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Sergio Garcia had the second shortest odds of anyone appearing in this week's Open Championship golf tournament after Tiger Woods.
At Sportingbet.com, Garcia was offering a payout of US$1800 for every US$100 bet.
The problem is he's never won a Major. "Close but no cigar" applies here as he's finished second on three occasions. Could this finally be Sergio Garcia's Major to win?
This will be his 41st attempt at ending the drought.
"Usually they say that the prime of a golfer is somewhere between 28 and 35," he says. "But I don't know. I can't read the future. I hope that in the next five years I win not one major but more than one. That would be great, hopefully starting this year, hopefully starting here. The only thing I can do is work hard and try and give myself the best opportunity."
In assessing this week's Open Championship course, Sergio felt relatively confident of his chances.
"I don't think it is one of the toughest Open courses we play. It is definitely a good course, but there are tougher courses that we play at The Open. I remember we had really bad weather in 1996. That's the thing I remember, as well as not playing very well. I did not even make the match-play.
"I already had a little bit of Scottish links golf experience. I have played links golf courses since I was 12 or 13. We came here a lot with the Spanish national team and we played a lot of British boys. Fortunately for me I have had the chance to play a lot of links courses."
The oddsmakers are fairly confident of Garcia's chances, giving him shorter odds than Padraig Harrington, who has won two straight years.
"There are a lot of good players out there who can win it. It's all about being out there and performing and doing what you know you can do, and giving yourself a chance on the Sunday," Garcia said.
More 2009 Open Championship betting odds appear below courtesy of Sportingbet.com (please note that Sportingbet does not accept US customers at this time). US gamblers wanting to bet on the 2009 Open Championship can do so at Sportsinteraction.com
Tiger Woods
+200 - pays US$200 for every US$100 bet
Sergio Garcia
+1800
Ian Poulter
+2500 - Pays US$2500 for every US$100 bet
Jim Furyk
+2500
Lee Westwood
+2500
Paul Casey
+2500
Rory McIlroy
+2500
Anthony Kim
+2800
Ernie Els
+2800
Henrik Stenson
+3300
Kenny Perry
+3300
Martin Kaymer
+3300
Padraig Harrington
+3300 - pays US$3300 for every US$100 bet
Retief Goosen
+3300
Ross Fisher
+3300
Adam Scott
+4000
US gamblers wanting to bet on the 2009 Open Championship can do so at Sportsinteraction.com
