For the first time in 11 years, the British Open will bring its field composed of the world’s top golfers to the Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland. Who will top the event this year and lift the prestigious Claret Jug?
Favorites: Dustin Johnson (+1,100) / Rory McIlroy (+1,400)
Dustin Johnson (+1100) – Johnson is riding a wave of momentum across the pond and into the British Open. Although he did not win at the US Open, Johnson finished third in the tournament. He has not fallen out of the top 16 in any of his last six events, a stretch that includes a win at the FedEx St. Jude Classic last month. He melted a bit at Shinnecock Hills, thus losing grip of what could’ve likely win at the US Open, so expect Johnson, whose best finish at the British Open was a T2 back in 2011, to play inspired golf this week.
Rory McIlroy (+1400) – As for McIlroy, he missed the cut at both THE PLAYERS Championship and at the U.S. Open, but seems to have gotten his bearings back of late, having finished with a T12 at the Travelers and with a T6 at the non-PGA official event CVS Health Charity Classic in his last two tournaments. McIlroy did not participate in last year’ edition of The Open, but was a T5 and T4 in the prior two years, He won it all in 2014.
High-Value Sleepers: Branden Grace (+3,300) / Russell Knox (+6,000)
Braden Grace (+3300) – Grace is the typical sleeper, who is barely on the casual fans’ radars. That said, most casual fans likely also don’t know that Grace has made the cut in each of his last seven trips to the British Open. In fact, he finished with a T6 a year ago at Royal Birksdale. He had a T3 at AT&T Byron Nelson back in May before a T52 at the Memorial Tournament and a decent T25 finish during last month’s U.S. Open.
Russell Knox (+6000) – Knox, meanwhile, is not having much success his season but it was just last month when he went T12 at the US Open before a T38 at the Travelers Championship.
As a +12,500 long shot to take home the British Open title, how will Harman persuade you to bet on him? Well, maybe by pointing to the fact that he had a T15 finish in two of his last four starts. That stretch includes a T6 at the Travelers Championships. You would not bet the farm on him, but laying some residual money on Harman presents a low-risk, high-reward chance for bettors.
Writer’s Prediction
Rory McIlroy roars back and brings home the title.
