Interest wanes without Woods

Something is missing from the British Open, and it's not tall weeds or the threat of foul weather. Obviously, it's Tiger Woods.

The season's third major golf tournament has a minor league feel to it without Woods in the field.

Believe it or not, Sergio Garcia is the favorite to win the Open, which begins Thursday at the Royal Birkdale course in Lancashire, England. Garcia has not won a major.

But subtract Woods from the equation, and this week's tournament is wide open. The odds board is topped by Garcia at 10-1, with Ernie Els and Lee Westwood both at 15-1.

"It's hard to create interest without Tiger playing," said Las Vegas Hilton golf oddsmaker Jeff Sherman, who expects bettors to mostly ignore an event attracting little hype.

"I'm not seeing that much action right now. It's pretty slow. I'm expecting the handle is going to be about half of what we did on the U.S. Open."

Woods had season-ending left knee surgery in June, one week after he defeated Rocco Mediate in a playoff to win the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego. Mediate was a late qualifier for the British Open, and he's included as a field bet at 3-1 odds.

Garcia, who won The Players Championship in May, lost a playoff against Padraig Harrington in last year's British Open.

Harrington is bothered by a sore right wrist, raising doubts about his ability to play and causing Sherman to drop Harrington's odds from 20-1 to 30-1.

Other players expected to be in contention are Phil Mickelson and Justin Rose, both at 20-1 odds, former UNLV standout Adam Scott (25-1) and Masters champion Trevor Immelman (50-1).

But betting on any one player to win is a guessing game. The Hilton also has posted 20 proposition wagers and 40 matchups -- with Garcia a minus-130 favorite in a matchup against Els.