Women's British Open: golf betting preview, predictions and free tips

TV: Sky Sports Golf, 11am Thursday

It would be wonderful if a British, Irish or European golfer could follow up Shane Lowry’s brilliance in the men’s version by emulating last year’s heroine Georgia Hall in the Women’s British Open at Woburn.

Wonderful but unlikely, however, when you look at how the Europeans fared with home advantage in last week’s Evian Championship, won decisively by yet another South Korean superstar, Jin Young Ko.

Spaniard Carlota Ciganda did best in tenth place, followed by Swede Caroline Hedwall in 17th. Pick of the Brits was Bronte Law in 22nd, Charley Hull was 30th, Mel Reid and Hall shared 37th. None of the other Europeans finished in the top fifty.

With the Solheim Cup in Gleneagles just six weeks away, it was hardly a ringing endorsement for Europe’s prospects of regaining the trophy they last won in 2013.

Maybe the picture will look a whole lot rosier on the Marquess course at Woburn this week - but don't hold your breath.

When the Open was last there in 2016, the only European in the top ten was fifth-placed Catriona Matthew, this year’s Solheim Cup captain.

Charley Hull is fit and flying

On the plus side, it is Hull’s home club and she is oozing confidence after losing 20lb in a diet and exercise blitz supervised by her fiance, MMA super-welterweight champion Ozzie Smith.

She claims this is a very different Hull from the one who finished 17th at Woburn last time and although she has posted only one big LPGA finish this year - fourth at the Mediheal - she performed well in two Majors, 12th in The Inspiration, 16th at the US Open.

With huge home support, Hull can grab a place at 66-1 in an all-star field featuring all the world’s top 30 but it is harder to be enthusiastic about Hall who won at Lytham at 80-1.

The fact that she’s at three-figure odds this time tells you all you need to know. Sadly, she has really struggled in the States to live up to that life-changing achievement.

On their best American form Law, an impressive winner in Virginia, and Reid, third in the PGA, have a squeak but the compelling credentials of Evian winner Ko and Ariya Jutanugarn, champion at Woburn last time, are hard to argue with.

Although only 24 and 23, they’ve won 26 tournaments and four Majors between them.

Ko has already bagged two Majors this year on top of the Founders Cup to earn top spot on the rankings. Just 20 when she finished runner-up to the great Inbee Park in the 2015 Open at Turnberry, she has won 11 times since.

Thai star Jutanugarn dotted up by three at Woburn in 2016. Her length enabled her to use irons where taking driver was asking for trouble. Winless since the Scottish Open last July, her 64-68 weekend for fifth place in France was a timely confidence-builder.

American rookie Jennifer Kupcho, 22 and world top amateur for 34 weeks, putted like a dream in dreadful weather when sharing second behind Ko at Evian and will pay to follow.

Long-hitting Sung Hyun Park, Brooke Henderson, Lexi Thompson (despite missing the cut in France) and Aliya’s sister Moriya will all be tough nuts to crack.

Recommendations
J Young Ko
2pts each-way 10-1 Sky Bet
Bet on Jin Young Ko with bet365 here
A Jutanugarn
1.5pts each-way 11-1 Sky Bet
C Hull
1pt each-way 66-1 BoyleSports, Sky Bet
J Kupcho
0.5pt each-way 66-1 Betfair, Paddy Power, Sky Bet
B Law
0.5pt each-way 80-1 Betfair, Paddy Power, Sky Bet

Woburn course guide

Course Woburn Golf & Country Club (Marquess course), Little Brickhill, Buckinghamshire
Prize money $3.25m ($675,000 to the winner)
Length 6,585 yards Par 72 Field 144
When to bet By 6.30am tomorrow
Where to watch On Sky Sports Golf from 11am tomorrow

Latest form - Evian Championship 1 J Y Ko, T2 S Feng, H-J Kim, J Kupcho, 5 A Jutanugarn
Course form - 2016 Open 1 A Jutanugarn, T2 M Lee, M Martin, 4 S Lewis, T5 K Webb, C Matthew

Course overview Opened in 2000, the Marquess (named in honour of the Marquess of Tavistock) is the youngest of the three Woburn courses. It is where the British Masters was played in 2001-2 and again, with Ian Poulter, Woburn’s tournament pro, as host in 2015. The Marquess hosted its first Major the following year when Ariya Jutanugarn took the Women’s Open trophy back to Thailand. Framed by tall pines in a woodland setting, it’s a handsome course and a fair test.

Weather forecast Rainy spells on Thursday and Sunday. Dry on Friday and Saturday. Temperatures around 23C. Little wind.

Type of player best suited A good all-rounder. Last time a big hitter, Jutanugarn, won (but often kept the driver in the bag) and the shortest hitter in the field, Mo Martin, finished joint-second.

Key attribute Accuracy

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