Despite Collapse, Tiger Woods Favored at British Open

Tiger Woods remains the oddsmakers’ favorite to capture next month’s British Open even though he isn’t among the 15 different players who have won golf’s past 15 major championships.

Woods’s drought in the four majors has reached four years after tying for 21st place at the U.S. Open in San Francisco, his worst four-round finish at the tournament. His next chance to get within three of Jack Nicklaus’s record 18 Grand Slam titles will be at the July 19-22 British Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club in northwest England.

Woods, 36, is listed as the 10-1 favorite for the season’s third major, according to the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino’s sports book. While Woods hasn’t won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open, he remains popular with bettors. Woods last week had “by far the most money on him,” according to Jeff Sherman, LVH’s assistant sports book manager.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and England’s Lee Westwood are tied as the second choice at 12-1. Englishman Luke Donald, who’s No. 1 in golf’s Official World Ranking, has 20-1 odds to win his first major championship.

Phil Mickelson has 30-1 odds to win the British Open, tied with Justin Rose, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Rickie Fowler, Jason Dufner, Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington.