Here is Ian with his tips for this week:

The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is hosted on three different courses, all being links. St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns are the venues of choice and the event usually suits players from Great Britain and Ireland. In fact, eight of the nine champions have come from Ireland, England and Scotland. Time for a Northern Irish or Welsh winner perhaps? The only other winner was Robert Karlsson from Sweden. In terms of the weather, it will clearly suit players from colder, wetter climates and the more experience they have of links golf the better. For the first three rounds, there will be a pro-am event and the cut is then brought in after the third round. A star studded field grace the tournament, with nine out of the twelve of Europe’s Ryder Cup team taking part as well as some other big names. I have gone over my options and after much consideration, these are my selections.

Francesco Molinari each way @ 33/1
Despite being the lowest scoring player on the European Ryder Cup side, Francesco played quite well and I feel that the he was the reason why Edoardo and he got half a point against Stewart Cink and Matt Kuchar. He ran into some really tough opponents and he played a Tiger Woods that we have not seen for ages. All in all, I was quite pleased with Francesco’s Ryder Cup because, if he could putt, he would have come away with more than what he did. From tee to green he was superb, but his putting let him down. So this week there will be less pressure, he will be on a high, he’s in good form and the crowds will be behind him. That makes him a pretty tempting bet to me. If Molinari can get his putting right and he’s not too tired after his Ryder Cup experience, he has a great chance at going close here.

Damien Mcgrane each way @ 66/1
It’s tough to look past the top players in this field but I’m going to have a try with Damien Mcgrane. For those of you who don’t know Damien, he is a short but accurate player with plenty experience of playing in bad weather. In fact, his only win on tour happened at the Volvo China Open where the weather was brutal and he won by nine clear shots. The reason I bring this up is that it is possible for the weather to turn nasty, especially since this event is being played in Scotland. Mcgrane will struggle with length this week but he has a golfing brain and should be able to overcome that with a sharp short game. At 66/1 Mcgrane is worth it.

Lee Westwood each way @ 10/1
There is only one reason for Westwood to be so far down in my tips and that is because of his odds. Basically, Westwood is the new world number two and it seems more likely that he, instead of Mickleson will take top spot off Tiger. After a steady Ryder Cup, Westwood will really look to make a charge at Tiger number one spot with a win here.
I would also like to mention one more player and that is Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie. Monty has done nothing this year, absolutely nothing except, captaining a team that would win the Ryder Cup. Now he returns to singles action with thousands of his home fans cheering him on. Trust me, they will be cheering. This could really give him a lift and with such an experienced links and bad weather player how can you say no to him at 250/1.

James’ Opinion

I think it is very difficult to pick a winner this week more than most because so many top players are coming off such a high that was the Ryder Cup and yet so many are in such great form. The fact it was a week that ran into Monday and due to the undoubtedly, extensive celebrations that followed, Im hesitant to put too much faith into the Ryder Cup stars and yet Im finding it difficult to ignore them.

Lee Westwood was in such startling form last week, he is an obvious choice but Im going to overlook him due to the tight odds. Rory McIlroy has an incredible record at St. Andrews and I expect that to continue. However, I would be concerned that if it is a wet and windy day when he plays Carnoustie, he could get beaten up. Im not willing to take the risk for a meagre 11/1. Therefore, Im going to go with Reteif Goosen. His form is quite good and he is coming into the tournament fresh. Regardless of weather conditions, his demeanor is pretty much the same always and he tends to just get on with things. At 18/1, I think he represents value. Elsewhere, Im going to go for two slight outsiders. Oliver Wilson is finding some form again and you feel its only a matter of time before the confidence starts flowing through the veins once more. I still think he is a winner in waiting and after coming second here last year, his odds of 45/1 appeals and he is worthy of an each way bet. He can also be backed at 7/2 for a top 10 which provides a bit more of a cushion. My final man was involved in the Ryder Cup, not as a player but as a vice captain. Darren Clarke has impressed me hugely in the second half of this year. His long game has always been solid but it is his short game which looks sharper and above else, his attitude on the course looks so much better. His lack of golf over the past few weeks as well as the strain last week may have inflicted is, I will admit, a large concern but at 66/1, he represents enough value for me to have a gamble. He can also be had at a very impressive 11/2 for a top 10 finish and something that warrants serious consideration. Two further people who I considered but who just missed out on my top 3 were Ross Fisher and Peter Hanson. Hanson in particular is 40/1 and despite being a rookie last week, he showed enough flashes to justify his place on that team. His odds are incredibly generous this week but again, its difficult to know how he will perform on the back of a long tiring week. Hence, he was left out in favor of Clarke.

Here is Ian’s take:

The second tournament of the Fed Ex Cup playoffs will once again be held on the TPC Boston course. The first tournament in the Fed Ex Cup playoffs offered up plenty of excitement and drama and the same is to be expected here. I am looking for current form and past form in this event. Twenty five players fell last week; these included some big names such as David Duval, European Ryder Cup vice-captain Sergio Garcia and American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin. This week we are set to lose more big names with Vijay Singh, Kenny Perry, Boo Weekley and Mr 59, Paul Goydos all outside the cut line. I find it hard to imagine that any of these players will have a big week this week so I think that we will be saying goodbye to most of them. With all that being said, I have chosen three players who I think can win this week and I am particularly confident about my top tip.

Steve Stricker each way @ 11/1
He is the man for the playoffs. He is the only player to have played in all the Fed Ex Cup playoffs during the years and has recorded eight top tens in this time. As well as this, but TPC Boston may be his favourite course in the playoffs and here’s why. His record since 2006 has gone: 2006 T7th, 2007 T9th, 2008 T13th, 2009 1st. Now that shows that he can play this course and that he likes it. As well as all this, he recorded a tied third place last week in The Barclays which shows that he’s in good form. Steve has won nine times on the PGA Tour and there is nothing stopping him from making that number rise to double figures this week. This week, Stricker’s the man.

