Tom Watson backed at 1000/1 before the Open and 1/10 on the 72nd hole!

Lee Westwood and Ross Fisher also favourites during final round before Stewart Cink triumphs

The 2009 Open Championship will live long in the memory of all who witnessed it. While the headlines during the first couple of days were all about Tiger Woods, the world number one who was a best priced 5/2 (Sporting Bet) to win before the tournament started, it was another American golfing legend who soon took centre stage.

Absolutely nobody gave Tom Watson a chance of getting into contention at Turnberry, despite the 59-year-old's Open victory at the same course in 1977. Over £1500 was matched at odds of 1000/1 on betfair before the action started, and a first-round score of 65 did little to dispel the myth that the five-time Open winer was simply there to make up the numbers, especially after a string of five bogeys during the first half of Round 2 saw the American's odds drift out to 300/1 (bet365).

Nevertheless, while Tiger Woods was crashing out by missing the cut, Watson was managing round two and three totals of 70 and 71 respectively. Going into the final round at Turnberry, bookmakers had the Open as a seven-horse race, with England's Ross Fisher and Lee Westwood operating as favourites. Paddy Power went 4/1 about the former player, whose bright early start saw him matched at odds of 2.2 on betfair. Two birdies at holes 1 and 2 had appeared to have put him in the box seat, although a quadruple bogey eight on hole 5 ended his chances.

For Westwood, it was a more heart-breaking scenario. Ever since the 36-year-old managed three opening birdies on day one, he had been in contention throughout, with Betfred offering 9/2 that the man from Worksop would finally break his major duck. At one stage, the Brit held a two-shot lead, being matched at a low of 4/5 on betfair. However, three dropped shots on the final four holes saw him narrowly miss out on the play-offs.

If this was heart-breaking, then Watson's near miss was gut-wrenching. Going into the final round, he was still available at 8/1 with Expekt, and the eight-time major winner kept hanging in there when all others around him were fading. Going on to the final hole, this legendary player simply needed par to produce one of the biggest upsets in sporting history, and it appeared he was in control of his own destiny after finding the fairway. At this stage, he was matched at odds of 1/10 (betfair), although an over-hit second shot saw him take another three strokes to get down and the rest was history. Stewart Cink was a 16/1 chance (Bet Fred) going into the final day, although some shrewd punters had landed the American at odds of 320/1 (betfair).

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Tags: 138Th Open Championship,  2009 Open Championship,  2009 Open Championship Betting,  Golf,  Golf Betting,  Lee Westwood,  Ross Fisher,  Stewart Cink,  Tom Watson