British Open Odds 2015: PGA Favorites You Should Pick at St. Andrews

With the British Open right at hand, the time has come to make your choices.

It's never easy, and even though defending champion Rory McIlroy is not going to be able to compete because of a ruptured ankle ligament, that doesn't make it a walkover for Jordan Spieth.

Yes, he ran away with the Masters and came through with a huge win at the U.S. Open, but going across the ocean and winning the oldest and grandest major on a links course like St. Andrews is just too much to ask of a 21-year-old golfer.

It's one thing to have a few practice rounds at the Old Course; it's quite another to compete there for 72 holes. Some of the top PGA players are well-equipped to compete, but we expect this to be a learning experience for Spieth.

Of course, if he really is one of the game's historical greats, he will prove doubters wrong with four consistent rounds. However, he may be the 9-2 favorite in the field according to OddsShark, but we are throwing our support elsewhere. ESPN Stats & Info pointed out Spieth's potential to make history:

"

Jordan Spieth can become the 2nd player to win the Masters, U.S. Open and The Open in the same year Ben Hogan (1953) is the other

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 15, 2015"

Dustin Johnson is the second choice at 10-1. He may be even more motivated than Spieth. Of course, the 2015 U.S. Open ended in painful fashion for him when he missed the eagle putt that would have won the tournament outright and the birdie putt that would have earned him a spot in a playoff against the eventual champion.

But Johnson has a lot going for him. He is the biggest hitter on the PGA tour, and he brings that with him every week. He ranks fourth in the World Golf Rankings and is also fourth in FedEx Cup points.

In addition to his 319-yard driving average, he gains 1.401 strokes tee to green, and that ranks ninth on the tour. Johnson is the top PGA favorite to back in the British Open. From golf writer Steve Elling:

"

Dustin Johnson to receive brusque reminder of Chambers Bay debacle on Thursday + Friday -- playing alongside Spieth. http://t.co/75RihRLlcG

— Steve Elling (@EllingYelling) July 13, 2015"

However, he's not the only one. Rickie Fowler has had an up-and-down season in 2015 and is the third betting choice at 14-1.

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press

Fowler blew up at the U.S. Open and failed to make the cut at Chambers Bay, but he won the Players Championship earlier this year and just pulled off a memorable win at the Scottish Open on July 12. 

Fowler charged from behind by drilling birdies on three of the last four holes to earn the victory. The belief here is that Fowler puts his Chambers Bay disaster behind him and remains in contention for all four rounds. He is worth backing at St. Andrews. ESPN Stats & Info noted some of Fowler's recent wins:

"

Rickie Fowler earned his 1st career European Tour win at the Scottish Open. Fowler has won 2 of his last 5 starts worldwide.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 12, 2015"

Englishman Justin Rose, 18-1, and Australian Adam Scott, 20-1, are the fourth and fifth betting favorites. Rose will have strong backing at St. Andrews and has the game to play well there. He ranks 14th in FedEx Cup points and eighth in the World Golf Rankings.

When Rose is on his game, he can drain birdie putts home with great regularity. He averages 4.47 birdies per round, and that ranks third on the PGA tour. Still, the feeling here is that Rose wants it so badly that he will create pressure for himself. If he finds himself in contention after 36 holes, he will start to lose it on moving day.

Rose is not a good favorite to back, but Scott is. He brings one of the best and most consistent swings in the game to the British Open, and he has regularly played well in the tournament despite having never won it.

Scott is a former Masters champion, and while his putting can be a bit erratic from time to time, he should be ready for a sharp effort here and is worth backing. The Golf Channel's Morning Drive program said this about Scott:

"

He's finished top 5 at #TheOpen the last three years. Will Adam Scott finally get the win? http://t.co/pNEugVPhGc pic.twitter.com/GLdbbURyJf

— Morning Drive (@GCMorningDrive) July 16, 2015"

So is Louis Oosthuizen, who finished the U.S. Open on a roll. He struggled in the first round at Chambers Bay, but it was smooth sailing the rest of the way as he finished in a tie for second. 

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Oosthuizen, 22-1, has had great success at St. Andrews. He won the 2010 British Open at the legendary course, and he plans to take the momentum he had at Chambers Bay and take it to the Old Course. 

“Everyone is trying to play to be on the back nine on Sunday and try to have a chance to win a major,” Oosthuizen said, via Alex Miceli of Golfweek. “That's really when you see how you're going to react in that situation, when you're actually in it.”

Make sure you back Oosthuizen.

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All odd courtesy of OddsShark.