If you’re a favourite backer looking to make a few quid on one of the hot fancies for The Open at Hoylake this week, here’s the lowdown on the top five in the market according to oddschecker.com.
Rory McIlroy 15/2
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Age: 34
Nationality: Northern Ireland
Major titles: 4
2023 Majors: Masters CUT; PGA T7; US Open 2nd
Last year’s Open: 3rd
2014 Open (Hoylake): 1
McIlroy’s preparation for a second Open title could not have gone any better, his win at last week’s Scottish Open confirming that he’s the man to beat this week.
Form has rarely been the issue with the Northern Irishman – the consistency of the current FedEx Cup champion and DP World Tour rankings winner is quite remarkable.
The question mark for some time is whether he can finally get the monkey off his back and win Major number five.
The 24-time PGA Tour winner claimed his four Major titles before the age of 26, but has not lifted one of the game’s four biggest titles since the PGA Championship at Valhalla in 2014.
This week he returns to the scene of his first Open triumph in 2014, and that is another big plus.
The Ulsterman decided to skip his pre tournament press conference, putting 100 pre cent focus into his practice rounds instead.
That suggests he doesn’t want to take any more LIV questions and that he’d rather not talk about that elusive fifth Major – which could turn into a wise decision.
Scottie Scheffler 8/1
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Age: 27
Nationality: America
Major titles: 1
2023 Majors: Masters T10; PGA T2; US Open 3rd
Last year’s Open: T21
2014 Open (Hoylake): DNP
You don’t get to number one in the world without being consistently excellent – and Scheffler is making the game look ridiculously easy right now.
His best finish in The Open is T8, which came at Royal St George’s two years ago, but it’s hard to imagine the American not taking the Claret Jug back across the Atlantic at some point.
Top-10 finishes in all three Major Championships this year tells you that his game is exactly where it needs to be, and he arrives at Hoylake fresh off finishing in a tie for third at the Scottish Open.
“I always get excited for the majors. They’re my favourite tournaments to play, best fields, usually the best golf courses,” Scheffler said in his pre tournament press conference.
He then added: “I wouldn’t say at home that I chip very much with a pitching wedge or 9-iron just because when you’re in the States you’re much more dictated by the lie and…
..
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Golf Monthly RSS Feed…