Golf betting tips: The Open Championship
3pts e.w. Tyrrell Hatton at 28/1 (bet365 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8)
3pts e.w. Robert MacIntyre at 30/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8)
2pts e.w. viktor Hovland at 30/1 (Unibet 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7)
1pt e.w. Russell Henley at 66/1 (bet365 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8)
1pt e.w. Nick Taylor at 125/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10)
blank”>sky Bet odds | blank”>Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook
Royal Portrush had to wait almost seventy years to host its second Open Championship, but only six for its third. That says much about the success of the 2019 edition because unless you are St Andrews, Opens simply do not come around this often. Everyone who was there six years ago and is there this week will be relishing the chance to do it all again.
For Shane Lowry, that applies in a literal sense and will require him to somehow recreate the magic. For Rory McIlroy, it means redemption. There was a sense of something otherworldly about the 148th Open Championship and nothing encapsulates it better than McIlroy departing on Friday and wishing his friend the best, before Lowry produced one of the finest Open rounds in memory the very next day having picked up the baton.Not everyone will have relished a Sunday spent wondering how far lowry would win by, not least those closest behind, but Portrush was about as joyous a place as I can remember being that weekend. The Open had come back at long last to northern Ireland and those across the island made it a roaring success, even without McIlroy. Portrush itself could not have been more welcoming; no town could’ve done it better.
Six years might be a short time in terms of Open rotation but still plenty has changed. McIlroy, for starters, has finally ended a major drought which somehow doubled in length first. Tiger woods is not here, but his heir apparent is, and his name is not McIlroy.Scottie Scheffler is now a three-time major champion, halfway towards matching McIlroy’s set, and the clear best player in the game. And then there’s LIV Golf.
These details of the game as it is today help color the tournament, yet the Open, like the masters and the Ryder Cup, sits above them all. Back at Portrush, this end of the major championship season comes too soon, but maybe it is better after all that we end on a high. Whether someone dazzles in the way that lowry did or a dozen contenders battle it out on Sunday, be sure to enjoy every moment.
What will it take to win at Portrush?
Returning to McIlroy and Lowry, I’ve been wondering for a while now whether it’s harder to be the latter. If they say it’s difficult to follow one low round with another, how about going back to where everything fell into place for four whole dayMacIntyre isn’t in quite the same form as a year ago but arriving at Troon on the back of an emotional, draining Scottish Open win, which he celebrated long into the night, was always going to be a big challenge and I thought he did well to make the cut on balance.
That took his record in the Open to five appearances, five cuts made, and with a Scottish Open victory to his name there’s no doubting the fact that this kind of golf suits. What’s more, his best effort so far still came back on his debut in 2019 when, a rookie on the DP World Tour, he started strongly and finished with a brilliant 68 for sixth place.
MacIntyre then shot the low round of the day on Saturday of the following Open two summers later, backing it up to finish eighth having made the cut on the number, and having again scraped through at St Andrews he advanced 30-odd spots for a respectable finish at a course which probably plays slightly less to his strengths.
Only at Hoylake did he really disappoint but remember that was four days after McIlroy had ripped his heart out with that birdie-birdie finish at The Renaissance, so suddenly he’s never looked better prepared than he is now: in generally excellent form, out of the spotlight last week, and just a month removed from a career-best major finish when runner-up at oakmont.
So many new major champions could’ve been found on recent major leaderboards and MacIntyre’s performance in bad weather at Oakmont was the icing on the cake in terms of his Open credentials. Combine it with those two fabulous wins of last summer, in Canada and Scotland, plus a solid Ryder Cup debut in 2023, and he’s served his apprenticeship, gathered the necessary experience, and is ready to win.
Statistically, he also fits the bill. MacIntyre is a lofty 27th on the PGA Tour in strokes-gained approach, his strongest area albeit there is no weak one. And while his around-the-green stats are only slightly better than average, to me this is exactly the same situation as the one we found in 2019 with Lowry and still find today.Both men are dynamite with a wedge: creative, bold, perhaps even better the more difficult the shot gets. They are not best served by the thick rough and lack of options we often find on the PGA Tour, yet among their peers would be very highly regarded when it comes to the kind of challenges Portrush presents. Simply put, the stats do both a disservice, yet they’re still encouraging enough.
Bad weather served lowry well and it certainly could MacIntyre, so while he’s shorter than he often is, that seems fully merited.Granted a bit of luck and a solid start, he can bring the house down for Scotland and prove another enormously popular Portrush champion.
While it’s been a long wait for Scotland, England’s last winner came 33 years ago but there are four players with particularly strong credentials, none more so than Tommy Fleetwood and TYRRELL HATTON.
I was achingly close to siding with Fleetwood, runner-up when we were also on him in 2019 and just a few points shorter now, but have come down instead on the side of Hatton after he, like MacIntyre, went so close to landing the US Open at Oakmont a month ago.
It’s been a poor year in the majors for Fleetwood and his recent heartbreaking second at the travelers is still raw whereas for Hatton everything looks to be coming together, with even last week’s mediocre LIV Golf finish directly attributable to his worst putting week in three years.
When those come along, Hatton typically bounces back just as he did in 2022 and if he does so again here, there’s surely every chance he can go a few places better than when sixth in 2019, one place worse than fifth at Troon three years earlier.
That sixth place saw him lead the field in ball-striking, evidence that the course really seemed to suit, and as a Wentworth winner he has that particular line of Colt form covered, plus an improved Masters record having been nin
The Value of Integrity and Precision: Henley’s Championship Potential
Russell Henley’s recent demonstration of sportsmanship – self-assessing a penalty stroke during the second round – underscores a core tenet of golf: the reliance on player integrity. This act,highlighted by GOLF.com, isn’t merely a footnote; it speaks to a character frequently enough correlated with consistent performance and mental fortitude, qualities crucial for major championship success.
A Statistical Standout
Henley isn’t just a player of principle; he’s a statistically compelling contender. Currently, he stands as the sole golfer in the field ranking within the top 15 on the PGA Tour for both strokes gained – approach and strokes gained – around the greens. This dual proficiency signifies a well-rounded game, capable of rescuing rounds even when tee shots stray. He exemplifies accuracy off the tee, a trait historically linked to major winners like Zach Johnson, who leveraged precision over power to claim victories at the Masters and Open Championship.
This emphasis on accuracy is particularly relevant when considering recent major champions.Players like Collin Morikawa, Francesco Molinari, and Henrik Stenson have all demonstrated that consistent, precise ball-striking can outweigh sheer distance.Fall conditions frequently enough neutralize the advantage of big hitters, making accuracy even more paramount.
Recent Form and Championship Experience
Henley’s resurgence isn’t a recent phenomenon. His victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this year was a testament to his improved all-around game, particularly his putting. A clutch chip-in during the third round proved pivotal, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure.This win, coupled with a strong top-five finish at last year’s Open Championship, establishes him as a legitimate major championship contender.
His experience at Portrush, albeit from the Palmer Cup, provides a familiarity with the course that many others lack. While not a direct comparison to the Open Championship setup, any prior knowledge of the layout and nuances can be a important advantage. He’s proven he can perform in challenging conditions, a vital attribute for links golf.
Overlooked Potential and Attractive Odds
Despite his notable statistics and recent success, Henley’s odds remain surprisingly high. This discrepancy likely stems from a lack of widespread recognition compared to more prominent names in the field.However, his profile – a precise ball-striker with a proven ability to win – aligns perfectly with the demands of the course and the conditions. For astute bettors, Henley represents a compelling value proposition, a player poised to exceed expectations and contend for a major title.