British Open 2024: Betting odds, picks, perception for Royal Troon

We’re lower than 24 hours from the start of The Open Championship, maybe probably the most unpredictable main of all of them. It additionally occurs to be the ultimate main of the season, after the PGA Championship shifted from August to Could in 2019.

As such, this marks the final occasion that each PGA Tour and LIV Golf gamers will compete side-by-side till Augusta Nationwide—until an settlement between the 2 sides involves fruition earlier than then. It may occur, however all concerned nonetheless have loads extra to work out. But, in his pre-Open Championship press convention on Tuesday, Tiger Woods famous that progress between the tour and the Saudi Public Funding Fund (PIF)—LIV Golf’s beneficiary—continues to be made.

Nonetheless, this 12 months’s Open at Royal Troon includes a sturdy discipline once more. Hopefully, that leads golf followers to see some drama—a lot in contrast to final 12 months, when Brian Harman ran away from the sphere and gained by six. However no one noticed Harman doing what he did final 12 months. Nor did anybody envision Henrik Stenson decimating Royal Troon in 2016, taking pictures 20-under par to defeat Phil Mickelson by three in among the best duels ever. I don’t assume anybody predicted Todd Hamilton successful in a playoff over Ernie Els at Troon in 2004, both.

Photograph by Invoice Murray/Getty Pictures

The Open Championship Odds:

Listed below are the newest odds for gamers to win the 2024 Open Championship, courtesy of DraftKings:

Scottie Scheffler +450

Rory McIlroy +850

Xander Schauffele +1100

Ludvig Åberg +1600

Collin Morikawa +1600

Bryson DeChambeau +1800

Tommy Fleetwood +2200

Jon Rahm +2500

Tyrrell Hatton +2800

Viktor Hovland +3000

Brooks Koepka +3000

Shane Lowry +4000

Robert MacIntyre +4000

Patrick Cantlay +4000

Tony Finau +4500

Tom Kim +4500

Hideki Matsuyama +4500

Cameron Smith +4500

Joaquin Niemann +5500

Wyndham Clark +6000

Sahith Theegala +6000

Matt Fitzpatrick +6000

Louis Oosthuizen +6000

Jordan Spieth +6000

Corey Conners +6000

Cameron Younger +600

Sungjae Im +6500

Brian Harman +6500

Adam Scott +6500

Aaron Rai +6500

Justin Thomas +7000

Min Woo Lee +7500

Alex Noren +9000

Akshay Bhatia +9000

Si Woo Kim +10000

Sepp Straka +10000

Jason Day +10000

Davis Thompson +10000

Sam Burns +11000

Russell Henley +11000

Max Homa +11000

Photograph by Oisin Keniry/R&A by way of Getty Pictures

Picks, Predictions, Perception

Keep away from Jordan Spieth, Viktor Hovland

Jordan Spieth has a powerful historical past at this championship, successful the Claret Jug in 2017 and ending no worse than thirtieth in his final eight appearances. However Spieth has struggled this 12 months, as he has not posted a top-10 end because the Valero Texas Open. Poor iron play helps clarify that. He missed the lower at The Masters and did not contend at Valhalla or Pinehurst. The Texan didn’t make the weekend on the Genesis Scottish Open both, proving that his recreation is in dire straits.

In an identical vein, Viktor Hovland has seemed nothing just like the participant who gained the 2023 FedEx Cup. His quick recreation has fully deserted him, and his strategy play has taken a noticeable dip.

After ending solo third on the PGA Championship, it seemed like Hovland had turned a nook. He posted a pair of 69s to start the Memorial Event, however a poor weekend introduced him again and right into a tie for fifteenth. The younger Norwegian then missed the lower on the U.S. Open and most not too long ago tied for forty sixth on the Scottish Open.

Avoiding Spieth and Hovland this week is a needed play.

Photograph by Steve Welsh/Getty Pictures

A trio of High 10 picks we love

That is the week for Sungjae Im, who will contend in a significant for the primary time this season. Im has had a outstanding season, posting six high 10s, 5 of which have come since April. However considerably inexplicably, Im has missed the lower in all three majors.

Since taking pictures 77-74 at Augusta, Im has completed T-12, T-4, MC, T-9, T-8, MC, T-3, T-12, and most not too long ago tied for fourth on the Scottish Open. But, we consider Im has some further motivation to play nicely this week and can end within the high 10 at +550.