Dustin Johnson each way @ 18/1
Is it possible to give three tips without mentioning this man? I don’t think so. Come Sunday I would really expect this man to be in the shake up. Besides Matt Kuchar, I think that Dustin Johnson is the best in form player in the world at the moment. At some point in the coming weeks Johnson is going to have to capitalise on his great play and win a tournament. His problem is that when he gets into a final round in contention, his putting stroke seems to lose all rhythm and he becomes very tentative with his long putts. If he can sort this out and be a little more aggressive with the long putts, he will be in with a great chance this week. Also, he has form in the event coming tied 4th last year. Johnson’s odds are slack but he’s worth it.

Jason Day each way @ 40/1
I had a really difficult time picking a third pick. My final tip was between Jason Day and Ryan Palmer and, after much deliberation, I chose the young Australian. Day has had a successful season this year, recording one win and three further top tens. Luckily for him, two of these top tens have come in the last three weeks in two big competitions, the PGA Championship and the Barclays. He played in this event last year and finished in a tie for nineteenth. This isn’t overly impressive but at least it has given Day some experience of the course and what the atmosphere will be like. With the young Australian in good form, I think he has a good chance of going lose this week. 40/1 is good odds for Day.

Dustin Johnson is the man bang on form and looks like contending every week at present. His biggest issue remains his putting. Without improvement, he will find it difficult to close out tournaments, similar to Northern Irishman, Rory McIlroy. However, these guys are professionals for nothing and while putting might not be his string suit, Johnson is due a tournament where he at least holes his fair share of putts. If that is this week, don’t be surprised to see up near the top. Following on from the disappointment of the USPGA, I , like many of the golfing public would only be too happy to watch him take home the winners trophy this week.

While congratulations must go out to Martin Kaymer on securing his first major in impressive fashion, the hearts of the golfing public must go out to 25 year old American, Dustin Johnson. Having seen him capitulate in the final round of the US Open at Pebble Beach earlier in the year, one wondered would it be a similar story at the final round on Sunday in the USPGA. To his absolute credit, it was anything but.

Having tipped Johnson at 50/1 this week, my cheers for Dustin were only second to that of fellow Irishman, Rory McIlroy. Certainly, a birdie at the first from Johnson was a settler but unfortunately for him, playing partner Nick Watney was a bundle of nerves and it showed up in a swing that looked completely void of rhythm or tempo on Sunday evening. It is difficult sometimes to play alongside someone so out of cink with their game and indeed in the earlier part of the round, it looked like it was dragging Johnson down a bit. He gamely hung in there though and after missing three great chances for birdies, Johnson made a miraculous birdie on the 16th, only to be followed by a sublime birdie on the 17th to take the lead outright by one shot from Bubba Watson, who was sitting in the clubhouse, and Martin Kaymer, who look destined to make bogey on his final hole after his second came up short on the 18th.

At this stage of the tournament, we had just witnessed a couple of hours of great golf. McIlroy was shooting at the pins and looked in control of his game. The putts however kept sliding by the edges. Steve Elkington was rolling back the years with an array of outstanding shots and to be honest, he could possibly count himself as possibly the most unlucky in the field over the final few holes as birdie and eagle putts lipped out on the 15th and 16th. A lovely tee shot into the 17th didn’t deserve to run through the back of the green either but it effectively ended his charge. Zach Johnson was battling hard and Bubba Watson was booming drives down the middle of fairways and holding his nerve with some clutch putts. The only man not moving forward all of a sudden was German Martin Kaymer, who had a putt to move to -13 on the 12th from only 5 feet. That miss seemed to signal the beginning of the tense finale. Kaymer no longer was hitting fairways and greens but instead relying on some great up-and-downs.

It was however on Dustin Johnson’s last hole that the drama truly unfolded though. Standing on the tee with a one shot lead, he carved his drive right into the throngs of people up on the bank. The next screen shot we see is Johnson walking up to his ball with a gap of about 15 feet through the crowds of people both left and right of him. The lie looked okay though, he had landed in area that had been trampled down and while a bit sandy, it looked okay…….or so we thought. Johnson proceeded to play his shot and eventually, had a 6 foot putt we assumed to win the USPGA. He missed and a playoff beckoned.

Suddenly though, there was consternation. A rules official approached Watney and Johnson as the left the 18th green and it was evident from the face of Watney in particular, that something was not right. Minutes later we found out that Johnson’s ball was actually in a bunker on the right of the 18th and if he had grounded his club, he would incur a two stroke penalty. Due to the fact he, like most of the rest of us, didn’t realize he was in a bunker, he did ground his club and therefore the penalty was imposed and another major had slipped through the big hitting Americans grasp.

In my opinion, it seems ridiculous that the area would be classified as a bunker considering people were standing all over and inside it. The rules though had been stated quite clearly at the start and unfortunately, there was little else anyone could do. It was a horrible end for Johnson who as a player and a person has grown on me immensely this season. I love his attacking golf and relaxed demeanor on the course but above all else, I was blown away by the manner in which he handled such adversity.

Majors are not easy to win and therefore emotions and nerves run high. One would have forgiven Dustin for burying his head in his hands and hiding away from the media to reflect on what had happened. This man is made of sterner stuff though and being the immaculate professional that he his, he agree to conduct his interviews as per normal. There was no anger in his voice, just resignation to what had happened. I cannot applaud him highly enough and he, along with other talents like McIlroy and Ishikawa are badly needed in a game which has had it’s reputation badly tarnished by both the on and off-field issues surrounding Tiger Woods. What stands out so far at least, is the ability of these young professionals to deal admirably with the media. The same cannot be said of Woods whose ignorance is sometimes sickening. (To his credit this week, I did think Tiger was somewhat better with the media, although that wouldn’t be hard now would it!)

I sincerely hope Dustin Johnson goes on to lift a major soon. To come back from the disaster that was the final round at Pebble Beach and to see playing partner Nick Watney play out a similar nightmare at Whistling Straits, could easily have messed with Johnson’s mind but he kept going, he kept fighting. A Ryder Cup debut beckons for Johnson and I hope he does well there (although not too well considering Im European all the way). Sometimes, adversity can end peoples careers as the “what might have been” eats at the subconscious mind. I feel confident that this will not be the case with Dustin Johnson. He looks ready to go toe to toe with the best in the world and if he can improve his putting a little, we could be speaking about him for a long time to come. At least, I certainly hope so!

