2017 British Open Winning Picks & Predictions

The Open Championship (as everyone outside the United States calls the British Open) gets underway on Thursday at Royal Birkdale, in Southport, England. The field is as open as it has been in recent years. And with the latest 2017 British Open odds available, it’s seems it might shift this year. When the Masters opened, it looked like Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson were ready to dominate the sport. Then Sergio Garcia, of all people, came out of Augusta with that green jacket. McIlroy has missed two straight cuts. So there’s a lot of room for outsiders to come in and take the claret jug. Let’s take a look at some odds and then our predictions for the top three finishers as you plan your online betting for the week.

2017 British Open Winning Picks & Predictions

The Favorites to Win the 2017 British Open

• Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy (10-1)
• Jordan Spieth (11-1)
• Jason Day, Sergio Garcia, Jon Rahm (16-1)
• Rickie Fowler (18-1)
• Henrik Stenson, Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood (20-1)
• Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott (28-1)

Let’s take a closer look at Garcia. When he won at Augusta, he made it over a huge mental hurdle, winning his first major. So far this year, he has made almost $3 million in 11 tournaments, making each cut. In eight of those tournaments, he has placed in the top 25. His scoring average per round (69.359) is #3 in the PGA Tour, and his strength is his accuracy. He nails 70.42 percent of his greens in regulation (#6 in the Tour).

What About Rickie Fowler?

Rickie Fowler is another interesting bet to consider. He has made 11 of 14 cuts this season, and he has finished in the top 10 in seven tournaments, winning one, coming in second in another, and finishing third twice, earning over $4.2 million so far on the year. He has the best scoring average (69.161) in the Tour, and he is also tops in sand saves. His driving distance (298.9 yards) ranks just #40, but Royal Birkdale isn’t the longest course out there. The problem with Fowler is that he tends to play streaky golf. He can either fall apart at the worst time or run off a string of incredible birdies. The need to play four consistent days of golf at Royal Birkdale will pose a significant challenge for him.

Where’s Matsuyama?

Hideki Matsuyama is another golfer who sits a little bit down the odds table who has an excellent chance. He has won two tournaments and came in second on three other occasions over 15 tournaments. He tied for second at the U.S. Open, nailing a 66 in that Sunday round. He has totaled almost $6 million in winnings so far this year. His confidence should be right where it needs to be for him to put on a great show across the pond. Brit Tommy Fleetwood, just 26, has the top ranking on the European Tour this season. He averages a respetable 69.43 strokes per round and nails the ball 300.8 yard per drive. With that home crowd behind him, Fleetwood could put together a stellar four days. Brooks Koepka enters the Open on the momentum of his first major victory, thanks to that 67 he shot on Sunday at the U.S. Open to secure the win. He ranks #9 in the PGA Tour in driving distance (307.6 yards), and he has made a little over $4 million so far this year.

Scott is Really Down

Adam Scott sits further down the odds table at 33-1. However, he enters his 14th Open having picked up top-ten finishes in five of the last six. The Open was at Birkdale most recently in 2008, and Scott came in 16th there. He put up a ninth-place finish at the Masters earlier this year, so he is definitely capable of coming up big on the game’s grandest stages. I see McIlroy finding some motivation playing back in the United Kingdom and putting together a strong run. I also see Matsuyama continuing that strong play — and breaking through.

2017 British Open Schedule

• Thursday, July 20th. 1:30 a.m.-4 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
• Friday, July 21st. 1:30 a.m.-4 p.m. ET, Golf Channel
• Saturday, July 22nd. 4:30 a.m.-7 a.m. ET, Golf Channel. 7 a.m.-3 p.m. ET, NBC. 4:30 p.m.-6 p.m. ET (encore), NBC.
• Sunday, July 23rd. 4 a.m.-7 a.m. ET, Golf Channel. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. ET (edited), NBC.

Final 2017 British Open Prediction

Garcia’s strong play at Augusta and throughout this year intrigues me as well. So in the top positions, I’m going with Matsuyama, Garcia and McIlroy to be at the top of the table when the dust clears on Sunday.