Open Championship Acquires Mickelson Against Title

Golf Betting Lines

He collected four birdies in a five-hole span around the turn, then birdied the last to get in at minus-20.

 

Flanagan made his move up the leaderboard with a tournament-record-tying seven consecutive birdies from the second. He birdied the par-three 15th to get into first place.

 

Jaco Van Zyl (63), Justin Bolli (66) and Ricky Barnes (69) are knotted in sixth place at 18-under-par 198.

 

Hoylake, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tiger Woods successfully defended his British Open Championship title on Sunday with a two-shot victory at Royal Liverpool. The No. 1 player in the world was threatened by Chris DiMarco on the back nine, but three consecutive birdies from the 14th allowed Woods to shoot a final-round, five-under 67. Woods finished the event at 18-under-par 270.

 

This was Woods' third British Open title and first at a venue other than St. Andrews. It was his 11th major championship to tie Walter Hagen for second all-time in professional majors. This marked Woods first major title since last year's British Open and the win was his third this season on the PGA Tour.

 

DiMarco, who lost to Woods in a playoff at the 2005 Masters, shot a four-under 68 to take second place at 16-under-par 272. Ernie Els, the 2002 British Open champion, posted a one-under 71 and finished alone in third place at 13-under- par 275.

 

Sergio Garcia, who was trying for his first major in the final group with Woods, struggled again on Sunday. He posted a two-over-par 73 and tied for fifth place with Hideto Tanihara, who shot a 71 in the final round. The pair came in at 11-under-par 277.

 

"It's a shame," said Garcia. "That's the way it goes sometimes. I definitely didn't play the way I should have scored today. I hit a lot of good shots that were just on the wrong side."

 

"Nothing seemed to go my way," said Garcia. "I'm not disappointed. I felt like I played the way I wanted. I hit three or four bad ones. I felt calm today. I probably felt the best I've ever felt at a major putting."

 

Garcia can take solace in the fact that his next chance at a major trophy comes at a familiar location. Next month's PGA Championship will be staged at Medinah, where Garcia held his coming out party.

 

PHIL'S FINAL ROUND

Jazzspoets Golf Betting Blog

<< Weekley Open Edge Edge In U.s.

<< Woods Leaves Dimarco Down Friday

<< Bodog Music With Golf Television

<< Talking Rock For More Affordable Product Immelman

<< Sea Trail Adds Canadian Mountain Experience At Tequilas

Sunday Joins Average Over World >>

Champion Open Crush Crush Into Thoughts >>

Birdie Putt Feet Highlight Highlight Down Birdies >>

Roberts Adds Wilkinson At Throwing Darts >>

Birdie For Woods Bogeyed >>

Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.