Big hitting Bubba Watson stormed to an early lead at the 2010 USPGA Championship at Whistling Straits with a four under par 68 but was soon joined in the clubhouse at the top by Italian, Francesco Molinari. Meanwhile, Nick Watney, Matt Kuchar and Ernie Els are also on -4 but with the three hour fog delay we saw yesterday, that trio will return this morning early to complete their first rounds.

For those who may not have seen Bubba Watson on a course before, I encourage you to tune in because in my opinion, it is one of the most unorthodox swings on tour. There is so much action going on with his feet it seriously looks like he is doing a little dance as he plays. The buttoned up shirt, the enormous length, the extreme shape he hits his shots and his emotional manner all combine to create what is an intriguing golfer. There is something unique about this guy. I would almost go so far as to say he borders on “odd” but that might be an injustice to what seems like a really affable guy off the course. He is not known for his straight hitting so to see him up there leading the way on what is a course which is renowned for its demand to hit fairways, is a surprise to many. It will be fascinating to see if he can maintain his form over the next few days. One thing can be certain though, if the course stays soft, he will make birdies. The big question is whether it will be enough to offset the inevitable bogeys.

Francesco Molinari on the other hand is a model of consistency and we all know at this stage if he putts well, he generally gives himself the opportunity to win. He is a guy you always feel confident can rack up an high number of top 10 finishes but as of yet, he has not been able to finish the job off more often than not. Perhaps that may change this week.

Elsewhere, Tiger Woods returned to some sort of form. His putting was much better than it has been and being honest, he was unlucky that a few more did not drop for him. Off the tee, he was better but still missed quite a few, including one horrible hook on the second. For most of the day, he was gripping down the grip slightly on the tee shots and as a result was sacrificing some length for accuracy. If Woods is to maintain a challenge this week, it is imperative he continues with this strategy because when he open the shoulder for a big one, his head drops significantly, everything seems out of sync and invariably he end up with a wild push or vicious hook. Nevertheless, a one under par 71 was just what Woods would have wanted and wouldn’t it be something to see him win it after the trials and tribulations of last week.

Moving on, Sergio Garcia had an incredible outburst during yesterdays round. After getting a poor lie by one of the bunkers, Garcia semi-duffed the chip and all of a sudden, he began swinging the club viciously into the face of the bank. It was as though years of frustration on the golf course were being released by the man once touted as being the great challenger to Tiger Woods. Watching him bashing the club into the bank, losing his balance as he did so and then coming back and doing it all over again was rather pathetic and embarrassing. There is no room in golf for these moronic overreactions and the Tour should for once stand up to it and impose fines on such behavior. For years the PGA Tour has acted liked cowards in the manner they have turned a blind eye to some of the on-course antics of Tiger Woods but perhaps they will make an example of Garcia now. Despite my reservations about Garcia’s behavior, above all else, I found it sad to see such a talent reduced to such a mess on the course. Spaniards are known for their fiery character and Garcia is no exception. For a man with so much talent though, I take no joy in watching him getting beaten up on the course though. The fight, desire, hunger and will to win has been missing for some time now and his love for the game no longer seems apparent. Hopefully Garcia can take a step back now from the game for a few months, evaluate his attitude and love for the game and come back a better player. Unless he does so, I cannot see how a disgruntled Garcia can ever grace the game again with the talents which he so richly has in abundance.

Finally, it was a mixed start for the Irish boys. Padraig Harrington struggled again and slumped to a three over par 75 which means already, he is in desperate trouble to avoid missing the cut in a second successive major. Watching him and those that are in contention with him for the Ryder CUp spots, I now have great fears that unless Harrington qualifies automatically for the team, he may not be selected. When you look at the erratic nature of his game, Monty must immediately come to the conclusion that playing him in the foursomes would be a huge risk. Add to that the fact his record in the past couple of Ryder Cups has been appalling and the worrying signs are there that he may be overlooked.

At the other end of the scale is Darren Clarke though. He is -3 through his first 13 holes and I am now in the camp calling for Clarke to be selected for the Ryder Cup. His form is excellent and provided Lee Westwood is fit, I would have no hesitation in sending the two of those out together to lead the European charge. Clarke is a fine match-player and Monty will some serious consideration ahead of him.

Of the others, Rory McIlroy was +3 after only 5 holes but managed to turn it around and is now -1 in the early stages of his back nine. Shane Lowry deserves great credit as he currently sits on -2 after 9 holes. Hopefully Shane can keep it going and at least make the cut. Playing the weekend at Major tournaments will prove invaluable experience for the young man from Louth. Last but by no means least, it has been a rather subdued start for US Open Champion, Graeme McDowell. No birdies, 2 bogeys and the rest pars sees him at +2 mid-way through his back nine.

Okay, perhaps I’m being just a wee bit nationalistic here by claiming The Irish Open is the 5th Major but for every Irish golfer, it certainly is one they would like to get their hands on. The Irish golfing public has been fortunate enough to witness 2 Irish winners in recent year with Padraig Harrington doing the business in a play off against Bradley Dredge at Adare Manor and who could forget Shane Lowry’s monumentuous win last year in a play off against Robert Rock at rain drenched Baltray.

Thats was then and this is now though. Fortunately, the cream of Irish golf have turned up for this weeks event. Boasting 4 major wins out of the past 13, McDowell and Harrington will be sure to have their fair share of followers. However, in this golden generation of Irish golf, we also have one of the worlds greatest talent in Rory McIlroy, backed up by such talents as Clarke, Lowry, Lawrie, McGrane, Hoey and Thornton.

The venue is Killarney Golf Club, one of my absolute favorite places to spend a weekend and play golf. The course is not long but the scenery is sublime, especially on a beautiful summers day. throw into the mix that it is a bank holiday over here and we are hoping for fine weather and record breaking crowds. the only thing that may draw from it is the fact the Galway Races are on this week also……and of course the fact that the Recession is alive and kicking on these shores.

