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When Padraig Harrington won the 2007 Open Championship, he started off with very long betting odds while enjoying a massive fan base back home in his native Ireland. He ended up winning. Last year, the oddsmakers got smarter but not smart enough as the odds were not great that Harrington would win two consecutive Open Championships. This year, the oddsmakers are being cautious despite long odds of the Irishman going three straight especially when he's been in such poor form lately.
This year, Sportingbet.com has Padraig Harrington's Open Championship betting odds at 28/1, with a payout potential of US$2800 for every US$100 bet. These odds probably won't last, so we suggest locking them in now.
And there is a good reason why.
Harrington carried a four stroke lead into Saturday's final round of the Ladbrokes.com Irish Professional Championship at the European Club.
He still seemed doubtful about his form:
"I didn't play very well but I managed my game pretty well and there were a few shots that I hit well," he mused. "My timing was off a little but that can change in 24 hours and I'm happy enough that the short game is pretty strong. I feel I'm getting closer, there's no doubt about that, but there's a question of urgency as well.
"I'm good for preparing for majors and getting my game to peak but I've failed miserably at that for next week. I wouldn't always have so much up in the air and that does worry me. It makes for a much more stressful three or four days going into the Open whereas if you have done your preparation correctly, you're just winding down and I don't have that luxury.
"I spent a long time on the range yesterday trying to put things right and trying to figure out whether this was a physical or mental thing. I came to the conclusion it was actually mental. I tried every conceivable cure and none of them were really working so I'll be looking forward to meeting Bob Rotella (his mind coach) next week. I would have gone into my majors three or four years ago like this, not knowing what's going to turn up, and I'm certainly not easing myself into next week."
Oddsmakers up to this point have not been high on Harrington winning another Open Championship. And there is a reason for that too.
He has not finished in the top 10 since his 2009 debut, a tie for fifth in the Abu Dhabi Championship. He missed five consecutive cuts leading up to the approaching Open Championship.
"My confidence in myself has not taken a hammering at all," Harrington said. "I'm still very upbeat and very focused on what I'm doing, and very positive and optimistic. But yes, my confidence on the golf course, when I'm out there playing, has not been the best. But when I'm off the golf course, and I'm thinking about it and I'm working on it, I'm in good spirits.
"But definitely, on the golf course, I can do with positive results and feedback."
But bookies know better to give Harrington very long odds this year.
Harrington left Ireland bookmaker Paddy Power on the wrong side of a €5 million payout in 2007.
Ireland's favourite golfer had Open Championship betting odds of 33/1 and 25/1 before the tournament began last year. One Paddy Power punter placed a €5,000 at 25/1 returning a massive €130,000.
A full menu of Open Championship Betting Odds can be found at Gambling911.com endorsed Sportingbet.com Here
U.S. gamblers can find Padraig Harrington Open Championship betting odds at BetUS.com
Alistair Prescott, Gambling911.com
