British Open: K.J. Choi Would Pay 75 to 1 Odds

Carrie Stroup here with a British Open update.  Tiger Woods was tied for the lead with South Korea's K.J. Choi at this year's British Open which began today.  Tiger is seeking his fourth Open championship overall and 13th major title.

Woods birdied No. 3 to get into the red, then pulled even with Choi at the par-5 sixth. Woods waved his putter to the cheering gallery after the ball dipped into the cup for eagle on the 578-yard hole known as Hogan's Alley.

But Tiger Woods shared the lead with K.J. Choi, a South Korean who has won twice on the PGA Tour this season.

Choi shot a 3-under 33 on the front side. He made birdies on four of the first six holes, his only slip-up on the outgoing stretch of holes coming at the seventh when he missed a sharp-breaking putt from about 3 feet and took bogey.

Ireland's Paul McGinley also was at 3 under with three birdies in the first four holes, taking advantage of conditions that looked ugly but were primed for going low.

Betting on the 2007 British Open had been brisk coming into the much anticipated event.  Tiger Woods was an early 5 to 2 favorite, then a 3 to 1 favorite.  Choi would pay a whopping $7500 for every $100 bet for anyone who got him early enough if he were to win the British Open this weekend. 

McGinley was a field choice at Sportsbook.com.

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Alistair Prescott, Sports911.com

Originally published July 19, 2007 11:10 am ET