The PGA Tour goes to one of the great majors of the year at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, as The Open Championship, also known as the British Open, tees off on Thursday, July 17.
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PGA Tour: The Open Championship Betting Tips
Top Contenders
Local hope Rory McIlroy’s 2019 British Open was one to forget, with the tournament also being held at this course. Fast forward six years, and it’s a different, wiser McIlroy, one coming off a US Masters win earlier in the year. He’s playing in great form, tied for second recently at the Scottish Open. His odds reflect both his form and the hopes he can win at home for his many fans, and much will hinge on him striking well from the get-go, as he puts the opening hole disaster from 2019 firmly behind him.
A supremely talented 25-year-old who looks destined to win a major before long. The Swedish star, in his brief major championship career, has shown glimpses of elite potential. He has made the cut three times and placed no lower than T12 in those appearances. However, he has missed the cut on four occasions at majors, which shows a volatile swing between his best and worst form at this stage of his career. He was T8 at the Scottish Open, and he appeals more so for a top 20 finish prospect than a winning one now.
A perennial contender at The Open, Fleetwood returns to Royal Portrush with steady form. He comes off a runner-up performance at the Travelers Championship and two top 20s in his last five tournaments. He missed the cut at the US Open, but gusty winds here should be helpful. He was runner up behind Shane Lowry in 2019 at the course and was also T4 in 2022 at St Andrews. Looms as a strong contender.
Dark Horse
The Texan hasn’t ever had a great British Open…except for last time at Royal Portrush in 2019, finishing outright tenth, including a 67 on Friday. He’s on the LIV Golf tour and won at LIV Golf Dallas back in June. He’s a great scrambler, ranking fourth in LIV with 64.20%, and that may be advantageous for ‘Captain America’ with the potential wind and rain.
The Field
A field of 156 players enter the 153rd Open Championship. The major was last held at Royal Portrush in 2019, where Irishman Shane Lowry won with a card at -15. Local hope Rory McIlroy sensationally shot an 8-over par-par 79, including a quadruple bogey on the first hole. Six years later, No. 18 ranked Lowry is back on the Antrim coast looking to do it all over again but faces a stacked field.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler continues to dominate, and his recent form is nothing short of outstanding. All eyes will be on Scheffler as he chases an elusive win on UK and Irish soil. Other big names include Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm, Viktor Hovland and Patrick Cantlay.
Australian golfer Ryan Peake makes his Open Championship debut, and he tees off with one of the greats, Phil Mickelson. Peake, a former bikie who found golf to better his life, gets to play alongside his idol Mickelson.
The Course
The Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush, a 7,381-yard par-71 layout originally designed by Harry Colt and refined by architect Martin Ebert, stands as one of the most dramatic and demanding courses in championship golf. Nestled along Northern Ireland’s Antrim coastline, the course blends towering dunes and clifftop vistas.
This marks the third time The Open has visited Portrush, following its debut in 1951 and Lowry’s victory in 2019. The course boasts four Par 3, 11 Par 4 and three Par 5 holes – the longest being “Curran Point” which is the seventh hole at 607 yards and starting from an elevated tee into the valley. The 16th hole is the iconic “Calamity Corner” which can make-or-break someone’s round. A par 3 over 236 yards, Calamity Corner saw just 41% of players find the green in regulation, which was the lowest of any hole.
The final major of the year will reward the player that can handle the trying conditions best as weather forecasts suggest rain showers, gusting winds, and cooler temperatures.
