Watson - tough task to make the cut.

By David John

Sky Bet's Odds Compare All Prices

BETTING BOX
FIXED ODDS
	2pts Steve Stricker to beat Martin Kaymer over 72 holes at 20/21 (Boylesports).	German not firing at the moment and in-form Stricker to come out on top.
	2pts Tom Watson to miss the cut at evens (sportingbet).	All on to repeat last year's efforts and it could be an early bath.
	2pts Tom Watson to shoot over 74 in round one at evens (bet365).	Has some nasty conditions to deal with and could run up a big number.

With a pretty evil forecast for Open week, it looks like a no-thrills approach could be the route to glory at St Andrews.

First up is Steve Stricker at 20/21 with Boylesports to beat Martin Kaymer over 72 holes.

Stricker has won twice this season on the PGA Tour, the latest coming last week after he shot the lights out to beat Paul Goydos by two shots at the John Deere Classic.

This will be a vastly different test for Stricker but he has been able to adapt his accurate tee-to-green game and dynamite putting to links golf and currently has a record of two top-10s and just two missed cuts from 10 Open bids to date.

Kaymer has made both of his cuts at the Open and he is a player I have a lot of time for.

But the impression you get from his game over the last couple of months - and he admits it himself - is that he is not quite as sharp as he would like.

The weather this week will take no prisoners and any flaws will be exposed and I just get the feeling that Kaymer could find the going very tough so Stricker gets the thumbs up.

Second bet of the week is perhaps a bit cruel towards the sentimentalists but Tom Watson to miss the cut at even money is an attractive price.

It is another year on from his near miss at Turnberry and another stern test for the 60-year-old which will not be aided by the brutal forecast over the first two days.

Conditions are not going to assist his shaky short-range putting while the 7300+ yards that he faces around a revamped Old Course might just be too much for the five-time Open champion.

The public at large will be expecting him to repeat his heroics from last year but I have a feeling those adoring fans will be left disappointed this time around.

Rain and strong winds are forecast to greet him when he goes out Thursday morning and he may just find himself out of the tournament after round one.

Back Watson to be missing from the action at the weekend and also open with more than a 74 at even money with bet365.