Never mind another major golf championship without Tiger Woods - Rory McIlroy has sauntered into Sandwich comfortable in his role as favourite for this week's British Open at Royal St. George's.
Even before his runaway win at the U.S. Open last month the 22 year old Northern Irishman was one of the hottest tickets in town but after that start-to-finish exhibition his ratings have gone into the stratosphere.
Two punters have wagered 20-thousand pounds on McIlroy to win the Open at odds of 8 to 1.
McIlroy says he felt a huge weight lifted from his shoulders after winning the US Open, and his first competitive round since then will be round one at the Open tomorrow night.
