The Open Championship betting preview
The Open Championship brings the major season to an end this week with Royal Birkdale guaranteed to provide a firm and fast test for the field. A dry summer will increase the difficulty of the bouncy fairways at Southport for the world's best players. Royal Birkdale has had a revamp for this edition with the 7,223-yard par 70 featuring several new holes. Tight fairways will ensure the emphasis is on strategy off the tee and avoiding the bunkers. Power is unlikely to be a huge advantage this week with tee-to-green consistency and a strong scrambling game required to handle a fiery Birkdale.
Scottie Scheffler missed his first cut in almost four years last week at the Scottish Open and the world No 1 has been short of his best for much of this season. The defending champion can be left alone as the favourite while Rory McIlroy's loose driving this year could hinder the Masters champion's hopes of a second Claret Jug.
Collin Morikawa has already won the Open Championship after a stunning debut in 2021 and the American could be poised to challenge for a second triumph this weekend. Morikawa's tee-to-green excellence is well suited to the demands of Birkdale and he should love the conditions after his stunning success at a sun-drenched Royal St Georges five years ago.
Winners at Pebble Beach have enjoyed success at Birkdale, including the last champion here in 2017, Jordan Spieth. Morikawa surged to victory at Pebble Beach at the start of this year and has followed up with a series of excellent performances including seventh at the Masters and fourth at the RBC Heritage. A back injury impacted him earlier in the season but Morikawa was back close to his best with a final round 61 securing third place at the Travelers Championship on his last start. Morikawa, who is ranked second for strokes gained approaching the green and sixth for tee to green, can plot his way to a third major victory at 30/1 each way.
Viktor Hovland has looked a major winner in waiting for some time and the Norwegian star appears to have timed his run perfectly for Birkdale this week. He held off Scheffler in a playoff to win the Travelers Championship at the end of last month and his driving was back on song. Hovland closed with a 64 on Sunday to finish 13th at the Scottish Open and this performance will send him to Birkdale with momentum and confidence.
Hovland has played well at the Open Championship, finishing 12th on debut in 2021, fourth at St Andrews in 2022 and 13th near to Birkdale at Royal Liverpool a year later. With five top sevens in the majors, Hovland has been knocking on the door and the tinkerman has his swing back in fine order. With a recent victory, Hovland looks primed to mount a strong challenge in Southport this week.
Robert MacIntyre has an exceptional links game and heads to Royal Birkdale with his game in fine fettle. The passionate Scot has found form with his approach play this summer, finishing 10th at the Travelers Championship before third place on Sunday at the Scottish Open. He was fourth earlier this season at the Players Championship and fourth at the Texas Open.
MacIntyre's pedigree at the Open is clear to see with three top 10s from six starts. He was sixth on debut at Portrush in 2019, eighth at Royal St George's in 2021 and seventh again at Portrush last year. His Scottish Open title in 2024 and last year's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship win further underline his suitability to this type of course. MacIntyre also finished runner-up at Hillside at the British Masters in 2019 - a course situated next to Birkdale and it would be no surprise if he goes close again on Merseyside.
Chris Gotterup has surged up the world rankings over the last year with a series of victories. The power-packed American has proved himself adept at winning on all types of terrain. He is especially suited to coastal tracks with his low ball flight as he showed with victory at last year's Scottish Open. The 26-year-old followed this up with a superb third on debut at Royal Portrush.
Gotterup has already won five PGA Tour titles at an exceptional strike rate, three of which have come this season. He started the year with victory by the coast in Hawaii at the Sony Open. Gotterup also won the Phoenix Open and then a final round 62 clinched victory at the John Deere Classic a couple of weeks ago. Tied 11th was a solid title defence at the Renaissance Club and this prolific winner should be a factor at 30/1.
Tom Kim is a prodigious talent and the South Korean has returned to the upper echelons of the game with his stunning victory at the Scottish Open on Sunday. Kim's final round of 64 fired him to his first victory in three years to set him up perfectly for a tilt at the Open Championship. It was a welcome return to the winner's circle for Kim as he backed up his third-place finish last month at the US Open. The 24-year-old's fourth PGA Tour title will send him to Birkdale in great heart.
Kim ranks fifth this season for strokes gained approaching the green and his accurate long game should keep him out of trouble at Birkdale. He will have fond memories of his last trip to Merseyside in 2023 when he finished runner-up at Royal Liverpool and he is backed to continue his hot summer with a big performance at 50/1.
Akshay Bhatia is the most appealing outsider to challenge for the Claret Jug at Birkdale this week. This talented American has the game to compete on the big stage as he showed with his victory at the firm and fast Bay Hill back in the spring. Bhatia was also sixth at Pebble Beach earlier this season at a course which correlates strongly with this week's Open venue.
Bhatia will not shy away from contention if he gets on the leaderboard and has shown a liking for coastal tracks. His first title on the Korn Ferry Tour came in the Bahamas and he has also handled windy conditions to win the 2024 Texas Open. Bhatia impressed last month at Shinnecock Hills with a tie for 17th and he built on it with fifth place at the Travelers Championship. Coming in well rested, Bhatia has fully focused on Birkdale and the left hander could surprise at a big price.
Open Championship bets
Collin Morikawa - 30/1 each way
Viktor Hovland - 30/1 each way
Robert MacIntyre - 30/1 each way
Chris Gotterup - 30/1 each way
Tom Kim - 50/1 each way
Akshay Bhatia - 100/1 each way