We additionally like two LIV Golf gamers—each of whom have gained Claret Jugs earlier than—to complete within the high 10.

Cameron Smith, who has among the best quick video games on this planet, will return to Open rivalry this week. So will Louis Oosthuizen, who has not performed in a significant but this season. Oosthuizen, who gained twice on the DP World Tour this previous December, has seen his Official World Golf Rating (OWGR) so dramatically due to his standing on LIV that he didn’t qualify for every other majors. That ought to encourage him to play nicely this week.

Smith has a high 10 value of +400, whereas Oosthuizen is listed at +550.

Two main champions end amongst High 5

Jon Rahm fights again with a vengeance this week to complete within the high 5 at +500.

One of many large speaking factors of the 2024 season has been about Rahm’s struggles in main championships, maybe as a result of he determined to affix LIV Golf in December. He performed poorly in his Masters title protection after which missed the lower at Valhalla. Then, a foot an infection compelled him to withdraw from the U.S. Open, leaving Rahm watching from mattress at house. Fortunately, Rahm’s wound has healed, and he’ll play this week.

Reviews point out that his type at Troon appears to be like stable, and he feels assured in himself, too. Rahm even mentioned he feels near replicating the shape he had when he gained the 2023 Masters. He additionally has a robust historical past at The Open, posting two top-five finishes in his final three begins. We consider one other one follows this week, and who is aware of, maybe he hoists the Claret Jug, taking after his hero Seve Ballesteros, who gained it thrice.

Photograph by Oisin Keniry/R&A by way of Getty Pictures

One other main champion that we consider will end among the many high 5 is Xander Schauffele, who has had a terrific 2024 marketing campaign.

Schauffele prevailed by one stroke over Bryson DeChambeau at Valhalla, successful his first main title. Since then, he has posted 4 straight top-15 finishes, together with a T-7 at Pinehurst No. 2., the place he shot just one spherical over par that week. The previous San Diego State Aztech has no flaws in his recreation, as his sturdy iron play and artful quick recreation ought to have him contending in a significant as soon as once more. He’s seemingly at all times there on the leaderboard. He tied for fifteenth final 12 months at Royal Liverpool, and his greatest end at The Open got here in 2018, when he tied for second at Carnoustie.

Give us Schauffele to complete within the high 5 at +260.

Potential winners, together with a longshot

We have now 4 successful picks for this week’s Open Championship.

First up is Tyrrell Hatton, who, at +2800, feels prepared to interrupt by way of and win a significant. Hatton is trending in the best course, and his recreation fits Royal Troon nicely. The three-time Ryder Cupper has lengthy been one of many recreation’s high ball-strikers, however his quick recreation is underrated, too.

Photograph by Pedro Salado/Getty Pictures

One other participant with an identical pedigree is Collin Morikawa, who has gained The Open earlier than. At +1600, Morikawa arrives at Royal Troon as one of many favorites, and he most actually could have a presence on the leaderboard come Sunday. However the query for him is that if he can shut out a remaining spherical, one thing he has struggled with in 2024.

Tommy Fleetwood is one other winner we like this week at +2200. The Englishman has not missed a lower since firing an 80 at Bay Hill, though he has not contended in a significant since The Masters. However his final 4 finishes at The Open are solo second, T-33, T-4, and a T-10 one 12 months in the past. Fleetwood loves hyperlinks golf, and his imaginative quick recreation and wedge play bode nicely for Royal Troon. This might be his week.

After which, lastly, our longshot winner we like is a person who made it into the sphere on Sunday night: Englishman Aaron Rai.

Rai is trending in the best course, having posted 5 straight top-20 finishes, which features a tie for second in Detroit. However this current run is way from a fluke. Rai ranks 4th on the PGA Tour in total strokes gained. He has performed flawlessly, rating first in driver accuracy proportion at 72.97% and third in greens in regulation proportion at 72.47%. Within the uncommon occasion he misses the inexperienced, Rai can stand up and down, too, rating tenth on tour in scrambling proportion. Placing has not been his sturdy go well with, however he nonetheless ranks 54th in strokes gained on the inexperienced.

Good ball-strikers and people with stable quick video games win Open Championships, and Rai suits that invoice. So why not take a shot on him at +6500?

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Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. Make sure to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.