The British Open is one of the more unpredictable tournaments on the golf calendar, with sometimes brutal weather and sandy turf challenging even the most seasoned pros. But the cream usually still manages to rise to the top, which is why bookmakers have made Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy the favorites for the 147th Open Championship.
This year’s British Open begins on July 19, and will be held at Carnousite, Scotland.
Johnson Seeks First British Open Title
At most sportsbooks, you’ll find Johnson listed at the top of the board. While he has never actually won the Open Championship, Johnson did finish second in 2011, and has two other top 10 finishes at the major.
With Johnson being the No. 1 player in the world and having had some success playing on links courses in the past, William Hill has installed him as the 12/1 favorite to take his second career major. According to Johnson, winning the tournament would also help ensure he has a legacy in the world of golf.
“I’d love to add my name to the Claret Jug,” Johnson told Today’s Golfer. “It’s a tournament I’d love to win. I’d be on there forever and it’s one of our four big tournaments and I feel like I have a great chance of being able to do that.”
Despite that fact that American players have done quite well at the British Open, there’s still a feeling that the tournament caters to European players, and especially those from the British Isles. So while Rory McIlroy may not be in the greatest form of his life, the four-time major winner from Northern Ireland is on the radar as a potential winner.
William Hill is listing McIlroy as the co-favorite alongside Johnson at 12/1, while some other bookmakers have him as a close second choice. McIlroy already earned a British Open title back in 2014, and feels like he might be peaking at the right time heading into Carnousite.
“There were improvements over the weekend,” McIlroy told reporters after finishing 28th at the Irish Open last weekend. “I hit the ball the best I’ve hit it on Thursday and I felt like I sort of kept it up.”
Can Spieth Hold on to Claret Jug?
While Johnson and McIlroy may have the best chances of earning the Claret Jug, the unpredictable conditions mean many golfers could make a run at the British Open title, and several other contenders have been given odds that are right behind the two favorites.
One obvious choice is defending champion Jordan Spieth (14/1). While Spieth hasn’t won a tournament since last year’s Open Championship, nobody would be surprised to see him recapture the magic he found at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club a year ago.
England’s Justin Rose (14/1) is also a top contender. The world’s No. 3 ranked golfer hasn’t had much success at the British Open in his career, but is coming off fairly strong finishes at the Masters and the US Open earlier this season.
Others in the mix include Rickie Fowler (18/1), Tommy Fleetwood (18/1), and John Rahm (18/1). Three time British Open champion Tiger Woods is sure to see plenty of attention from bettors at 25/1, while Phil Michelson is listed at 40/1 to win the Claret Jug for a second time.