The Open betting tips
Collin Morikawa
Tyrrell Hatton
Shane Lowry
Wyndham Clark
Russell Henley
With the dust barely settling on the Euros our great sporting summer rolls on as it is time for the final Major of the year, the 152nd playing of the Open Championship at Royal Troon.
A typical links test situated on the West coast of Scotland near Ayr, Royal Troon has played host to the Open twice this century, in 2004 when Todd Hamilton triumphed and in 2016 when Henrik Stenson outlasted Phil Mickelson in a memorable dual.
Measuring just under 7400yds featuring three par fives and four par threes, the course has undergone a redesign since Stenson’s win, which has seen some length added.
Strategy though looks set to out-weigh distance as the players look to plot their paths through blind tee shots and numerous bunkers. The course’s signature hole the par three eighth, The Postage Stamp will cause plenty of headaches despite playing to around just 125 yards.
So let’s take a look at some of the leading contenders, starting with Scottie Scheffler. The Texan has a best of eighth in three Open starts so is yet to show any real links pedigree.
You would have to think though that is only a matter of time. That said he arrives here without a links warm up having taken a well-earned rest since winning the Travelers and I am happy to pass him by at the prohibitive odds.
Behind Scheffler, we have Rory McIlroy. The big unknown is how the Northern Irishman will react to the recent heartbreak of Pinehurst.
McIlroy has previous on this front landing the US Open in 2011 after his Masters meltdown, now though he is a lot more ‘battle-scarred’ and he may not find it so easy to put Pinehurst to the back of his mind.
With Bryson Dechambeau’s record in this Major underwhelming and the layers well and truly having Ludvig Aberg and Xander Schauffele’s number I will start our team with Collin Morikawa.
A two-time Major Champion with a claret Jug to his name Morikawa seems to be back to his best after struggling last year.
Known for his laser-like tee-to-green game Morikawa sits second on tour in Driving Accuracy, so he should be ideally suited to the precision test I expect Troon to offer up.
The American has not been out of the top 15 in his last six starts with two top fours in this year’s three Majors.
He looks primed and ready to pounce again at this level and is the pick of the big names at the top end of the board.
Next up it’s hard to ignore the credentials of Tyrrell Hatton. The Ryder Cup star has long been known as a strong links player with his Open record boasting four top 20s in the past six years, including two top-six finishes.
Another with a superb tee-to-green game Hatton seems to have finally harnessed his temperament to compete in the Majors, finishing ninth in The Masters this year and getting right in the mix at Pinehurst until a disappointing Sunday.
A winner two starts ago on LIV in Nashville and third in Valderrama at the weekend he arrives in great nick and should relish the challenge.
Next up I will return to the well with links specialist Shane Lowry. There is no doubt the 2019 Open Champion has proved a tough follow over the past 12 months, flattering to deceive on several occasions. As we know though while he doesn’t win often when he does, he wins ‘big’.
Sixth at the PGA Championship Shane posted another top 20 in the US Open before a ninth in his last start at the Travelers, while at sixth in driving accuracy and tenth in approach play we know he has the accuracy we need here. If the putter cooperates he will have a huge chance.
Finally, in an event, in which Paddy are paying to 12 each way places I shall chance Wyndham Clark and Russell Henley.
Despite bagging the US Open last year, winning at Pebble Beach and posting runner-up finishes at Sawgrass and Bay Hill, Clark often seems underrated and that seems the case again this week.
Tenth in the Scottish Open was an ideal warm-up and as a self-professed lover of links golf, I can see this big-time player going well here.
Henley meanwhile, who was seventh at the US Open, is quietly putting a really solid year together.
While his Open record is poor he is a proven wind player with a win at the Honda Classic, an event so often a strong pointer to the Open, so he really should enjoy this test and I am keen to have him onside.
*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.
The Open Golf Tips
Collin Morikawa
Tyrrell Hatton
Shane Lowry
Wyndham Clark
Russell Henley
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