst the gap has obvisouly shortened between him and the field I still think he's a worthy favourite on his favourite course.

I 've had a bet on Tiger and Els to win and Donald, Goose and Garcia each way who all have good course form. Last year I had an utterly embarrassing 50p ew on Stewart Cink at 175/1 so I've doubled the bet and gone for another 175/1 shot.....Oliver Wilson.

Woods will have to improve his putting - this is what is stopping him winning. He doesn't hole enough 10 foot putts - this used to be a strong point of his game. If he starts holing the putts he will be difficult to beat especial with his chipping.

Young Molinari could have a chance again if his putts can stand the strain, outside of that Ikeda, Kaymer and Rhys Davies

I think Mickelson will go well, I know he missed the cut last week but I remember him playing a bit off the week before the masters and we all know what happened there. His short game is amazing and I think he can make a few shots up to make up for his erratic driving just through his pitching/chipping/lob shots alone. The rough isnt as long as other Open Championship venues unless you are way offline(like Woods) but with all the rain it will be very difficult again.

As usual though I hope Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Darren Clarke or one of the other Brits comes through and wins, if not Tom Watson who is one of my all time favourite players(long shot I know

)

I still think Tiger will be there or thereabouts as usual and if he manages to find anything like his best he will win by a mile, but to be honest the person who usually wins is the player that manages to stay out of theose damn bunkers




Cant wait now

Looking forward to this, at least I'm not going so no bloody sunburn this year! Got the feeling Westwood's time is here, and one of the old stagers will give it a right good go, probably Watson again.

However, as its Ryder Cup year, this one takes the role of second most important, but still, its The Open, and ol' Tiger's not what he used to be!

If the weather carries on like it is ATM we will be lucky to see any play

Got a bit carried away on Paddy Power and ended up backing half the field! Paddy are paying 1st 7 E/W.

T Watson 250/1
Sergio 80/1
Goosen 45/1
Moore 125/1
Mickelson 18/1

Tempted to smash into Mickelson. 4.5/1 to finish 1st 7 is a cracking bet to me.

Backed Stephen Gallacher myself - won the Dunhill Links Championship over the course in 2004 and came back to form somewhat with a good placing at Loch Lomond last week. Thought 100/1 for someone with a previous victory to his name and in something resembling decent form looked good

As with ECP, I'm going with Paddy Power, paying out on first 7 at 1/4 odds.

Limited myself to £10 so gone for:

McIlroy @ 16/1
Mickelson @ 18/1
Els @ 20/1
Harrington @ 22/1
Gallacher @ 100/1

All at £1 e/w.

Boylesports are doing 1st 8 which is rather annoying

B*gger.



Ah well, hopefully at least a couple of those selections will find their way into the top 7!

Placing the bets to give a bit of extra excitement to the weekend as much as anything. That said, most of mine will miss the cut knowing my luck anyway!

McIlroy and Daly ripping it up!!! Daly could be -10 easily.

Nice to see I like John Daly(similar swing to me

)
It makes me laugh though how the commentators and other people say they "love" him so much, even though hes an alcoholic wife beater with a gambling problem and yet dont like Tiger because of whats happened recently!!!



Sure Tigers more high profile but Daly was far worse IMO

Rory Mac moves 2 clear at -8. Really like him as a golfer and want him to win. Reminds me of me



Tiger is looking solid today. Funny how he's been crap in the normal comps this year but he's put in top efforts in the majors ay.

. B0ll0cks!!! Put my bets on with David Pluck this morning on way to work and they were only paying on first 5 (after advertising first 6). Really must set myself up with an online account

.

Poulter 25/1 e/w
Dredge 150/1 e/w
T Clark 80/1 e/w
F Molinari 40/1 e/w
Mcdowell 25/1 e/w

Threw the fiver change I got back in the roulette machine and managed to cover all my bets by getting £35 back. Happy days!

If your as good as him I want to be your caddie, 10 % cut will do me




Tiger Woods is awesome thats why

Perfect playing conditions as well, didn't look like it would be after yesterday's weather.

Super round by McIlroy -8 is incredible. So many huge under par scores, maybe St Andrews isn't the test it once was.

Nine under isn't he?

Its never been as difficult as other Open venues IMO, but the thing is after todays perfect conditions as you say they wont have them again more than likely, if the sun comes out the greens will be like lightning, if it lashes it down it will be longer and if the wind blows it will become impossible with a combination of either.

Somewhere between -7 and - 12 will win come the end of the week IMO

Hey, in a couple of years you can be



Played 21 holes yesterday before the Thunderstorm hit and only dropped 8 shots with a double bogey on the 1st. Thank god my putter was on fire because my 2nd shots were killing me



Anyway, less about my golfing abilities and more about the open. If Rory doesnt do it I want the Fish to. I love that bloke.

He is indeed mate. Daly and Coltart -6.



Bit of wind and rain would be nice to see, just to add that extra element to the play. Wind is getting up now though, the flags are blowing so you would guess rain is on the way too. Conditions like yesterday would spice things up a little. If the rain comes as well as the wind we won't be seeing many scores like this morning.

Couple of -5 so far today, not bad as some of the weather has been awful.

Oosthuizen could be sitting very pretty by the end of play today.

Bloody typical I have just had sky out to get my box fixed and no sooner had they gone and I started watching play has been suspended

Seven over so far today Rory. I'm tempted to back Casey, he's looking good. But at the end of the day, Scottish links golf is a lottery.

Pfft bit of wind all they are all struggling, I once went round St Andrews in gale force conditions in a meagre 62 shots [size=50on Tiger Woods 09[/size.

Good to see Retief in the waiting pack. Think Oosthuizen(sp) will fall back eventually, though I did nearly back him pre-tournament at some astronomical price! Think he did well in a tournament last week?