British Open Field 2017: Predictions and Vegas Betting Odds for Notable Sleepers

Prior to any major tournament, the focus tends to go to the biggest names on the tour. That's a natural part of the thought process, because it's fair to assume that when players such as Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are at their best, they will find a way to get near the top of the leaderboard after four rounds of competition in golf's major tournaments.

Even when the best players are at, or near, their peak, there are many variables that can impact the outcome of any tournament. A bad drive at the wrong time, a missed putt, a poor lie or bad weather can impact overall play and send even the best golfers into a funk for a series of holes that can ruin their chances of winning the tournament.

When it comes to the British Open, smart handicappers will give some of the underdogs strong consideration. These players are often excellent professionals who rank just a tad below the game's elite, and they are sleepers as far as the majority of the betting public is concerned.

Despite that status, they are deserving of lengthy consideration and should have an excellent chance to contend for the title this week at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.

Justin Rose is one of the top players in the world, having won 16 professional victories during his career on both the PGA and foreign tours.

However, this has not been a banner year for the Englishman, as he ranks 22nd in FedEx Cup points and has not won a PGA tournament this year. He has the tools to make a run at Royal Birkdale and should be one of the home crowd's favorite players in this event. Rose comes into the British Open with odds of plus-2,000, according to OddsShark.

Rose has struggled with his accuracy off the tee. He ranks 146th in that category as 58.00 percent of his tee shots reach the fairway, according to PGATour.com. Look for the 36-year-old to offer a strong showing if he can make a bit of progress in this category.

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Australian star Adam Scott has not had an impressive year to this point, but it's difficult to write him off in the British Open because of his ability to strike the ball at a near-perfect level when he is on his game. He will tee off with odds of plus-2,800.

The 37-year-old has won slightly more than $1.4 million to this point in the year, and that's not an overly impressive figure. He has four top-10 finishes in the 10 PGA Tour events he has played, which shows he can get close to the leaders and remain there through four rounds.

Scott has struggled with the putter this year, ranking 116th with 29.18 putts per round. If he can regain his confidence with the short stick by making a couple of early birdie putts, the golf world may see him at his best.

It's difficult to think of Phil Mickelson as a sleeper, but that's what he has become as he enters the British Open with odds of plus-3,500. 

The American had the greatest victory of his career when he won the British Open in 2013, but his game has not been close to his best this year.

Lefty has not finished in the top three of any event his year, and he has made the top 10 in just four of the 11 events he has entered.

Mickelson has been known for his gambling style on the course, regularly going for the green with a challenging shot from the rough when most players would be content to punch out to the fairway. This style has not always worked out well for him and has been disastrous on some occasions. 

However, when the 47-year-old comes through with those kind of shots, they can become huge momentum-changers and give him the opportunity to succeed and turn an event in his favor.

It may be unlikely for Mickelson to come through here, but the odds are inviting for one of the game's most popular figures.

Don't sleep on Louis Oosthuizen in the British Open. The 5'10" South African has one of the game's best swings, and he is capable of playing with the best players in the biggest events.

The 34-year-old comes into the British Open with odds of plus-4,000, and he ranks 40th in FedEx Cup points and 22nd in the world. 

Oosthuizen tied for second in the Players Championship in May, and that shows he can get near the top. He is unlikely to be fazed by the pressure of the big moment, so look for him to surprise the oddsmakers here.

Ryder Cup stalwart Patrick Reed has had a difficult year to this point, but he has shown recent signs of starting to find his game.

The Texan may be deserving of consideration because he comes into the tournament at odds of plus-5,000, and that would be a major payoff if he were to find a way to win the Claret Jug.

The 26-year-old finished tied for 13th in the U.S. Open, and he followed that up by tying for fifth in the Travelers Open. He has also been in the top 20 in two subsequent events.

Reed should be ready to put on a strong performance at Royal Birkdale.

Predictions

While all the sleepers we mentioned are worthy of consideration, it's unlikely that all of them will be in contention in the tournament's final round.

Rose may be the best of them, and we see him finishing in the top three and potentially challenging Sergio Garcia for the victory. 

Scott should be able to contend through the first two rounds, but his problems with the putter will cost him during the final two rounds, and he will have to settle for a 10th-place finish. 

Mickelson should get off to a good start, but his gambling style will cost him here. He will not make the top 10.

Oosthuizen is a sleeper we can get behind. Like Scott, his swing is near-perfect, and we see him making the key putts that should allow him to finish in the top five with a real chance to win. 

Reed is another golfer who appears to be finding his game. He will finish the tournament in the top 10 and that should springboard him to a strong finish throughout the remainder of the golf season.

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Stats courtesy of PGATour.com. Odds courtesy of OddsShark.