So, with the introductions over, its time to turn to out tipster Ian who’s form over the past few weeks reminds has been far from impressive. Having reminded him of such this week, he has been grinding through the history and statistic books more than ever to provide you with his first winner since his appearance here (in fairness, its only been a couple of weeks but there are standards to be met here). Without further procrastination, here are Ian’s selections:

“Our National Professional Golf Open returns once again to Killarney Golf and Fishing Club. The last two times it was played at this course, in 1991 and 1992, Sir Nick Faldo walked away with the title both times. A lot has changed since then however, both on the course and in terms of players. The greens have been remodelled to USGA specifications and some work has been done with the tees as well. The course should offer low scoring, with the risk of it turning into a ‘birdie fest’ if the conditions are right. Heavy rain has plagued the Killarney area over the last couple of weeks, but the weatherman tells us that conditions will be pretty good for the Irish Open. With some big names in golf arriving in Ireland, it should make for some exciting viewing. Marcel Siem, Graeme McDowell and Damien McGrane were all vying hard to make my final 3 but each just came up short for various reasons. Now for the final 3:”

Rory Mcilroy each way @ 8/1
The odds aren’t great for the young Northern Irishman and it takes a pretty special player to get me to back them at such short odds but Mcilroy is that special player. Two words spring to mind when people mention Mcilroy’s name to me and that’s ‘Quail Hollow’. The quality of his final two rounds there showed just how good a player he is and showed why there is no doubt that he will be world number one someday. But back to stats; Mcilroy booms the ball off the tee at nearly a 294 yard average. Granted that his accuracy isn’t fantastic but he is driving the ball better presently than he did at the start of the season so his stats don’t tell the full story of his present game. The good thing about his accuracy is that he doesn’t seem to have one of these Phil or Tiger shots that will go a country mile off line. He hits nearly 78 percent of green and that with improved putting make him almost the ultimate player. In fact, he has managed to improve his putting by an average of nearly one putt per round. Irish fans will be cheering him on this week and he will want to do well for all his fans. Even at these short odds, Mcilroy seems well worth a bet.

Bradley Dredge each way @ 45/1
The Welshman has been in great form this year and had it not been for his inability to close off tournaments, he would have one or two in the bag already. He hasn’t won in four years which of course is a worry but his play suggests another might be just around the corner. Long off the tee, albeit not always the most accurate, he hits over 67 percent of greens in regulation and a lot of players would kill for his putting. Also he should have good memories from Ireland after coming second in 2007, losing to our own Padraig Harrington, and from finishing tied eighth in 2008. Another thing was that he commented that he wanted to make Monty’s Ryder Cup team. With valuable Ryder Cup points on offer, Dredge is eager to put on a good show. Hopefully that added pressure will prove a boost for Dredge as opposed to a burden, but I am confident he has the mentality to cope. Clearly the bookies are coy on Dredge’s chances but that gives us the opportunity to snap up what appears to be a great value bet, with Dredge priced at 45/1

Alejandro Canizares each way @ 50/1
Canizares is another man who is in the form of his life. He has done all but win this year and coming out the wrong end of two playoffs has only spurred the twenty seven year old Spaniard on. On paper, his game seems suited to all golf courses and there are no glaringly apparent weakness. He averages nearly 287 yards in driving distance and couples that with both driving accuracy and greens in regulation percentages of nearly 69 percent. Moving on to the flat stick and he aint half bad either with an average of 28.21 putts per round and 1.7 putts for greens in regulation. The more I look at these stats, the more appealing this bet becomes. His odds of 50/1 are ridiculously high and should be taken advantage of. His past results in the Irish Open are quite poor but don’t let this put you off as the old Canizares wasn’t a patch on the one that showed up this year.

The debate about who is the Worlds Greatest golfer is of course always hotly contested and always will be. In the video above we get two different view points and now, I am going to weigh in with mine.

Firstly, I had to grapple with what exactly are we looking for when we say the “worlds best golfer”. In the video, one member picks Westwood on current form while another picks Woods on past form and future form. This is all a little confusing so to make it a bit more clear in everyone’s mind and to get that brain of yours working into overdrive, here is the scenario:

Tomorrow morning, every male professional golfer will tee it up in a competition, lets call it “The Ultimate Major”. There will be 4 consecutive rounds with one each played on what I consider some of the best courses in the world: Augusta, Carnoustie, Pebble Beach and Sawgrass. If you can correctly pick the winner, you stand to win $100,000, if you fail to pick the winner, you lose, lets say, your house. So, with that in mind, you really need to now consider just who would you bet your house on? Who in your mind, is the best golfer in the world? Who will net you $100,000? Well, if it’s my money and my house, there are only 5 men Im considering:

Lee Westwood: If there is one man in the world right now that has to come into your reckoning, it is Westwood. His record isn’t one that simply includes European wins, he is a multiple international winner. There is little doubt either that from tee to green right now, he is the most solid trust worthy player on tour. His chipping remains weak although it has improved and despite some still lackluster days on the greens, his putting has come on along way in the past few years also. The big question with Westwood is that being in contention is simply not good enough in our case here. Each way doesn’t cut and unfortunately, Westwood’s ability to close out majors is in question and something I have to consider too.

Tiger Woods: Who could argue with his past record and his ability to win tournaments that seemed beyond his reach. Time and time again, the Tiger Woods of old would hit irons shots to pins barely legal, produce chip shots that were barely imaginable and hold putts that seemed barely hole-able. He was, and still is according to the rankings, the undisputed world number 1. However, a lot has happened in a year. Before, he was the game of golf, he seemingly wrote the rules and you were either with him, or you were simply out….end of story! Now, the spotlight is focused on his behavior and every minute detail and move he makes is rightly scrutinized. His golf as a result is suffering. His driving is average at best (I am being nice here) and all of a sudden the hole has gone from being the size of a bucket to the size of an egg cup holder. Heck, somedays he must wonder does the hole just keep moving on him with the amount he is missing. And so, here is my dilemma, do I really think Tiger can get it around Carnoustie and Pebble Beach especially without getting into trouble once too often? I know he can be there or thereabouts but can he maintain that level of consistency for 72 holes? Add to the fact we know already he tends to struggle at the British Open when the wind picks up.

