Sure thing: RORY MCILROY TO WIN THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
The young Irishman is quite something. Since he turned pro, he’s finished inside the top 20 in all four major golf championships and has been on a winning Ryder Cup team. However, after his complete capitulation at this year’s Masters, those in the know (and myself) questioned his mental strength in a sport where you are fighting lone battles. Yet he defied everyone with an absolutely incredible victory in the US Open earlier this month, scoring under par in all 4 rounds and winning the tournament by 8 strokes. The runaway leader from the very start, to say he taught the rest of the field a lesson does him a disservice. So there’s no reason why he can’t repeat the job closer to home at Royal St George’s. He is bookies’ favourite and with good reason, as the 22-year-old’s technique is truly remarkable.
Tipster’s odds: 6/1
Long shot: ARSENAL TO BOLSTER THEIR DEFENCE WITH GARY CAHILL AND CHRIS SAMBA
Without Thomas Vermaelen, Arsenal’s defence are a spineless entity which crumble under pressure. Wenger has made advances on two top Premier League centre backs, England 3rd choice Gary Cahill from Bolton – still young, solid, composed and very highly rated – and Blackburn Rovers talisman and all round brick outhouse Chris Samba, who will instil some much-needed fight into the squad. However Shiekh Mansour at Manchester City is also after Cahill, while the chicken farmers at Ewood Park have expressed confidence in Samba staying, so Wenger has a fight on his hands. That, and his tendency for playing decidedly ropey 30-plus-year-olds and gormless home-grown ‘talents’ (see Sebastien Squillaci and Emmanuel Eboué). Waiter, charge that cocktail to Mr Mansour’s bill, thanks.
Tipster’s odds: 9/1
Absolute madness: ENGLAND’S CRICKETERS TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED FOR THE VISIT OF INDIA
Yes, Andrew Strauss’s men beat Sri Lanka in the recent test series. Yet two of the matches were drawn and at the end of last week they were absolutely trounced by the same opponents in a 20/20 international. Once the Sri Lanka series finishes, the imminent visit of the best test side in the world and world champions as of this year will see 4 test matches, a 20/20 game and 5 ODIs. Yes, England are a good side, but we are patchy on home soil and have not set the world alight this summer so far. India have some of the best players in the world; Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan and the maestro Tendulkar. The only crumb of comfort is India’s dislike of English conditions, with our greener, fresher wickets; but the likelihood of seeing them go unbeaten for the whole visit is about as likely as me reducing my household staff any time soon.
Tipster’s odds: 25/1