British Open Odds 2016: Vegas Projections for Top Stars in This Year's Field
The top golfers in the world have descended on Scotland for the 2016 Open Championship, the third major on the calendar and the ninth to be held on the Old Course of Royal Troon Golf Course in South Ayrshire.
Oddsmakers have Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day as the co-favourites entering the tournament, which is set to start on Thursday, ahead of the likes of Dustin Johnson, Adam Scott and Rickie Fowler. The field is stacked with possible contenders, however, including the dangerous Danny Willett.
Here's a look at the British Open odds, per Odds Shark (odds accurate as of Sunday, July 10):
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
| Rory McIlroy | 7-1 |
| Jordan Spieth | 7-1 |
| Jason Day | 7-1 |
| Dustin Johnson | 10-1 |
| Adam Scott | 18-1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 22-1 |
| Justin Rose | 22-1 |
| Sergio Garcia | 22-1 |
| Danny Willett | 25-1 |
| Branden Grace | 25-1 |
| Henrik Stenson | 28-1 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | 33-1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 33-1 |
| Shane Lowry | 33-1 |
Players to Watch
Rory McIlroy
The 2014 Open champion missed last year's tournament with an injury, and while he hasn't been at his best so far in 2016, he appears to be rounding into form just in time for this year's event.
He took third place in the French Open, a tournament in which he worked on his swing and had no business contending for the title after a pedestrian opening round. Per the Associated Press (via the PGA Tour's official website), he was more than happy with the result considering the work he put into his swing.
The Northern Irishman will likely have the support of the fans in attendance, and he has a lot of fond memories of the Open, both as a player and a fan, via Sky Sports Golf:
McIlroy's short game was on point during the French Open, and his power off the tee remains awesome. Consistency has been an issue of late, but when the 27-year-old is fully focused, there are few better players on the tour.
Per the Daily Telegraph's James Corrigan, the heavy rains that have hit the course the last few days work in McIlroy's favour as well:
A lack of silverware in 2016 is an issue, however. McIlroy hasn't been able to finish the job all year long, making him a risky bet entering the Open.
Dustin Johnson
Johnson finished tied-second in the 2011 Open and finally won his first major earlier this year, dominating the field on his way to the U.S. Open title.
The 32-year-old has already shown what changes to a player's swing can do, per ESPN.com's Jason Sobel:
Johnson has won the last two tournaments he entered—the U.S. Open and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational—and completed comebacks to triumph at both events. His remarkable power should help negate the often windy conditions in Scotland, and his hot streak makes him a tantalising option for punters—success tends to breed more success.
Winning multiple majors in a single season is a hard thing to do, however, even if Johnson is arguably the most in-form golfer on the tour.
Danny Willett
Willet already has two titles under his belt in 2016, winning the Dubai Desert Classic before shocking the world by taking the Masters Tournament in April. The 28-year-old finished in a tie for sixth place at the Open last year, keeping the pressure on Johnson through the second round.
He dropped out of the top 10 after a poor third round, shooting even par and making the sort of psychological mistakes that had held his career back until that point. But they no longer seem to be a part of his game, and after his Masters triumph, Willett appears primed to push on.
His form of late hasn't been great—he failed to make the cut at the French Open and the BMW International Open—and oddsmakers have taken note. For the more adventurous punters looking to score big, though, Willett might be worth a bet.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
