Open Championship tips: Local hero Tommy Fleetwood can lead the way with forgotten man Jon Rahm
- Martin Colwell
- 18 July 2023
In the betting minefield that is the 151st Open Championship, golf tipster Martin Colwell does his best to find where the best value can be found at the final Major of the season.
It was a gutting near miss for our selection last week as 100/1 shot Robert Macintyre was pipped by the brilliant Rory McIlroy on the last green in a dramatic finish at the Scottish Open.
The last two times this venue held the Open Championship were in 2014, when McIlroy won his fourth (and last, so far) Major, and in 2006 when Tiger Woods memorably triumphed without taking his driver out of his bag.
All odds stated are taken from Planet Sport Bet's eight-places market, although these prices could change by the time the tournament tees off.
Just behind him in the betting market is Scottie Scheffler at 15/2. Consistently the best golfer in the world in 2023, he comes to the Open boasting a remarkable record of eight straight top-five finishes, and only his close-but-no-cigar putting woes have prevented him from converting any of those into tournament wins.
Jon Rahm has been out of the picture since missing the cut at the Travelers Championship a month ago, and appears to have been somewhat overlooked in the betting. If he brings his A-game to Liverpool, then the Spanish world number two could well make a nonsense of his 14/1 price tag.
Tommy Fleetwood would be a popular winner on his home turf and he has an abundance of experience of links courses and conditions.
The popular Englishman is in good form, and if he can get the putter to work, he can contend at 18/1.
Viktor Hovland is another who likes to bring his best game to the big events, tying for fourth at St Andrews last year, and looking to bounce back from some mediocre finishes since winning the Memorial Tournament in early June.
Burns was ticking along nicely in Scotland last week until a bunker wall and the resultant triple bogey affected his momentum and his chances, ultimately knocking him down into 19th= after he had looked in good form.
