PGA Tour
Golf Open Championship
Date: Jul 18–21, 2024
The Open Championship, often referred to as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world, and one of the most prestigious. Founded in 1860, it was originally held annually at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. This is the 152nd time this tournament has been played.
Royal Troon Golf Club will play host to The Open for the 10th time in its history. Royal Troon is a par 71 that will play 7,385 yards, which is 195 yards longer than it played in 2016. The course will feature both the shortest and longest holes ever in The Open Championship history. The par 3 8th hole will play as short as 123 yards and the par 5 6th hole will play as long as 623 yards. The course features the first 9 holes all in one direction and then the back 9 holes all come back in the opposite direction. Traditionally the front 9 will play with wind at their backs and the back 9 will be into the wind. This is part of the reason why weather could be important this week. We recommend trying to use books that offer cash outs in case the weather changes drastically after you place your bet. The cut line is top 70 and ties.
Let’s talk briefly about the course and what we can expect as far as conditions. Steve Bamford mentioned he expects the rough will be longer and thicker than it was in 2016, which makes things a little more interesting. There are 98 bunkers on the course and it is one of the courses primary defenses to low scores. Bunkers are placed throughout these fairways in and around the landing areas for the players. There is a lot of slope in the fairways which will results in plenty of uneven lies. Right now the weather shows chance of rain all 4 days with varying winds between 10-20 mph. That is fairly docile as far as this course is concerned, but if the winds go up any more than that it will be absolutely be worth paying attention to.
KEY STATS:
Driving accuracy – lots of bunkers to avoid off the tee and rough SG: Approach w/focus on 75-125 yds and 175-200 yards. SG: Around the green Scrambling Sand Saves Bogey Avoidance
Our Picks:
Rory McIlroy @9/1
We wanted to see something from him after not playing since Pinehurst, and he played really really well at the Scottish Open. It was his putter that let him down, but other than that, he probably was the best player in the field. It looked so easy for him to get those birdie opportunities that I‘m totally okay with spending a little more this week to bet him. Great form, Rory plays in the UK, yeah were in – oh and he had the best result from all the players who were in the terrible wave when they played here in 2016.
Tyrell Hatton @25/1
Finished T5 here in 2016, finished 1st and 3rd in his last 2 LIV events, so he seems to be in great form, and who knows, maybe he is one of the very few players whose play benefit from being on LIV. His recent finishes and his US Open performance seem to indicate this. We don’t feel like 30 is a great number, but it’s not a bad number on a Brit playing in the UK who comes in with a great form and who finishes already T5 here at this place.
Tom Kim @40/1 ew (8 places)
We usually don’t play ew, but it‘s kinda a nostalgic play for us… we placed a future with ew places for last years the Open after hitting big on him when he won the Wyndham in 2022. And well… it got us another payout… this guy seems to love playing in the UK, his finishes here are: 2022: Scottish Open 3rd the Open. T47 2023: Scottish Open T6 the Open. T2 2024: Scottish Open. T15 (with a great 4th round).
Tommy Fleetwood @20/1
Probably our play of the week, Fleetwood is due a big game and we think this is where it comes.
Image Credit: sportingnews
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