Woods still the man to beat at The Open

As usual, Tiger Woods tops the betting for another Major as the world's best prepare for the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, the first time it has been staged there since 1967.

On that occasion, Roberto de Vicenzo of Argentina won the title and there is sure to be some money for the Argentine of the moment, Angel Cabrera, making it a South American double.

However, most of the money in the run-up to the event has been for Tiger and with the world No 1 seemingly back on track after nine and a half weeks off, following the death of his father, it's not hard to see why.

Woods has won the Open twice and though both were at St Andrews, which is a course made for him, he is a danger every time he tees it up and even more so this week. With no wind forecast for the first few days, the scoring is set to be spectacular. The ball is going a mile on the firm fairways, which puts the emphasis on approach play and putting, and we all know that Tiger is as good a clutch putter as anyone.

The world No 1 was on offer at 6/1 (7.00) at one stage but bet365 make him 9/2 (5.50) to win it for a third time.

Phil Mickelson is 10/1 (11.00) second favourite and Lefty is sure to be well supported having won two of the last three Majors, taking the title at the US PGA and Masters and only missing out on the US Open after a final-hole meltdown. Mickelson's game is not naturally suited to links golf but he has been preparing for it meticulously and cannot be discounted.

Ernie Els and Vijay Singh, both 16/1 (17.00) chances, have been well tipped, while Retief Goosen and Padraig Harrington, both 20/1 (21.00) shots, will fancy their chances.

Europeans have not won a Major since Paul Lawrie coped best with Carnoustie in 1999 but there is a strong European contingent trying to break the trend. Sergio Garcia has been in the top 10 at the Open in four of the past five years, and is 33/1 (34.00) while several others are shorter prices for glory.

Colin Montgomerie, second to Woods last year at St Andrews, is 25/1 (26.00) while Englishman Luke Donald is 22/1 (23.00) and Darren Clarke, who has an excellent Open record, is 28/1 (29.00).

Paul Casey and Thomas Bjorn, both 40/1 (41.00) have their chances, while Jose Maria Olazabal, third last year, is 50/1 (51.00), as is Cabrera and the US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy.

Bet365 offer a whole host of other markets on the Open and one that could be popular is Yesterday's men, which features eight former champions - Tom Lehman, Ben Curtis, Bernhard Langer, Paul Lawrie, David Duval, Mark O'Meara and Todd Hamilton.

Lehman is the favourite but don't be surprised if Hamilton has a good week. Tenth in the John Deere Classic last week, he won the Open in similar conditions in 2004 and looks the value at 10/1 (11.00), with a third odds each-way the first two.