Phil Mickelson: I don’t think there is anyone on the world who wouldn’t cheer if Mickelson dethroned tiger as World number 1. Not only because he is such a likable, genuine role model but also because of his cavalier approach to the game. He knows nothing but attack and he thrills audiences the world over with this style. If Mickelson is in contention in any tournament, it is always worth tuning in to watch because you never know whats coming next. Of course, we all know that his particular weakness is his erratic driving, made up somewhat by without doubt the best short game in the business. There is no one, absolutely no one better or more imaginative around the greens than Mickelson. The worrying part though, in addition to the driving is his putting. He really has struggled for the past few years with the short stick and for now, the inconsistencies show no signs of letting up. Weighing it all up, we know Mickelson will be in contention in Augusta, Sawgrass is manageable too and perhaps Pebble Beach, but what of Carnoustie? Could you imagine Mickelson being tied for the lead with Westwood, Woods, Els and McIlroy on a windy final day at Carnoustie and your house is on the line. I myself would be a nervous wreck because every time that driver gets pulled out of the bag, its shut your eyes and pray time. Could he really hold it together for the entire 72 holes?

Ernie Els: The big Easy and another of golfs more likable and gentle role models. It was difficult to watch what seemed to be the demise of Els only for him to resurrect his career in the manner champions only know how. To be honest, there are not many weaknesses in his game but in each department, you would not say he is the best. It is his all around game and consistency which leads me to believe he has to be a serious consideration. Whats more, like Westwood, none of the 4 courses would give him any undue extra problems. He has the game to win anywhere, which is what he has proven throughout his career. The biggest fear I have with Ernie, particularly when it comes to majors, is that putting stroke. I flat out don’t like the look of it and come the back nine on Sunday in previous majors I have watched him, I think it begins to look a bit twitchy. Do I really think he can hold the putts when required to save my house?

Rory McIlroy: This is the man I believe will fill Tigers boots, although maybe not emulate the career that Woods has had. The young Irishman is an incredible talent and for those who have yet to witness his ball striking in person, you are honestly missing out for it is a think of beauty. From tee to green, McIlroy can be sensational. One only has to think back to the weekend of Quail Hollow to justify such a statement. There are however some question marks over McIlroy. One is that he is still very young and we should expect that his learning curve will last a little while longer yet. Evidence of such was at the second round of the British Open this year where he shot an 80 in testing conditions. The ability to grind out scores and turn 80′s into 75′s, like Woods so often does is what you need to be the Worlds best. There is also the issue with his putting. It is the single part of his game that looks…well…..ordinary! To become the Worlds best, he must find a way of improving it in my view because he rarely looks like the invincible machine that Woods did in the past on the greens. Taking everything into account, could McIlroy really upset the odds and stand toe to toe with the Worlds best, stare them in the eyes coming down the stretch and produce the shots needed to win. Is he at this early stage capable of holing the putts that matter?

So many questions, so many debates, but I have to make a decision and my top 5 in order of preference at this moment in time are as follows…….drum role please:

1. Lee Westwood
2. Tiger Woods
3. Phil Mickelson
4. Ernie Els
5. Rory McIlroy

Lee Westwood gets the nod because as far as I am concerned, he is due a major and the most consistent golfer in the world today. People kept telling me Harrington was a choker and all of a sudden, he had won three majors in the space of 18 months. It takes a bit of good fortune to win a  major, a bad shot getting lucky, a bad putt dropping when it shouldn’t, a lucky bounce etc. For my money, Westwood is doing everything right to win a major. I am confident he will win one and it may as well be “The Ultimate Major”. He is the only one I could possibly feel confident of with my house on the line (I should point out I actually still rent but just go along with it). Woods and Mickelson are just that little bit wild for me and I would be nervous of both around Carnoustie in difficult conditions. Ernie is generally quite steady but I sadly think his majors days could be behind him and McIlroy is simply too inexperienced for my liking to handle courses to the magnitude of Pebble Beach when it is set up in a US Open style. His time is coming, and probably sooner than most expect, but it will not come this week unfortunately!

So, with that evaluation done, why don’t you have a little think about it and leave a comment below with your top 5. Needless to say, it doesn’t have to include my 5 picks. I am aware that Stricker, Furyk, Poulter, Donald, Casey, McDowell, Ishikawa and more were left out so let me know why I was wrong in doing so. I look forward to your comments but rest assured, any top tip other than Lee Westwood and as far as Im concerned, it’s bye-bye house and not even the sniff of $100,000.

Lee Westwood……We Get Golf’s “Ultimate Major” Winner

2 years ago, we almost had the spectacular story the British Open craved when Greg Norman came down the final stretch in contention, only to be foiled in the end by the excellence of Harrington. Last year, again we all but witnessed the most spectacular story of major golf when Tom Watson led the Open with a single hole to go, only to be denied by a bit of misfortune and an attack of nerves it has to be said. This year, after only one day of the 2010 British Open at St.Andrews, a potentially phenomenal story looks like it could play out before our very eyes.

21 Year old Irish sensation, Rory McIlroy tore into St.Andrews today with the ruthlessness that could only be expected from someone so young and unconcerned by reputations. Despite only being -1 after 8 holes, an eagle two at the ninth kick started his round and his back nine of -6 was simply magical as he signed for a major record equalling 63. It was strikingly similar to that of his performance in Quail Hollow a few months ago, which is something for the others to sleep on and shudder at the mere though of it being repeated so soon.

Despite this incredible start though, it is still early days at the 2010 British Open and there are 3 long rounds ahead for Rory, especially when he sees the array of talent right behind him. Louis Oosthuizen is only a shot further back on -7 while Bradley Dredge, John Daly, Peter Hanson, ANdrew Coltart, Steve Tiley and Marcel Siem are all on -6. Daly was particularly impressive and only for some misfortune on the greens, he could have easily equalled McIlroy’s 63. On four separate occasions over the final 6 holes, Daly hit puts from within 15 feet that looked sure to drop, only to slip by the edge. I am a huge fan of Daly for his cavalier style approach on the golf course. Should he lift the Claret Jug come Sunday, he will be one of the most popular winners among the fans. If only he had some sort of dress sense to match his golf talents!

