Closing birdie saves Mickelson

Golf Betting Lines

07/16/2010 - St. Andrews, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With the wind picking up, the cut line will likely climb through Friday afternoon, and possibly into Saturday morning, at the British Open.

Phil Mickelson birdied the 18th hole Friday to post a one-under 71, which got him back to even-par for the championship.

He was lucky enough to finish his round before the wind really started blowing. Not long after Mickelson completed his round, play was suspended by high wind as golf balls were getting moved around on greens by the wind.

This is the first suspension due to high winds since the 1998 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Mickelson had an inconsistent round with an eagle, three birdies and four bogeys, but his closing birdie all but guaranteed his spot in the field for the final two rounds.

"I've got to play better. I've got to go out and make some birdies tomorrow," Mickelson stated. "I also need some conditions to be able to do it and a little bit of luck for it to turn."

The Masters champion walked off the 18th green on the Old Course at St. Andrews tied for 68th place with the top 70 and ties slated for the weekend.

Mickelson opened his round with a birdie on the third. After a par on four, he rolled in an eagle putt at the par-five fifth to move to minus-two.

However, Mickelson saw his par-saving putt on the sixth lip out. He parred the next two holes, before converting a 15-footer for birdie on the ninth to turn in two-under.

On the back nine, Mickelson fought both the wind and his swing. He hit several drives out to the left and it cost him on the 12th. His drive stopped in high rough and behind some bleachers.

Mickelson chipped sideways, then pitched his third to about 30 feet. He two- putted for bogey. At the par-five 14th, Mickelson's par putt lipped out and that dropped him back to even-par for the championship.

After a pair of pars, Mickelson found the left rough off the tee at the Road Hole, No. 17. He was unable to reach the green with his second and walked off with another bogey that dropped him to plus-one overall.

Mickelson drove left of the 18th green and played his second to 10 feet. He rolled that in for a closing birdie to get back to minus-one for the day.

"I'm going to need some luck, I didn't play well these first two days," said Mickelson. "I have to go out tomorrow and have prefect conditions and play a great round, and then I need it to blow like this in the afternoon. I need some luck."

Mickelson has made the cut in 13 of his first 16 British Open appearances, but has just one top-10 finish in those 13 Opens. He took third in 2004 and his second-best finish came on the Old Course in 2000. Mickelson shared 11th that year, but he was 12 strokes behind Tiger Woods.

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Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup

September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com.  The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans. 

Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to  name a  few.  Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR.  They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.

The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer.  Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your golf sportsbook needs.

Ryder Cup Odds

Europe
Tie
USA
4-5
10-1
6-5


Ryder Cup Top US point scorer
Tiger Woods
Jim Furyk
Phil Mickelson
Chris DiMarco
David Toms
Stewart Cink
Chad Campbell
Scott Verplank
Zach Johnson
Vaughan Taylor
JJ Henry
Brett Wetterich
9-4
4-1
5-1
7-1
8-1
12-1
15-1
15-1
25-1
30-1
30-1
50-1


Ryder Cup Top European scorer
Sergio Garcia
Luke Donald
Padraig Harrington
Colin Montgomerie
Darren Clarke
David Howell
Lee Westwood
Paul Casey
Henrik Stenson
Jose Maria Olazabal
Paul McGinley
Robert Karlsson
5-1
5-1
6-1
13-2
8-1
9-1
9-1
11-1
12-1
12-1
20-1
25-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com