Golf bets for the Senior Open Championship

Neither Greg Norman or Tom Lehman particularly appeal on their recent efforts. Norman was poor at Turnberry, as he has been on both 2009 Champions Tour starts to date. He too knows Sunningdale well, and is always a threat at this level, but looks well behind Langer's current standard. Lehman is more interesting as he remains competitive on the PGA Tour, but has shown little encouragement over the past fortnight in Scotland. While this pair were struggling in the bad weather, Langer will doubtless have been preparing meticulously as ever and will arrive fresh.   With that pair overlooked, as well as out of form Eduardo Romero, there should be some each-way value amongst the other Champions Tour leading lights. It's fair to say that, Langer aside, these veteran Americans have retained their form better than the likes of Faldo, Woosnam, Lyle or the rest of the European Seniors Tour.   Nobody more so than Roberts, whose three previous cracks at this major produced top-5 finishes, including victory in 2006 at Turnberry. Considering he was never exactly a natural links golfer, that record is extremely impressive and illustrates how well the 'Boss of the Moss' has held his form. Only last week, Loren made the top-25 in the PGA Tour event at Milwaukee, which looks the perfect warm-up.   Haas should also enjoy the move from a links to parkland course, though he too has performed very well in this event, finishing 4th and 6th on his two attempts. Considering Jay's record of two wins and fourteen top-10s in these seniors majors, 16/1 must surely rate a cracking each-way bet about this consistent player.   If there's an obvious danger to that trio, it could be Michael Allen, who won the Seniors PGA on his first Champions Tour outing. That doesn't look like a fluke now that Allen has followed up with consecutive top-15s in PGA Tour events, and if maintaining that form he will take all the beating. My only concern is that, outside of those three events, there's no way he would be even close to the marks of Roberts and Haas.   Seeing as I tipped FRED FUNK last week in that PGA Tour event, where he missed the cut, it stands to reason that I should persevere with him against his fellow seniors. Certainly 25/1 rates a solid each-way bet, as his form at this level strongly suggests he will be bang in contention for at least a place on Sunday.   Likewise, former Masters champion LARRY MIZE showed he still retains his old ability when making the top-30 at Augusta in April, and tends to be extremely consistent at seniors level. He's made the top-10 in all six of his Champions Tour starts since the Masters, suggesting the 33/1 odds on offer this week must represent value at least from a place perspective.