Tiger Woods sits ominously at -5 after a solid opening round. He actually got it to -6 before a short missed putt on 17 cost him bogey. Overall, Tiger was swinging it okay but he still looks vulnerable to the occasional snap hook. Todays conditions were perfect so mistakes were minimal out there during the morning session. Should the adverse weather roll into St Andrews, I still fear Woods could struggle a little. Needless to say, he will be there or thereabouts come Sunday but with the talent around him, I don’t think he can afford any mistakes, something he is still prone to and this early stage of his comeback.

Notably joining Woods on -5 are Lucas Glover, Nick Watney and Lee Westwood. I don’t think there is anyone in the World of golf who would begrudge Westwood his first major this week, such is the effort he has put in over recent seasons. Not to mention the fact he is one of the best ball strikers in the game today. Whats more, my English mate Paul always backs Westwood in the majors….and I mean always….but in a text I received from him today, he told me he remained loyal to the other English boys but chose not to back Westwood this time around. My, how costly will that prove come Sunday.

All in all, it was a reasonably entertaining opening round to the 2010 Open. I will confess that I am one of these people who would like to see the wind and rain move in for a few days and watch the pro’s really earn their keep. Forget the 63′s and 64′s, I want to see them grinding it out for 71′s and 72′s. Makes them seem human as I watch from the comfort of the armchair!!!

Rory McIlroys win in Quail Hollow a few months ago, completed in a manner with which only pure golfing geniuses posses, was his official arrival on the world scene. His swashbuckling aggressive style is refreshing in a game that is clouded with technical analysis and his gentle, accepting demeanor on the course suggests McIlroy has it all to be not just a champion, but the peoples champion. It almost seems like the public are ready to adopt a new hero. One that can give them everything they want, everything that a certain Tiger Woods looked sure to give until Tiger believed he was too big for just about everything that had made him what he was.

I personally have lost a lot of respect for Tiger Woods, the golfer. Over 12 months ago I wrote on this blog about his disgusting behavior on the golf course……the club banging, the foul language, the spitting and just his all round petulant spoilt ways. Nothing I have seen since his dramatic comeback at the Masters has led me to believe he has changed in any way, although I do acknowledge the fact that the personal problems he is going through are anything but pleasant and to have it played out in the media like it has been, must be incredibly difficult. However, once he steps on that first tee, he has a responsibility as the World number 1 and sadly, he is failing the game of golf badly in my opinion at this stage. Sure, he could go on and win another 10 majors but true champions are not only be measured by the success, but on how they handle failure. In the words of Rudyard Kipling:

“If you can meet with triumph and disaster
and treat those two imposter’s just the same……
…Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!”

Of course, I could be wrong about McIlroy. Perhaps he will flatter to deceive in similar fashion to previous pretenders to the throne like Sergio Garcia. It seems McIlroy is a different breed though. He looks ready to step up and adopt the role of the closest thing to Tiger Woods that golf has today. Mickelson, Westwood, Harrington and Rose are all incredible talents and indeed Mickelson is vying hard to become world number 1 but McIlroy is another step up in class. He reminds me of the Tiger Woods of old that we all fell in love with….the prodigy that revolutionized golf and provided us with some of sports most fascinating memories that will long remain etched into the record books. Things change though and unless Woods can change and adapt to a new role where he must accept his imperfections on the golf course, it won’t be long before McIlroy is breathing down his neck. In fact, he already is.

The next few years could be one of the most fascinating in the sport of golf. As I have alluded to, the stage is now set and two incredibly talented sportsmen look set to go to head to head to determine just who is the real champion of golf. My money is on McIlroy to take Tigers crown, but will he ever be able to match what the Woods of old has achieved…..I find it hard to accept, but maybe, just maybe…..

It only seems like yesterday I was watching the great Tom Watson battling it out down the stretch of the British Open with Stewart Cink, Lee Westwood and Retief Goosen. However it wasn’t yesterday and one year on, this great championship is upon us again, even more special this year in that it returns to the home of golf at St Andrews. Jack Nicklaus famously said you cannot claim to have reached the pinnacle until such time as you have won the Open at St Andrews. Tiger Woods reiterated those sentiments this week by claiming that “this is the one they all want to win”

Tom Watson again returns to have another crack at the whip and with the form he is in, he must be quietly confident, even if his odds would suggest otherwise. Scrolling through the list of names, I see the likes of Nick Faldo, Peter Senior, Sandy Lyle and Mark O’Meara gracing us without their presence but the bigger story for me is the omission of the former European maestro Seve Ballesteros. Although due to compete this week, Seve has been advised by doctors not to compete and not to travel to the famous old links. As a result, the golfing public misses out on what was sure to be an extraordinary and emotional return. If Norman, Watson et all have taught us anything in the recent past, it’s that “there is fight in the old dog yet”. No one could epitomize this phrase more so though than Severiano Ballesteros over the past few years in his battle with cancer. Our best wishes go out to Seve in his recovery and we remain hopeful that we will still see him back at a future British Open.

With that being said, it’s no down to the task of picking a winner of the Claret Jug. My brother Ian and I are have quite a competitive battle when it comes to picking the winners of majors this year. We both had McDowell at the US Open but Im one up on him since I had Phil Mickelson in Augusta. Initially, we were going to come together with our top 5 for this week, but to add a bit of spice into the mix, we have gone our separate ways and each come up with our top 5 tips. Surprisingly, we only have one man in common so you will have an array of stats and reasons thrown at you for the remainder of this post. SO, without further haste, lets begin with Ian.

Ian’s Top 5 (in no particular order)

1. Francesco Molinari each way @ 70/1
I tipped Francesco last week and I will tip him again this week. It is quite obvious that if Francesco Molinari could putt well, he would climb rapidly up the world rankings. He has been tied second and tied fourth in his last two outings and last year he finished tied thirteenth in the Open Championship. There is no doubt that Molinari will be in the top ten at the weekend in terms of ball striking and perhaps it might just make up for his putting woes. His odds came tumbling down in the last two weeks but the odds of 70/1 are still generous. If Molinari can putt well, he will go very close.

