Royal Portrush hosts the 153rd version of The Open Championship, and Northern Eire’s personal Rory McIlroy is among the many betting favorites getting into the lads’s remaining main of the season.
However he’s not THE favourite.
That distinction belongs to world No. 1 and reigning PGA champion Scottie Scheffler. Masters — and Grand Slam — champ McIlroy is a transparent second selection, with Jon Rahm, who has three top-10s in his final 4 Open begins, third.
Betting knowledgeable Brad Thomas, nevertheless, goes in a unique route:
Viktor Hovland, to win: +3000
When main season rolls round, betting tendencies get thrown round a bit an excessive amount of. However there have been just a few that caught my eye, which I felt had some significance.
Open Championship Developments:
- The final 10 Open winners have had a earlier top-two end in a significant;
- Eighteen of the final 24 winners have completed inside the highest 10 in a earlier Open Championship;
- Ten of the final 11 winners completed inside the highest three in one among their final 5 occasions.
Once I take a look at these tendencies, there’s a participant who immediately involves thoughts: Viktor Hovland. Not solely does he meet the standards above, however his sport additionally matches Royal Portrush and makes him a viable betting choice.
Hovland Pattern Satisfaction:
- Win on the Valspar Championship
- T-2 on the 2023 PGA Championship
- T-4 on the 2022 Open Championship
- Third on the 2025 U.S. Open
In contrast to final week on the Renaissance Membership, the greens at Royal Portrush are on the smaller facet, and the course has pure defenses in opposition to any participant who thinks they will bomb and gouge their means across the property.
Accuracy off the tee can be vital right here, however with the below-average inexperienced sizes, it’s the second shot that’s most correlated to success.
Over the past 24 rounds, Hovland is second within the discipline in strokes gained: method, solely behind Scottie Scheffler. He’s first from 175-200 yards, and second from 150-175.
Off the tee, he’s not a large gainer, however he’s hitting fairways at a 62% clip whereas averaging 306 yards.
With a T-4 end at St Andrews in 2022, Hovland has proven that he can compete in The Open. He’s arguably the most effective participant with out a main, and there’s a robust probability that may change come Sunday.
2025 Open Championship odds (as of Wednesday, courtesy DraftKings):
- Scottie Scheffler: +450
- Rory McIlroy: +750
- Jon Rahm: +1200
- Bryson DeChambeau: +2200
- Xander Schauffele: +2200
- Tommy Fleetwood: +2500
- Ludvig Åberg: +3000
- Viktor Hovland: +3000
- Tyrrell Hatton: +3000
- Collin Morikawa: +3500
- Shane Lowry: +4000
- Robert MacIntyre: +4500
- Sepp Straka: +5000
- Justin Thomas: +5000
- Brooks Koepka: +5500
- Matt Fitzpatrick: +5500
- Jordan Spieth: +5500
- Joaquin Niemann: +5500
