*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
We’ve reached the halfway stage of the 150th Open Championship and with the wind easing off on Friday a host of big names have taken advantage and played themselves in to position to land the Claret Jug. Top of the pile through two rounds is one of our pre-event picks Cameron Smith.
WELCOME TO PADDY POWER NEWS
Smith, who has already bagged two trophies on the PGA Tour this season, has looked completely in control so far this week and a scintillating 65 on Friday. It followed his opening round of 68 which sees him on 13 under and with a two shot lead over Cameron Young at the halfway stage.
However with Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, Dustin Johnson, Scottie Scheffler and Tyrrell Hatton all within five shots of the lead going in to Saturday the Aussie will surely feel the heat from behind on moving day. So, with a mouth-watering round three in prospect, let’s see if we can pick out some value in today’s two-ball pairings.
*An accumulator with these bets pays at approximately 13/2 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
2.50pm: Fitzpatrick to beat Woo Lee
The first pairing to catch my eye is that of Matt Fitzpatrick and Min Woo Lee who tee off at 2.50pm and it is Fitzpatrick who I will side with here. The US Open Champion, possibly either through putting too much expectation on himself or perhaps because he was distracted by the occasion of playing alongside Tiger Woods, was somewhat lacklustre on day one.
Whatever the reason for his sluggish start, he fired on all cylinders on Friday as he posted an excellent 66 and I expect him to now make his way further up the leaderboard. There is no doubt that the hugely talented Min Woo Lee is a player we will start to see featuring more regularly at the weekend of Major Championships over the next few years.
However, he is still lacking in consistency and with his putter bailing out some approach play struggles on Friday I expect the experience of the Englishman to tell today.
3.15pm: Cantlay to beat Scott
Teeing off at 3.15pm we then have the pair of Patrick Cantlay and Adam Scott and it is Cantlay who gets the nod here. The Fedex Cup Champion has quietly started to find his form of late and he has built on the momentum from last week’s fourth place in the Scottish Open to put together a strong opening two rounds here with all areas of his game looking in good shape.
Scott, who is teeing it up this week for the first time since the US Open, largely owed his 65 on Friday to a hot putter and I can see him struggling to back that up on Saturday. The Aussie shot 66 on day two at Royal St George’s last year only to follow it up with 73 on Saturday and, with a similar scenario a possibility, I expect Cantlay to have too much for him.
3.25pm: Hatton to outscore Gooch
Next up I will take Tyrrell Hatton to see off Talor Gooch when they get underway at 3.25pm. The Englishman has struggled in Major Championships as a whole and, of the game’s biggest trophies, this is the event he has had the most joy in posting two top six finishes over the past five years. Add that to his fine performances at St Andrews in the Dunhill Links over the years and it is no surprise to see him going well.
Gooch, on the other hand, struggled to push forward on Friday after two early birdies, with his iron play failing to fire for the second day running. Throw in Hatton’s far greater big-event experience and he looks the obvious play.
3.55pm: Cam Smith to beat Young
Finally in a day where I am struggling to see any big value in the outsiders in the later two balls, I will wrap things up by siding with the leader Cameron Smith to beat Cameron Young when they tee off at 3.55pm.
I will readily admit that I got Cameron Young completely wrong this week when highlighting him as value to miss the cut after his shocker at the Renaissance Club last week and his opening day 64 really put egg on my face. On Friday however the American quite understandably found it tougher going and in the end I am sure he will be happy to have posted a solid 69.
Smith meanwhile has been excellent with his long game so far this week and with his putter also on fire it is so far proving a lethal combination. Today, of course, is another day, however I expect him to stay strong and have too much for his less experienced playing partner.
Saturday golf tips
2.50pm: Fitzpatrick to outscore Woo Lee
3.15pm: Cantlay to outscore Scott
3.25pm: Hatton to outscore Gooch
3.55pm: Cam Smith to outscore Young
*An accumulator with these bets pays at approximately 13/2 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
FREE BET IF 1 LEG LETS YOU DOWN
If one leg of your 4+ fold Accumulator fails to land, you get up to £/€10 back as a free bet. Customers can qualify for 1 Acca Free Bet If 1 Leg Lets You Down per day up to £/€10. The free bets will be credited by 12pm the following day.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Read More
- Golf each-way betting calculator: Paddy’s clever tool to help you work out dead heat winnings
- Open Championship: This May Be The Last Time We’ll See Tiger At St Andrew’s – So Enjoy It