British Open 2024: Field Odds, Favorites and Tournament Preview

The final men's golf major of 2024 starts Thursday at Royal Troon.

Scottie Scheffler is favored to win a major for the fourth time this season, but he only has one major title in 2024.

Scheffler is in the best form of any golfer in the world, but he has not finished inside the top 20 in his last two British Open appearances.

Rory McIlroy, the second favorite, has come close to winning multiple majors in the last year. The British Open will be his first major tournament appearance after putting away the U.S. Open title that went to Bryson DeChambeau last month.

The British Open's recent history is controlled by American golfers. Brian Harman was the fourth American in seven years to win last year. Six of the nine British Open winners at Royal Troon were American, so that could be a good sign for Scheffler and others this week.

British Open Odds

Luke Walker/Getty Images

NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND - JULY 14: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland looks on as he walks on the first green during day four of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 14, 2024 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Scottie Scheffler (+450; bet $100 to win $450)

Rory McIlroy (+750)

Xander Schauffele (+1100)

Ludvig Aberg (+1400)

Collin Morikawa (+1400)

Bryson DeChambeau (+1400)

Tommy Fleetwood (+2200)

Jon Rahm (+2200)

Tyrrell Hatton (+2500)

Viktor Hovland (+3000)

Robert MacIntyre (+3500)

Brooks Koepka (+3500)

Tony Finau (+4000)

Tom Kim (+4000)

Shane Lowry (+4000)

Patrick Cantlay (+4000)

Cameron Smith (+4000)

Favorites

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

CROMWELL, CONNECTICUT - JUNE 23: Scottie Scheffler of the United States plays his shot from the 18th tee during the first playoff hole during the final round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands on June 23, 2024 in Cromwell, Connecticut. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Scheffler is more than deserving of his favorite status.

He's been the best golfer on the PGA Tour all season and is one of three major champions in 2024.

The two-time major champion turned won the Masters and then finished in a tie for eighth at the PGA Championship.

He did show signs of being human at the U.S. Open, where he tied for 41st, and he is about to play in an event that has not been as friendly to him as the other three majors. He owns a single top-10 finish in three British Open appearances.

McIlroy has been the better golfer at The Open with seven career top-10 finishes, including a third-place finish in 2022 and a tie for sixth in 2023.

McIlroy owns a trio of second-place finishes and four top-three placings at majors since the start of the 2022 season. He finished in the top five the last time The Open was at Royal Troo in 2016.

The four-time major winner will be under the spotlight more than Scheffler in the buildup to the tournament because of his failure to close at the U.S. Open. McIlroy finished in a tie for fourth at the Scottish Open, his only tournament between the U.S. and British Opens, so his game has not been affected by the collapse at Pinehurst.

Collin Morikawa is the only one of the next four favorites with a British Open win, but he's also missed the cut at the last two trips overseas.

Xander Schauffele has not finished higher than 15th and Bryson DeChambeau owns a single top-10 finish in six British Open starts.

Ludvig Aberg does not have any British Open experience, but it is worth noting he has not shot better than 70 on Sunday since the Masters, so even if he is in contention, he may have trouble closing.

Tournament Preview

Warren Little/Getty Images

TROON, SCOTLAND - JULY 15: The Open Branding flag is captured prior to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 15, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Royal Troon has been a favorable course to American golfers.

Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Justin Leonard are among the six American winners in nine British Opens held at the course.

Henrik Stenson last won The Open at Royal Troon in 2016. Tyrrell Hatton and Rory McIlroy each finished in a tie for fifth place eight years ago. They are the most relevant golfers with a strong course history.

Brian Harman is the reigning champion and he had the fourth consecutive winning score in double digits under par.

The Open can have brutal weather conditions, but low scores are possible if the weather cooperates, as evidenced by the recent low rounds.

The Open has also been favorable to first-time major champions. Harman was the fourth player in the last five Opens to win his first major. Aberg, Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood are the golfers with the lowest odds who have yet to win a major.

Scheffler's lack of consistent success at The Open could open up the leaderboard for others to compete for the win.

McIlroy's been the most consistent Open golfer in recent years, and if he wins, it would be quite the turnaround from his failure at Pinehurst.

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