Golf fans will have to get up before the sunrise to catch early-round action this week, as the world's best head east for the British Open starting on Thursday. That means getting your golf betting action in the night before or risk losing out.

The Open returns to Royal Birkdale Golf Club for the first time since 1998, but how the field will do against the usually windy conditions won't be the talk of the tournament during the first round; it will more likely be about how the field will do without Tiger Woods around.

Anyone searching for their first Major win, or even those who have Majors on their resume, better take advantage of this year's Open, because it's likely the one and only time they'll get to play without having to worry about Tiger.

Royal Birkdale has hosted the Open Championship eight times previously, with Mark O'Meara being its last champion in 1998. O'Meara shot even-par over 72 holes to tie Brian Watts and go to a four-hole playoff.

O'Meara would go on to defeat Watts by two strokes. O'Meara is no longer considered a Major threat, and Watts' name hasn't been uttered since, so the top finishers from '98 that could also contend this year are Jim Furyk and Justin Rose (who tied for fourth at two-over par).

It's also important to note that Rose was still an amateur at the time. At 's British Open odds list, Furyk is a +2200 underdog, while Rose is listed at +2000.

The reigning Open champ is Padraig Harrington, who defeated Sergio Garcia in a playoff at Carnoustie last year. That was Harrington's first Major win, and he's a +1400 underdog to repeat as champion. Garcia, despite his inability to close it out last year and win his first Major at Carnoustie, is the overall favorite at BetUS this year at +900.

Other top favorites at include former Open champion Ernie Els at +1200, Phil Mickelson at +1400, and Lee Westwood, who has parlayed his impressive finish at the U.S. Open into +1400 odds.

Get the latest British Open odds and lines on all kinds of international golf events by clicking here.