Written by Mark  Janes

Apart from the Ryder Cup The Open has to be my 2nd favourite golf event to watch, sorry to say I can't make it to St.Andrews this year, way too much going on at the academy!  So like  a lot of keen golfers I'll be cheering on the British/European players to victory on TV, in the what should be a very closely contested 150th Anniversary Open Championship.

A huge amount of the talk going into the championship has been about the changes to the "Road Hole", so it will be fascinating to see how the worlds best golfers deal with the extra 40 yards that will make this hole even more of a testing challenge.  Opinion seems divided between those who believe it was tough enough as it was and those who are relishing the challenge of having to hit driver to give themselves a chance of hitting the right club into what is an incredibly demanding green.  I guess if you hit the ball miles and take a mix of 3's and 4's over the championship, then just like Simon Kkan with the new greens at Wentworth, you won't be complaining too much about the changes!

As for me helping you choose a winner, well don't put your house on it (i certainly won't be) but here goes for some sound advice from the Team at MJGA!

Mark's Top Tips - I'm going English, as unlike the football we are dominating golf currently and a Major has to be the next step!

Westwood to win - Poulter each way and for a long shot a sneaky couple of quid on Jimenez  for a Spanish treble!! Football, Wimbledon and Golf!

Ian's Top Tips -Mcilroy to win and Harrington each way!

Oli's Top Tips -  Rose to win and Poulter each way!

Will also be interesting to see how the crowds react to Tiger, from what I have heard he got quite a frosty reception on the first tee of the practice round.  But hey, make a couple of birdies and I'm sure the crowds will start to get behind him, maybe not quite like the galleries in the USA, but the crowds at The Open have a wealth of golfing knowledge and respect good golf!