Open Championship tips: Collin Morikawa can give Scottie Scheffler Major headache at Royal Troon

Open Championship key stats:

• When: July 18 - 21 2024
• Where: Royal Troon Golf Club, Ayrshire, Scotland
• How long: 7,385 yards - par 71
• What to expect: Traditional out-and-back course, front nine usually easier, but weather and wind can change everything, thick rough, pot bunkers, a real links test
• Who won last year: Brian Harman (-13) 

The last Open to be held at Troon was won by Henrik Stenson in 2016, but prior to that we would need to go back more than 70 years to find a non-American winner at this course.

Scottie Scheffler is back from a month-long hiatus and, as always seems to be the case these days, will tee off as the hot favourite with the bookmakers. 

The Masters champion elected not to play at last week’s Scottish Open, but could be found practising just up the Ayrshire coast at Turnberry, and his 11/2 price looks fair.

Suggested bet (1): Scottie Scheffler to win the Open Championship

 

 

Rory McIlroy is next in the betting at 15/2, but can he break his decade-long Major drought here at Troon, and can he hold his nerve to sink those short putts when he needs to? 

Following his flatstick woes at the US Open, Rory’s game was in good shape again last week when tying for fourth at the Renaissance Club, albeit without looking like winning.

Xander Schauffele was a bit off his game last week, but his driving accuracy should come into play at Troon, and I certainly prefer his 13/1 odds to the 11/1 price tag attached to Ludvig Aberg.

The Swedish star went into the final round last Sunday with a two-stroke lead, only to cough it up, leaving a question mark over his ability to land the world’s oldest Major.

He knocked loudly on the door at the Masters three months ago, but only time will tell if the door opens at Troon this weekend.

This course looks tailor-made for Collin Morikawa, who was a rare Open debut winner three years ago, and will be keen to improve upon his missed cuts in both of his subsequent appearances. 

He certainly has all the requisite attributes of an Open winner: accurate off the tee, a good iron player, both long and short, and more than tidy around and on the greens. His 16/1 price looks fair and he’s our top pick to gatecrash Scheffler’s party this week. 

Suggested bet (2): Collin Morikawa each-way in the Open Championship

 

 

Bryson De Chambeau won the U.S. Open last month, albeit thanks in no small part to Rory’s putting meltdown down the stretch. Can the LIV flag-bearer win two Majors in a row? Can he drive accurately to avoid the bunkers and tough rough? You can get 15/1 if you think the answer is yes.

Tommy Fleetwood is rated as a good links golfer, and the Open Championship is arguably his best chance to land a Major, but can he hold those undoubted skills together from Thursday morning to Sunday evening? 

Jon Rahm is out to an unfancied 25/1 following his steady but unspectacular form at LIV Golf, where he has made the top ten in all of his nine appearances, without ever topping the leaderboard. 

Suggested bet (3): Jon Rahm each-way in the Open Championship

The Spaniard is a top links golfer on his day and extremely talented when on his game, but he needs to get his mojo back to feature in this company.

That said, it’s only 15 months since he won the Masters as the world number one, and at his current price he might just be flying under the bookies’ radar.

Deeper in the betting, Corey Conners is Mr Consistency on the PGA Tour, having not missed a cut all year. 

The Canadian has finished 15th, 28th and 52nd at the last three Opens, so can clearly cope with links golf without ever burning up the courses. 

His was solid enough to card 13-under-par at the Scottish Open last weekend, where he tied for 10th, five shots off the lead, so the 66/1 available looks to represent decent each-way value at Troon.

Suggested bet (4): Corey Conners each-way in the Open Championship

Suggested bet summary:

• Scottie Scheffler (11/2) - 4 points win
• Collin Morikawa (16/1) - 2.5 points each-way
• Jon Rahm (25/1) - 1 point each-way
• Corey Conners (66/1) - 1 point each-way

All listed prices are from Planet Sport Bet and are correct at time of article publication, but could be subject to change

 

READ MORE: Open Championship: 12 longshots to follow at Royal Troon