McIlroy hot favourite to follow-up US romp

Sports Betting: RORY McIlroy’s awesome performance in winning the US Open has sent the bookmakers running for cover.



The Northern Ireland sensation was simply unstoppable in racing to his first major victory so soon after his Masters meltdown at Augusta.



And the odds-layers reckon he is the man to beat in our Open Championship at Royal St George’s next month.



Rory is a top-priced 6-1 to win a second successive major and build on the brilliance of his exploits in America.



Lee Westwood might not have hit the bar in quite the same fashion as in previous majors, but he was in the frame again and it is no surprise to see the Worksop star cut to 10-1 for Open Championship glory.



Tiger Woods missed last weekend’s tournament because of injury and even if he is fit enough to travel to England, lack of form, tournament practice and a shortage of confidence combine to make current Open odds of 14-1 simply ridiculous.



He should not be the same price as the in-form Luke Donald and bigger threats will surely be posed by the likes of Martin Kaymer (20-1) and Graeme McDowell (28-1).



That said, the Open is all about McIlroy and the media attention on him will be huge.



Much is clearly expected of him and it is no surprise to see the bookies cut his odds on ending the season as world number one to 3-1.



Longer term, he is 4-7 not to win another major before 2013 and that's a price I would rather lay than back.





    



ANDY Murray is at the top of his game at present, but the British tennis star is rated a 6-1 shot to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon.







I can’t see him being good enough to conquer the big guns and would much rather back the brilliant Novak Djokovic at 15-4.



Roger Federer (11-5) and Rafael Nadal (9-4) have dominated the event in recent years and, not surprisingly, head the market, but I believe this could be the year of Australian Open champion Djokovic, who impressed in his straight-sets victory yesterday.



Maria Sharapova, the pin-up of the women's tennis scene, is 9-2 favourite to win the women’s crown, with the tearful Serna Williams at 19-4, Venus Williams 8-1 and Na Li and Petra Kvitova at nines.





    



RECOMMENDATION: Novak Djokovic to win Wimbledon men's singles title, 15-4 (Blue Square).