Immelman out to beat the odds

2008-07-16 12:08

England - Trevor Immelman is quoted by the bookmakers at 70-1 for the Open Championship which starts on Thursday. They believe more than 20 players have a better chance of winning it.

And this is despite the South African winning the Masters and donning the green jacket at Augusta only three months ago.

"You can put as much money on me as you want this week," he said, "but don't come back to me if you lose."

The question for anybody thinking of betting on him at what appear to be such good odds for a current champion is whether he has reorganised his game in time for a concentrated, focused effort here at Royal Birkdale.

Explaining his disappointing 65th place at the US Open which followed last month and his indifferent form since Augusta, Immelman admitted his mind had "gone AWOL."

On the one hand he relished the Masters triumph for its own sake and thought to himself that he is now in the record books for all time. A comfort zone. On the other that he must now buckle down, build on it, and try to become one of the greats of the game with further victories.

Could this week be the time for that renewal? The bookmakers clearly don't think so.

Intermediate rough

"I have taken some time to get to grips with my form," Immelman said. "I have recently learned a lot about myself and I am now ready. I am a complicated person. Ever since I was five years old I have thought of golf 24/7" he said. That's 23 years of dedication. And he is of an age now where he has built up lengthy experience in all facets of the game but there is also youth on his side.

That experience includes links golf in cold and blustery weather. Driving well will be critical at Birkdale this week, he says, especially on some partially blind holes from the tee. "Not least because there is no intermediate rough. Miss the fairway and you are in the high stuff."

Some par four holes will also be unreachable, he said, and in the case of the 16th, maybe even the fairway will be out of range.

"This is the most challenging course I have played on. And this wind will surely blow away most of the field. If I can get to the weekend, and if I am in with a chance, that's when I will be comfortable with the situation.

"Whoever wins the Open will be deserving. That's for sure."

- AFP