2. Steve Stricker each way @ 40/1
Now to tip quite possibly the best putter golf has ever seen. Steve Stricker won last week in the John Deere classic and his odds have stayed at 40/1, which seem very generous for the former world number two. He is a good ball striker, but it’s when he gets the flat stick in his hand that the magic starts to happen. He turns into some Harry Potter like character and the putter is his magic wand. His win last week was his second of the year and he has put a third place in with that record to make it look all the more impressive. He has done well in the Open Championship in recent years, finishing tied eighth in 2007 and tied seventh in 2008.

3. Jim Furyk each way @ 40/1
Jim Furyk is another player who has a chance at taking the title home with him. The tall American seems to have the perfect game for St Andrews. On the PGA Tour he hits seventy percent of the fairways he goes for and his greens in regulation stats aren’t too shabby either. He also has a good short game and is a strong putter, which are two things you need for links golf, especially if the wind is up. The world number five has only won one major in his career but has amassed four top five finishes in the Open Championship, two of which came in the last four years. He has won twice on the PGA Tour already this year and who’s to say he won’t win again.

4. Shane Lowry Top Irishman @ 13/1
Okay, now for a somewhat unlikely tip. Shane Lowry is playing in his first Open Championship and there’s no doubt that he’ll be excited and eager to make an impression. Can he handle this potential weight on his shoulders? I suspect so. The young Irishman is no stranger to links golf after winning the Irish Open last year as an amateur on a links course. He recorded a seventh place last week and despite having only one top five this year, he should feel extremely comfortable on links golf, regardless of the weather. He is 125/1 for the championship but the bet that appeals to me is that he’s 13/1 to be the top Irishman in the field.

5. Alejandro Canizares – Top Spaniard @ 6/1
As my last tip, I think that Alejandro Canizares might be a worth a punt to be the top Spanish player at the end of the tournament. Ultimately he is in good form and a lot of his fellow Spanish aren’t. Like Shane Lowry, it is his first Open Campionship but he has the game to succeed. He was tied second in France two weeks ago and despite making the cut last week in Loch Lomond last week he was disappointing, but he is only twenty seven and I would expect to see him bounce back in the Open. As I said his fellow Spanish aren’t looking too hot to do well this week. Garcia’s game is in the doldrums, Jimenez seemed to suffer severe burnout from his win in France and was very disappointing in Loch Lomond, Quiros has been known to spray one or two balls a bit wide of the mark which won’t serve him well for St Andrews, Castano is in very poor form, Garrido missed the cut last week and Lara is also in poor form. With odds of 6/1 Canizares stands out for me.

James Top 5 (in no particular order)

1. Rory McIlroy each way @16/1
If there is one man who everyone should consider backing it has to be the young Irishman, Rory McIlroy. I backed him two months ago at 25/1 for this championship and I have never been happier with one of my selections heading into a major championship. McIlroy is quite fond of St Andrews you know. His worst score on this course is 69, not too shabby one would have to agree. Furthermore, the Alfred Dunhill Links is played in St Andrews every year and in the last three years, Rory has finished 3rd, Tied 8th and Tied 2nd last year. He is on record as saying that the course is probably his favorite of all and add into the mix that he has publicly stated the confidence boost he has received from his best mate McDowell’s win in the US Open, and everything seems to fall into place nicely. His putting is the only concern I have but with the weather set to be extremely punishing over the next 4 days, the fact McIlroy has grown up on links golf further boosts the credentials. We all know he is the potential World number 1 in waiting such is the quality of his golf. This week the sun, moon and stars have all aligned in perfect position and they are screaming McIlroys name. While 16/1 is pretty low, with Paddy Power paying out on top 7, you cannot ignore this bet.

2. Padraig Harrington each way @ 22/1
I have gone through the lists and the records and I weighed up who would be my second selection from the big names to back up my selection of Rory McIlroy. Woods, Els, Mickelson and Rose figured strongly in my reckoning but in the end, it came down to one of two between Westwood and Harrington. Westwoods form over the past year has been scintillating and his record in the Dunhill is equally impressive. Harrington also has some fine form in the Dunhill Links. His last 5 years at the event has seen him finish T3, 1, T8. T13 and T26 last year. Having won 2 Opens in the past 3 years, he also should have the confidence to finish the job should he be in contention coming down the stretch. I still do not think Harringtons game is where he would ideally like it to be but considering the weather conditions expected this week, winning the Open could come down to a real dog fight and a battle of the wills. There are not too many in Harrington’s league when it comes to the mental side of the game. His exquisite short game, mixed in with his discipline and patience, means he has a real each way chance. I do think it is imperative he gets off to a good start this week though to get his confidence up.

3. Francesco Molinari each way at 70/1
I wont go into further detail than what Ian has said above about this man. Having watched him more closely this year and especially last week at Loch Lomond where his ball striking was sensational, there is no doubt the Italian has the game to a major. As Ian eluded to, if he puts well, he contends, if not, he doesn’t. I believe it is as simple as that but at 70/1, Im willing to take that bet.

4. Robert Allenby each way @ 100/1
After the first few months of this season, I decided that Robert Allenby would be one to watch out for at the Open Championship. His ball strinking is excellent, his putting has improved no end and he is a solid driver of a golf ball. However, when he gets around the greens, he’s not exactly Harrington-esque! Truth be told, he has in my opinion one of the most ordinary short games among the professionals on tour. As we all know though, at St Andrews, the preferred choice is often the texas wedge…i.e. the putter. The open Championship should suit Allenby in that he is tough as old boots and the set up of links golf means he wont be forced to nip too many wedge shots off those oh so tight lies. Taking all this into consideration, I struggled to figure out why he was priced at 100/1. The reason may have to do with a recent niggling injury he has been carrying. Perhaps it has not cleared to the full extent that I had believed, in which case, odds of 100/1 may be justified. Im quietly confident that a fit Allenby can hang around the top of the leaderboard should he make his way up there.

