Daly off to flying start at British Open

Golf Betting Lines

07/15/2010 - St. Andrews, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Daly has played golf all over the world the last few years in search of his form that helped him earn five PGA Tour victories.

Daly came from out of nowhere to win the 1991 PGA Championship and that helped kick start his career. In 1995, he needed extra holes to claim his second major championship title at the British Open.

At St.Andrews in 1995, Costantino Rocca made a miraculous birdie from the Valley of Sin on the 72nd hole to force a playoff with Daly.

Daly birdied the second playoff hole, while Rocca three-putted for bogey. The Italian tried to force a shot close to the hole on 17 and found the Road Hole bunker. Three shots later, Rocca finally was out of the sand, but also out of the championship.

Daly won the playoff by four strokes. It was his second major championship title, but last victory until the 2004 Buick Invitational.

The 44-year-old has made the cut in eight of his 14 worldwide starts this year, yet hasn't finished inside the top-20 all season.

He made one start on the Nationwide Tour, in his home state, and posted his best finish of the year there when he tied for 22nd.

Daly flew out of the gate Thursday at St. Andrews with birdies on one and two. After a birdie on the sixth, he poured in four straight birdie chances from the eighth to jump to seven-under.

He settled in with five pars in a row from the 12th. At the Road Hole, No. 17, Daly hit a huge drive down the fairway off the tee, but missed the green to the right. He pitched to eight feet, but missed on the left edge.

And that was the story of Daly's back nine. He had 12 feet for birdie on 15, but missed. At the 16th, his 10-footer slid by the right edge.

His bogey on 17 dropped him to minus-six and into a share of the lead at the time. Daly's drive at the last was close enough to the green that he was able to putt his second.

That putt got within 10 feet of the hole, but Daly again was unable to covert as his birdie effort at the last lipped out to give him his fourth 66 of the season.

The last time Daly shot 66 at the Open Championship was in 1993, in the second round at Royal St. George's. It also matched his career-low in a major.

Daly also posted a 66 at the 1997 PGA Championship.

With near-perfect scoring conditions early in Thursday's first round, Daly exited the course in second place and on pace for his best finish in a major since sharing 15th at St. Andrews in 2005.

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Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds

Will he or won't he?  Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.

Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.

"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."

Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.

Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.

But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.

Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback.  It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.

Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1


Atlanta Falcons 50-1


Baltimore Ravens 15-1


Buffalo Bills 50-1


Carolina Panthers 18-1


Chicago Bears 10-1


Cincinnati Bengals 15-1


Cleveland Browns 100-1


Dallas Cowboys 15-1


Denver Broncos 15-1


Detroit Lions 100-1


Green Bay Packers 50-1


Houston Texans 100-1


Indianapolis Colts 6-1


Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1


Kansas City Chiefs 30-1


Miami Dolphins 40-1


Minnesota Vikings 75-1


New England Patriots 10-1


New Orleans Saints 18-1


New York Giants 20-1


New York Jets 30-1


Oakland Raiders 100-1


Philadelphia Eagles 18-1


Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1


Saint Louis Rams 60-1


San Diego Chargers 6-1


San Francisco 49ers 75-1


Seattle Seahawks 20-1


Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1


Tennessee Titans 40-1


Washington Redskins 50-1

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