British Open 2016: Latest Odds and Betting Tips for Golf's Top Contenders

The oldest of golf's four majors gets underway Thursday morning from Royal Troon in Scotland, and the biggest question going into the British Open appears to surround Dustin Johnson.

The talented and long-hitting golfer shed the title of the most talented player on the tour without a major championship to his credit when he won the U.S. Open last month, and now that he has that tournament to his credit, can he keep up his level of play and make it two in a row at the British Open?

Johnson's ability to hit the ball for distance is just one of his attributes. He has also been impressive going for the green and has put himself in a position to make birdie putts. If he can continue to excel from tee to green, there's no reason to think he can can't contend for four complete rounds and possibly come away with his second consecutive major.

The big thing the U.S. Open does for him is raise his confidence level. Johnson has often played well in the majors, but he had not shown the ability to make the key shots on the finishing holes. That is no longer the case.

Johnson certainly has the distance to tear up the 7,190-yard Royal Troon course, but this is not necessarily a tract that favors long-bombers. It favors controlled hitters.

Johnson, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are the betting favorites to win the event, according to Odds Shark, and a great case can be made for any of them.

Player	Odds	Skinny
Dustin Johnson	8-1	Can overpower any course.
Jason Day	17-2	Razor-sharp on his approach shots.
Rory McIlroy	10-1	A good start is needed for his confidence.
Jordan Spieth	11-1	Can get on a roll with his putting.
Adam Scott	20-1	Tough conditions don't bother him.
Sergio Garcia	22-1	Will struggle when the money is on the table.
Branden Grace	25-1	Rounding into top form at key moment.
Henrik Stenson	28-1	Consistency is the only issue because he has all the elements.
Justion Rose	30-1	Wants this one more than any other but not sharp enough.
Ricke Fowler	33-1	Has struggled this year.

Day is the No. 1 golfer in the world, and when it comes to getting close to the pin with his approach shots, he is on top of his game and perhaps the best in the world.

McIlroy has struggled a bit this year, but just like Johnson, his ability to bomb the ball down the course makes him a legitimate contender, as does his success in previous majors.

Spieth's advantage with the flat stick is probably the biggest reason he has become one of golf's Big Three. He is a tremendous shot-maker, but when he wins key tournaments, his ability to string long putts together has been his signature.

Don't count out Australian Adam Scott for a second. The weather is often a factor at the British Open, and Scott has proved to be one of the best players in the world when the winds start howling and the rain comes down. Scott's downfall has been his putter, but he is striking the ball well this year and his opponents are not as consistent in that area, so he has an excellent chance to win.

Louis Oosthuizen is the same kind of complete golfer as Scott, and he also deserves consideration. His advantage is that he can be much more consistent with the putter, and that should allow him to remain at or near the top for four consecutive rounds.

Kamran Jebreili/Associated Press

Lee Westwood may have inherited Johnson's "best player to have never won a major" label. He knows how to get into the top 10 of any major and put himself in top position after three rounds. However, that championship-deciding final round has proved to be quite difficult for him.

Matteo Manassero is a name that is not as familiar to North American golf fans, but he has shown that he can control the flight of his ball in tough and windy conditions after finishing tied for third at the Scottish Open last week. His confidence should be quite high.

Shane Lowry was in a position to win the U.S. Open last month, but a poor final round kept him from earning that title. However, Lowry has shown that he can play with the best golfers in the world and stand shoulder to shoulder with them for three rounds. If he figures out how to handle the pressure of the final round, he has a chance to win at Royal Troon.

Branden Grace is often under the radar at the major tournaments because he is not outstanding in any one area. He is a fine driver, fairly accurate with his irons on approaches and his putter can get hot at times. But while he rarely puts all those elements together at the same time, he does not lose them at the worst moments either. Grace finished fifth in the U.S. Open, and that should prepare him for a strong run in Scotland.