British Open Odds 2015: Locating Top Vegas Bets in Field at St. Andrews
While one man is the overwhelming favorite heading into the British Open, there are plenty of competitors who can provide bettors with much more value heading into the week.
Jordan Spieth remains the obvious play after winning both the Masters Tournament and U.S. Open. It's incredibly difficult to win three majors in a year, but there is no reason to doubt the 21-year-old player, especially with Rory McIlroy out of the field.
That said, a bet on the favorite only pays out 9-2, which is very low for a golf tournament with so many possibilities. Those looking to win big could be better off picking one or more of these sleepers.
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| Jordan Spieth | 9-2 |
| Dustin Johnson | 10-1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 14-1 |
| Justin Rose | 18-1 |
| Adam Scott | 20-1 |
| Henrik Stenson | 20-1 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | 22-1 |
| Tiger Woods | 25-1 |
| Jason Day | 28-1 |
| Bubba Watson | 33-1 |
| Hideki Matsuyama | 33-1 |
| Paul Casey | 33-1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 33-1 |
| Sergio Garcia | 33-1 |
| Martin Kaymer | 35-1 |
| Shane Lowry | 35-1 |
| Branden Grace | 40-1 |
| Brandt Snedeker | 40-1 |
| Matt Kuchar | 45-1 |
| Brooks Koepka | 50-1 |
| Patrick Reed | 50-1 |
| Jimmy Walker | 55-1 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | 66-1 |
| Victor Dubuisson | 66-1 |
| Bernd Wiesberger | 70-1 |
| Jim Furyk | 70-1 |
| Billy Horschel | 80-1 |
| Charl Schwartzel | 80-1 |
| Danny Willett | 80-1 |
| Graeme McDowell | 80-1 |
| Ian Poulter | 80-1 |
| J.B. Holmes | 80-1 |
| Kevin Kisner | 80-1 |
| Lee Westwood | 80-1 |
| Luke Donald | 80-1 |
| Zach Johnson | 80-1 |
Hideki Matsuyama (33-1)
There are a number of familiar names at this value, including Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson. However, the best option at these odds is Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama.
Although he doesn't have a win yet this season, Matsuyama has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour. He has finished in the top 25 in 14 of his 17 tournaments in 2015, including each of his last eight stroke-play events.
After finishing fifth in the Masters, it's impossible to ignore the 23-year-old golfer in majors.
Additionally, playing in what is clearly the top group for the first two days could push Matsuyama excellence, as noted by Kyle Porter of CBS Sports:
Spieth and Dustin Johnson will almost certainly put up low scores in the first two rounds, but look for Matsuyama to hang with the elite duo and challenge for a title.
Tommy Fleetwood (66-1)
St. Andrews is certainly a unique course, so it helps to have some positive experience there going into The Open Championship. Tommy Fleetwood has plenty of this in his young career, as noted by the European Tour Twitter account:
The 24-year-old player has fared well in the European Tour this season, most recently earning a top-10 finish at the Scottish Open. This success in links courses certainly has the ability to carry over into the upcoming major.
Meanwhile, Fleetwood also proved he can handle the spotlight of a major by earning a respectable tie for 27th at this year's U.S. Open. On his home turf, the English star can do even better.
Although he is far from a household name at the moment, Fleetwood has the confidence and talent to change that with a strong performance this weekend.
Luke Donald (80-1)
He's a deep sleeper when it comes to odds, but Luke Donald is well-known as a former No. 1 player in the world. Although he hasn't played at that level for some time, he is finally starting to get back into form.
In his last two tournaments—the Travelers Championship and the Scottish Open—Donald earned a pair of seventh-place finishes while scoring in the 60s in all eight rounds. This type of consistency is exactly what you want going into a major championship in your home country.
He recently explained his confidence going into The Open Championship, per Press Association Sport (h/t Western Morning News):
"The form feels like it’s really coming back. I am getting a lot more consistency in my game which is something I’ve been lacking over the last year or so. I am excited about my game and I feel like when the putter really clicks I am going to be up there challenging for tournament wins.
"
Donald hasn't finished better than 40th place in a major since 2013, so predicting a victory might seem far-fetched at the moment. However, the experience and recent play remain an encouragement for bettors. He also finished tied for 11th the last time The Open was at St. Andrews.
If you are willing to take the risk, these long odds could lead to a huge payoff.
Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.
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