5. Soren Hansen each way @ 150/1
As I searched for a big priced name I could recommend I came across the likes of Darren Clarke, Tom Watson and John Daly, each of whom appealed for various reasons. The more I searched though, the more the name Soren Hansen appealed to me. Over the past 3 years, Hansen has finished T8 twice in the Alfred Dunhill at St Andrews. He also finished T8 at the British Open last year, in addition to T6 at the US Open. This further highlights the credentials of Hansen as a big player on tough course in testing conditions. His form over the past months however has been anything but inspiring with 3 missed cuts in his last 7 tournaments. But hey, that’s why he is 150/1 and thats why he possibly presents great value. His overall game is solid, he is a gritty competitor and once he gets the bit between his teeth, he has a habit of hanging around leaderboards. Im hoping he might be able to squeeze somewhere into the top 7 although I admit, it’s a bit of a longshot. 150/1 seems too generous to refuse though.

Summary
So there you have, our top tips for the Open. Im happy with my selections but would cast doubt on Ians selection of Lowry. The likes of McIlroy, Harrington, McDowell will make it extremely tough to top that illustrious list. One quick thing I should point out as an Irishman, we have now won 4 of the past 14 majors, thats an incredible 29% strike rate. Plastered all over Sky Sports and Sky Sports News are interviews with what they refer to as their top British selections, headed by McDowell and McIlroy. Lets get this straight, both men played for Ireland at the latest World Cup so lay off the British tag. They are Irish. You boys can gloat when one of your English boys finally wins a major. Here in Ireland we know it’s been a long time since Nick Faldo gave you reason to toast success at a major back in 1996 (yes, that long!!!!) but trust me, it will happen again. Until then, sit tight, relax and enjoy the Irish show.

P.S – On Betfair there was a blog entitled Top 10 Brits for the Open and as well as including McIlroy and McDowell, he actually included Harrington. Unless you guys are planning an evasion to overcome the recent recession, surely we can still claim Harrington as Irish??? Out of respect, I wont mention the author but c’mon, a little respect please!

P.P.S – One of my mates just text me there saying Luke Donald equalled the course record at the Old Head of Kinsale yesterday in strong winds. No doubt a big confidence boost for Donald and perhaps something for you betting folk to consider. Doing it the week before the British Open and doing it the weak of the British Open are two different things though. Im sticking with my selections!

What a great USPGA Championship it was this year. The only regret is that there was not a few more involved coming into the final few holes. Y.E Yang was hugely impressive as he held off Tiger to win and when you consider he hit the fairway on the 16th and 18th as well as all three greens on the 16th, 17th and 18th, it was clear he was not one bit phased.

Woods on the other hand was unusually subdued. He hit some lovely iron shots but the putter was stone cold, a rarity for him in a major championship. Many people are pointing to his poor putting on Sunday for the reason he lost but I disagree. For me, Woods relinquished his dominant status on Saturday. With a comfortable lead, Woods played conservative golf on Saturday and allowed competitors like Yang and Harrington the opportunity to take advantage on what is typically known as “moving day”. The Woods of old would have extended, not relinquished that lead. However, it is becoming more apparent that the great one is human after all, as he chases down Nicklaus record. Woods would have been somewhat anxious to win his 1st major of the year and on this occasion, he was not up to the task and it is not unreasonable to suggest that Woods perhaps got nervous and more to the point, he looked under more pressure than the cool, unflappable Yang. When you consider Woods was 1 shot behind with 4 holes to go and failed to birdie the par 5 15th and then never gave himself a realistic birdie opportunity on the 16th, 17th or 18th, it doesn’t sound like the Woods of old. In saying that, he is still the best in the world and more majors lie in store. It just seems now like people won’t be rolling over and conceding anymore so Woods will have to produce his best in every major going forward.

Disappointingly, Woods etiquette was bang out of order AGAIN, on the golf course. When he missed his par putt on the 17th, he immediately muttered F**K. A few seconds later as he approached the ball, he again exclaimed F**K and again it was there for all to hear. Finally, as he walked away from the green, he covered his mouth with his arm and again shouted F**K. Now I play golf and I am not immune to the odd curse etc on the golf course. However, he is Tiger Woods and he is a global role model for all kids. It is not very often you hear professional golfers cursing on the course and that is the way it should stay. It is completely inexplicable if Woods does not get disciplined for his verbal misuse but then again, the PGA Tour officials, in my opinion, will balk once again at the opportunity to impose a fine on him. Their inaction is cowardly, as is the failure of TV commentators to criticise the great one when he engages in such behavior.

Even more disappointingly for me, was Padraig Harrington’s 8 on the par three 8th. It was the second week in a row Harrington threw away a competition with an 8 and it will take all his resolve to come back from this one. It will be difficult but I think Harrington is made of sterner stuff. His swing changes look to be taking shape and he drove the ball as well as I have ever seen over the past few weeks. For Padraig, I feel it is imperative now that he just has a consistent end to the season and is in the right frame of mind for next season. Plenty of work for Mr Bob Rotella no doubt!

Lee Westwood continues to perform well in the majors and surely, surely, he can win a major sooner rather than later. His ball striking is as good as it gets right now and he just needs to work on the scrambling department in my view. If he can improve his short game a little, he will find himself shaving an extra couple of shots off his score. Rory McIlroy is another who will be pleased with his performance and it appears, like he is ready to take the golfing world by storm. The only concern is his putting which looks extremely ordinary. He never looks confident over the 4-8ft putts and there is shades of Garcia beginning to emerge. For me though, McIlroy is fundamentally more sound and will realise his talent going forward.

So that’s it, all four majors are now finished and it must be said that Y.E Yang’s performance eclipses them all. At one stage he was +5 for the USPGA but finished -8. That is quite incredible. His shot into 16 did not get the credit it deserved. It was a marvellous shot and Ewan Murray, who said it was pulled a little….shame on you! If that had been Woods, we would have had 5 minutes of what a masterful shot it was. His eagle chip on the 14th was also memorable but for me, the shot of the Championship and the shot of the golfing season so far, was his second into the 18th. With a rescue club in his hands and over 200 yards out, Yang hit the most beautiful shot into 12ft. Any miss-hit would have opened the door for Woods to force a playoff but Yang was mentally too strong and swinging great. The South Koreans win could now mark the beginning of Asian golfers winning globally. We have seen it on the women’s tour and I’ve always maintained we would see frequent Asian golf winners on the men’s tour at some point. Perhaps now is their time. Congrats once again to Y.E Yang!