It’s only the middle of July, but it’s already time for the final golf major of the season: The Open.
This year, the Claret Jug will be awarded at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, which last hosted the British Open in 2019. The course will play 7,381 yards and is a par 71, while featuring a traditional links layout along the northern coastline of Ireland, an area known for its high winds.
Xander Schauffele (+2200) is the defending champion, but World No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, is the odds-on favourite to win with odds around +500 depending on the online sportsbook. Scheffler has already claimed a major title this season at the PGA Championship, but he’s never won The Open, with his best finish at the event a T7 last year.
Scottie Scheffler to win The Open
Four Canadians have qualified for The Open this year, so let’s take a closer look at their odds to win this week and their current form.
Canadians in the field
Corey Conners (+6600): Conners is just getting over a wrist injury he sustained at the U.S. Open, making him a risky play in the final major of the season. His best Open finish was a T15 at Royal St. George’s in 2021, and he finished T25 last year at Royal Troon. Conners hasn’t won on Tour yet this season, but he does boast five top-10 results.
Taylor Pendrith (+10000): Pendrith is coming off a respectable T13 finish at the Scottish Open and could be a decent deep sleeper pick this week. However, this will be his first Open appearance. Pendrith finished T5 at the PGA Championship earlier this year, so perhaps he’s ready to contend in another major.
Nick Taylor (+12500): Taylor won early in the season in Hawaii, and he’s posted five consecutive top-25 finishes coming into this event. He missed the cut in both of his previous appearances at The Open in 2023 and 2024.
Mackenzie Hughes (+30000): Hughes missed the cut last week at the Scottish Open and hasn’t finished inside of the top 25 since the Myrtle Beach Classic in May, when he lost in a playoff. He’s played well at this event in the past, though, turning in a T5 in 2021 at Royal St. George’s and T16 at Royal Troon in 2024.
Corey Conners T10 finish
The Open outright odds
| Player | Odds (bet365) |
| Scottie Scheffler | +500 |
| Rory McIlroy | +650 |
| Jon Rahm | +1100 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | +2200 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | +2200 |
| Xander Schauffele | +2200 |
| Ludvig Aberg | +2500 |
| Shane Lowry | +2500 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | +2500 |
| Robert MacIntyre | +2800 |
| Viktor Hovland | +2800 |
| Collin Morikawa | +3300 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | +4000 |
| Sepp Straka | +4500 |
| Joaquin Niemann | +5500 |
Three golfers to back
- Viktor Hovland (+2800): Hovland has performed well historically at this event, finishing T12, T4, and T13 before missing the cut last year at Royal Troon. He’s also been solid in the previous majors this year, posting a T21 finish at the Masters, T28 at the PGA Championship, and third at the U.S. Open. Last week, Hovland turned in a very good T11 result at the Scottish Open, so he’s got to be feeling good about his chances this week. The Norwegian ranks second on tour in strokes gained approach to green, which should come in handy this week on a daunting course that requires precision approach shots in order to be successful.
- Justin Rose (+7500): Rose will be making his 23rd bid to win the Claret Jug at the age of 44 this week, and I believe he’s an excellent longshot in the field. The veteran shot his best round of the year (63) in the final round of the Scottish Open last Sunday, so he’ll be beaming with confidence entering the final major of the season. Additionally, Rose finished tied for second at this event last year at Royal Troon and also managed the same result in 2018 at Carnoustie. Back in 2019, he turned in a T20 result at Royal Portrush. Rose has missed the cut at two of the three majors this season, but he was amazing at the Masters, losing in a playoff to Rory McIlroy.
- Dustin Johnson (+15000): Once a perennial powerhouse on the PGA Tour, Johnson has always performed well on links-style courses. He’s a two-time major winner, with his best result a T2 at The Open back in 2011 at Royal St. George’s. Additionally, he has five top-10 finishes on his resume at The Open. Yes, his game has fallen off substantially since making the move to LIV Golf, but he’s been in great form recently, finishing in the top 13 in four of his last five LIV events. After missing the cut at all three of the previous majors this season, DJ should be very motivated to post a strong result this week. He’s my deep sleeper pick at ridiculously long +15000 odds.