British Open Odds 2016: Predictions for Top Favorites Heading into Royal Troon
Royal Troon Golf Club will host the British Open for the ninth time in its storied history in 2016, as the world's top golfers have traveled to Scotland for the third major on this year's calendar.
Former Claret Jug winner Rory McIlroy is joined by stars such as Jordan Spieth and Jason Day, but this year's field is deep and talented, including a whole bunch of in-form golfers.
Here's a look at the latest Open odds, courtesy of Odds Shark:
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| Dustin Johnson | 13-2 |
| Jason Day | 8-1 |
| Rory McIlroy | 10-1 |
| Jordan Spieth | 10-1 |
| Adam Scott | 20-1 |
| Branden Grace | 20-1 |
| Sergio Garcia | 25-1 |
| Henrik Stenson | 25-1 |
| Rickie Fowler | 25-1 |
| Phil Mickelson | 28-1 |
| Justin Rose | 33-1 |
| Shane Lowry | 40-1 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | 40-1 |
| Patrick Reed | 45-1 |
Jordan Spieth
For Spieth, the 2016 British Open will be one of redemption, after last year's championship ended in disaster for the youngster. His bogey at the 17th, which saw him drop out of the lead and eventually finish one shot out of the play-off, was one of the defining moments of the 2015 season—and the first time in ages the 22-year-old reminded us he was human.
World Golf shared this short video on Spieth's Grand Slam chase:
Spieth has won two titles in 2016, both by a clear margin, and while his unlikely collapse at the Masters has been his most talked-about round of the season, he's quietly been playing well of late, with a top-three finish in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational his most recent result on the PGA Tour.
Spieth's composure and short game are what set him apart, and those traits tend to be overshadowed by raw power from the tee at Royal Troon. The wind in particular can have a big impact on the course, and rough weather conditions are always a factor.
Periodic showers have also hammered the course in the past week, and per the Daily Telegraph's James Corrigan, that should favour other players:
But Spieth has a score to settle with the Open, and he likely circled this tournament on the calendar before the year even started. There are a lot of factors working against the young star, but in all likelihood, he'll be within reach of the top spot on the leaderboard until the end.
Prediction: Another top-10 finish for Spieth.
Jason Day
Day's remarkable run of form earlier this season was highlighted by a dominant showing in The Players Championship late May, but since then, the Australian has come back down to earth a bit.
He played solid, if unspectacular, golf at the U.S. Open, and while he did better at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, Dustin Johnson again beat him to the top spot. The American has been in stunning form of late.
But as shared by the Open's official Twitter account, Day enters the tournament feeling good about his game:
It's worth noting Day ruined his chances at the Bridgestone Invitational with a dreadful final round, and that's something that normally doesn't happen to the world No. 1, especially if he's in a position to win, per ESPN Stats & Info:
Day remains one of the best closers in the world, and one poor round won't change that. In the high-pressure situations the golfers face at the Open—especially when the wind picks up and the weather turns sour—composure can make all the difference, and that's the part of the game Day understands better than most.
Add to that his raw power, which should come in handy if the weather is as bad as the Met Office currently predicts, and Day's chances of adding The Open Championship to his resume seem strong.
Prediction: No meltdown at Royal Troon for Day. If he's still in a position to win after Moving Day, he'd be a safe option to back.
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