“It’s a massive change” says Padraig Harrington,two times defender of THE OPEN.The irishman won at Carnoustie in 2007 in a playoff against Sergio Garcia and last year at Royal Birkdale by 4 shots over Ian Poulter. Is he up to the hat-trick? It doesn’t look good for Padraig wo has been going through some changes on his swing with dubious results.However he knows perfectly how to play on links courses and he is a fierce competitor,don’t count him out just yet.

To play on a seaside english links course is a tremendous change for the players,specially for those who compete all year on the PGA TOUR. We have seen in the last few tournaments in theU.S. players shooting at the pins and try to overpower the courses and the elements, it will be totally different at Turnberry where they have to adapt to the natural terrain and the cross winds.Those who do not adjust will fail.

Tiger Woods,who missed THE OPEN last year after the knee surgery,is very much aware of what he has to do:”Ijust fell in love to being able to use the ground as a friend,as an ally...”,his three victories ,two at St Andrews(2000, 2005)and in 2006 at Royal Liverpool prove it. He just won the at&t National,his own tournament,two weeks ago showing that his game is at a high level and must be hungry for another Major as he came short at The Masters and the U.S. Open,watch out !

Tiger tees off Thursday at 9.09am local time with english contender Lee Westwood and 17 years old sensation Ryo Ishikawa from Japan.

Two times defending Champion Padraig Harrington starts at 2.20pm in company of U.S.’ Jim Furyk and Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy,a group to watch closely as the three of them have an eye set on the famous Claret Jug, the trophy crafted in 1873.

I hope we’ll have a lot of fun watching THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP at Turnberry, Scotland and you can have even more backing your favorite players at Bet Phoenix.com Sporsbook.

Check the odds and the betting lines,good luck !!