The 2008 Open Championship gets under way on Thursday where Spain’s Sergio Garcia heads the betting with totesport.

Garcia’s favouritism comes through a combination of Tiger Wood’s absence and some hot form in 2008 but at single figure odds it could be argued there’s greater value to be found elsewhere.

Surprisingly, the man that beat Garcia in Carnoustie play-off to win last year’s title – Padraig Harrington – is six points bigger in the betting.

The Irishman is a natural links player and with a schedule that is totally geared around the season’s Majors it could be argued that he is even better prepared than he was last year.

His Major focus was rewarded with a 5th at the Masters but 36th at the US Open was poor by his high standards. However, that mid table finish at Torrey Pines was achieved despite two rounds of 78 and 77.

At Royal Birkdale it will be a different story – a course exposed to the Irish Sea – that will play to the Dubliner´s strengths. If the wind gets up he will relish the challenge more than most.

With Tiger on a rest-of-season convalescence it provides an ideal opportunity for the rest of the sport’s big guns to grab some limelight.

Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh would all have won more Majors but for Tiger, however, we fancy young Englishman Justin Rose to go closer.

Rose is a genuine world class contender these days having claimed the 2007 European Order of Merit.

He memorably finished fourth at Birkdale when playing as an amateur and is ten times the player now. At odds of 25/1 he could be one of the bets of the summer.

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