Trolling In Troon Brits Put Their Money On Woods To Reel In Open

Tiger Woods, the 21-year-old golf wunderkind, is raising the hallowed British Open, British golf and even British fandom to a level never before dreamed of on these sedate stories.

“This is Tigermania time at the Open … and the west coast of Scotland had better be ready,” proclaimed the Express newspaper as golf fans prepared for Thursday’s opening round of the British Open, being played this year at Royal Troon in often windy and rainy northwest Scotland.

“For when Tiger Woods shows why he is the hottest ticket in Troon, the world of golf will be waiting to discover if the face of the game’s greatest championship will be changed forever.”

Like Elvis before him, Woods has his own British fan clubs.

“Whatever the outcome, the happy fact is that the winner is assured of a roaring acclaim that will include more teenage whoops and squeals than any other Open championship in history,” opined the Observer newspaper. “Not quite the Spice Girls maybe, but the grand old game is showing signs of starting to get there.”

Thousands of Woods’ fans will, in fact, be on the course at Royal Troon because the club decided six months ago to admit anyone under the age of 18 free of charge. That stroke of foresight may, in hindsight, prove to be a bit of both genius and madness.

“Irresistible Tiger bait lures the young ones,” is the way the Observer viewed Woods’ impact on this year’s tournament.

Woods was expected to arrive in Britain from Spain by today, in time for two practice rounds at Royal Troon before the tourney begins.

If Woods is around for all four days of the tournament, the British Open record of 208,608 fans is expected to crumble.

Woods will not get the armed guard he asked for, but he will be protected by four marshals and two police officers, one man and one woman, when he’s on or near the course.

A leading 6-1 favorite to win the 126th British Open, Woods has transformed golf betting in a country where pub-crawling and gambling compete as the most popular leisure-time activities.

If Woods is in contention the last two rounds, legal betting on the Open is expected to reached $17 million, double the normal amount, according to Ladbroke’s bookmakers.

Even the newspapers are betting on Woods.

The Sunday Mirror bet $850 on him at 150-1 odds and offered the potential winnings, almost $130,000, to a lucky reader. To enter readers must simply call and say which major tournament Woods won earlier this year. That’s like Groucho Marx asking “Who’s buried in Grant’s tomb?”

But Woods must not only win the tournament, he must also shoot one round of under 60 for a fan to win the jackpot. The course record, shot by Greg Norman in 1989, is 64, so the newspaper is playing it safe.

The News of The World is offering 50 videos of Woods’ Masters triumph this year to fans who know his age.

A VIP trip to the Open is being offered by the Sunday Mail newspaper to fans who can name the dates of this year’s tournament.

Gordon Sherry, Britain’s hot amateur counterpart to Woods only two years ago but now slumping in golf’s minor leagues, said, “I hardly ever watch golf on the television, but I make an exception when Tiger is playing. I’m just like everyone else. I think he’s such an exciting player. Good luck to him and if I see him at Troon, I’ll shake his hand and say well done.”

As an amateur, Woods has played four seaside links courses, including two British Opens. His detractors say if he falters it will be because of the weather and the nature of the course itself that favors accuracy over length.

The British love to quote Troon’s motto: “Tam arte quam marte,” which is Latin for “as much by skill as by strength.”

Days before Woods got a whiff of Britain’s erratic weather, the British press followed him to Valderrama, Spain, where he practiced on the course where U.S. and European teams will tangle for the Ryder Cup in September.

When Woods’ name isn’t in the headline of a golf story, which is rare, his face fills a page.

“Name that Troon” said the Sunday Mirror, which believes Tiger has fixed the “evil eye” on everyone else who wants to win the “ugly urn” that goes with the British Open championship.

If Woods is complacent, let him be warned by the Guardian, which published its “Troon tales to terrify a Tiger.”

A photo of Woods in full swing graces the cover of its supplement on the Open, but the Times of London goes on to tell the world, “Why Woods will fail to take root at Troon.”

“Of course if Woods does win,” the Times concedes, “it will be the greatest day in golf” since Woods’ Masters victory.