The third of golf’s four majors, the Open Championship, gets underway on Thursday at Royal Birkdale in England with Rickie Fowler now listed as the favorite at odds of +1430. Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy opened as co-favorites but bettors are backing Fowler to win his first major. We are coming off another good week with the matchup picks, as we were 3-1 at the John Deere Classic. We’ll look to continue that success at the Open.
Open Championship Matchup Odds at BookMaker.eu
D. Johnson -115 vs. J. Spieth
R. Fowler -133 vs. D. Johnson
D. Johnson -130 vs. J. Rahm
R. Fowler -135 vs. J. Spieth
J. Spieth -130 vs. J. Rahm
R. Fowler -148 vs. J. Rahm
S. Garcia -120 vs. R. Mcllroy
S. Garcia -135 vs. J. Rose
S. Garcia -130 vs. H. Matsuyama
R. Mcllroy -135 vs. J. Rose
R. Mcllroy -130 vs. H. Matsuyama
H. Matsuyama -120 vs. J. Rose
H. Stenson -148 vs. T. Fleetwood
A. Scott -125 vs. T. Fleetwood
T. Fleetwood -130 vs. J. Day
H. Stenson -141 vs. A. Scott
H. Stenson -175 vs. J. Day
A. Scott -140 vs. J. Day
P. Casey -130 vs. B. Koepka
P. Casey -150 vs. A. Noren
B. Koepka -138 vs. A. Noren
P. Mickelson -122 vs. L. Oosthuizen
M. Leishman -144 vs. T. Pieters
M. Kuchar -149 vs. M. Leishman
M. Kuchar -165 vs. T. Pieters
P. Reed -145 vs. P. Harrington
R. Cabrera Bello -145 vs. J. Thomas
S. Lowry -120 vs. B. Snedeker
C. Schwartzel -130 vs. L. Westwood
I. Poulter -140 vs. Z. Johnson
R. Fisher -120 vs. M. Kaymer
T. Hatton -120 vs. A. Sullivan
JB Holmes -145 vs. T. Olesen
B. Wiesberger -125 vs. B. Haas
B. Harman -135 vs. P. Uihlein
R. Henley -155 vs. B. Watson
A. Johnston -170 vs. Si Woo Kim
T. Finau -120 vs. K. Chappell
H. Tanihara -119 vs. K. Stanley
J. Walker -135 vs. B. Horschel
J. Luiten -119 vs. C. Howell III
B. Steele -120 vs. G. Woodland
B. Grace -120 vs. L. Oosthuizen
P. Mickelson -120 vs. B. Grace
D. Berger -120 vs. M. Fitzpatrick
F. Molinari -150 vs. C. Wood
S. Stricker -130 vs. S. Kjeldsen
Byeong-Hun An -126 vs. C. Hoffman
J. Dufner -135 vs. K. Kisner
E. Grillo -160 vs. B. DeChambeau
Open Championship Matchup Picks
Before we get to the picks there are a few things to consider. Royal Birkdale is a very difficult course even though it is not long. It measures just 7,156 yards, so distance off the tee is not a huge factor this week. What is critical is scrambling, as the last four winners of the Open all ranked in the top seven in scrambling in their win. Experience also helps, as six of the last seven Open winners have had at least a top-six finish in a previous Open and 10 of the last 12 winners have been making at least their 11th start in the event. Eight of the last 10 winners have been 35 years or older and five of the last seven Open winners had won at least one tournament in the previous year leading up to the event.
R. Fowler -148 vs. J. Rahm
Fowler is one of my top picks to win the Open and bettors agree, as Fowler is now listed as the favorite. He has top 10 finishes in four of his last five starts. He leads the PGA Tour in adjusted scoring and he is ninth in scrambling and bogey avoidance. Rahm was very impressive in winning in Ireland but the conditions in Ireland were nothing like they will be in England where the wind and the rain could cause Rahm trouble.
T. Fleetwood +118 vs. H. Stenson
I have no idea why Stenson is favored in this matchup. Yes, Stenson is the defending champion but Fleetwood is playing better right now and leads the Race to Dubai. I watched an interview that Stenson did last week and he said that his current form simply isn’t good enough to win this year’s Open. He said it has been difficult for him to focus with all of his obligations. I can’t see him contending this week.
P. Casey -130 vs. B. Koepka
Casey has eight top 25 finishes in his last 10 starts. He tied for 7th at Royal Birkdale in 2008. He goes against Koepka who already got his breakthrough win at the U.S. Open.
F. Molinari -150 vs. C. Wood
Molinari always seems to play well in big events, as he was in the Top 15 in the Open in 2013 and in 2014. He is a good ball striker and he rarely makes mistakes and that is a good formula for playing links golf.
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