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ESPN staff
The PGA Tour heads to the Old Course in St. Andrews in Scotland for the 2022 Open Championship this Thursday. Three-time winner Tiger Woods will return to the big stage after missing the US Open last month. The field will also include 15 other former champions, including Phil Mickelson, Colin Morikawa and Jordan Spieth. Woods enters the Open at 65-1 odds to win another Claret Jug, while Rory McIlroy is the 9-1 betting favourite. Other contenders include Scottish Open champion Xander Schaufele and Masters winner Scotty Scheffler.
Where is the betting value? Will the favorites prevail? Our golf and betting experts analyze the field for the last major tournament of the year.
Go to Section: Expert Picks for Profit | Choose bet value to win | Odds of Notable Golfers | Props etc
Expert choices
Rory McIlroy enters St. Andrews Old Course as the favorite to win the 150th Open Championship. Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images
Matt Barry, ESPN Winner: Rory McIlroy
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Michael Eaves, ESPN Winner: Rory McIlroy
Charlotte Gibson, ESPN.com Winner: Rory McIlroy
Andy North, ESPN Winner: Jon Rahm
Make your choice and compete for a chance to win $5,000! Make your choice
Mark Schlabach, ESPN.com Winner: Jordan Spieth
Marty Smith, ESPN Winner: Will Zalatoris
Curtis Strange, ESPN Winner: Cameron Smith
Wright Thompson, ESPN.com Winner: Tiger Woods
Paolo Ughetti, ESPN.com Winner: Will Zalatoris
Tom Van Haaren, ESPN.com Winner: Will Zalatoris
Scott Van Pelt, ESPN Winner: Jordan Spieth
Kevin Van Valkenburgh, ESPN.com Winner: Max Homa
Josh Winefuss, ESPN.com Winner: Rory McIlroy
Selection of bet value to win
Our betting experts give you winning picks based on value. We take a look at the betting board and tell you who has the best chance of cashing in on your ticket.
Xander Schauffele enters the Open Championship on a hot streak with three wins in his last seven events. Luke Walker/R&A/R&A via Getty Images
Michael Collins, ESPN Senior Golf Analyst Winner: Tommy Fleetwood (28-1)
Why he’ll win: It’s strange to think that Fleetwood is coming into the week under the radar. He finished T-4 at the Scottish Open, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he competes this weekend.
David Bierman, Deputy Sports Betting Editor, ESPN.com Winner: Xander Schaufele (16-1)
Why he’ll win: At 16-1, Schaufele has tremendous value, with straight wins and three wins in his last seven events. He’s in the top 10 in approach, tee-to-green and overall, but is still +500 longer than McIlroy. He has nine top 10s at majors and is just one win away. No need to overthink this.
Chris Falica, ESPN Betting Analyst Winner: Jordan Spieth (16-1)
Why he’ll win: Spieth appeared to be preparing for The Open last week in Scotland. Although he would have liked to win, he spent the weekend focusing on parts of the game that will come in handy at St Andrews. He has a win and a runner-up finish here since finishing T-4 in 2015, and his game looks to be in a good place on Thursday.
Tyler Fulgham, ESPN Betting Analyst Winner: Tony Finau (40-1)
Why he’ll win: There are several top-tier players waiting to break through for their first major championship that I like this weekend, but Finau offers the best price. His track record at The Open and links-style courses speaks for itself: top 15 finishes in each of his last three Opens. He is also in good form and enters St Andrews with top 13 finishes in three of his last four starts.
Joe Fortenbaugh, ESPN Betting Analyst Winner: Max Homa (50-1)
Why he’ll win: I’m getting odds of 50-1 on the healthy golfer, who has already scored two tour wins this season, most recently at the Wells Fargo in May. Homa has been incredibly consistent this season, finishing in the top 20 in 10 of his last 15 stroke play events, while making a breakthrough in all three major championships this season. Throw in the fact that he finished 40th last year in his first Open start and I’m happy to go 50-1.
Anita Marks, ESPN Betting Analyst Winner: Patrick Cantlay (20-1) Cantlay has been flying low on the radar but has been playing phenomenal golf lately. He has missed the cut just once in his last six starts but has finished 14th or better with three top 5s. He ranks in the top 10 in par-4 scoring and should dominate the putting this week.
Doug Kezirian ESPN Betting Analyst Winner: Dustin Johnson (30-1)
Why he’ll win: His game isn’t in perfect shape right now, but 30-1 for a player of his caliber is too good to pass up. The man finished T-14 at St. Andrews in 2010 and has four top-10 finishes at the major, including last year.
Odds to win the 2022 Open Championship
Odds on Notable Golfers at Caesars Sportsbook
Golfer WinT-10 Final Rory McIlroy9-1+130Xander Schaufele14-1+165Scotty Scheffler16-1+190Jordan Spieth16-1+190Jon Rahm16-1+175Matthew Fitzpatrick18-1+200Justin Thomas18-1+220Shane Lowry20-1+275222Cameron Smithley -1+ 275Colin Morikawa25-1+250Will Zalatoris25-1+275Dustin Johnson30-1+300Hideki Matsuyama40-1+400Tiger Woods65-1+600
Props etc
Our betting experts have more than just winning bets. Here are some props to target for the entire event, from top 10s to cuts made to tournament matches.
Xander Schauffele finishes in top 20 (-125) Bearman/Fallica: This prop has been in the money in seven straight events this season and in 14 of Schauffele’s 21 career majors. His top 20 price has dropped from +200, but he’s still a steal at -125.
Tiger Woods to make cut (-145) Bearman: Nobody wants Tiger to win this thing, and 60-1 isn’t far off the mark, but he’s planned his entire year around this event, even missing the US Open because of it. It is his favorite course and he lifted the Claret Jug in 2000 and 2005. Walking the course will be significantly easier on his rehabilitated leg than Augusta and Brooklyn. It just has to make it to Saturday.
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Sahith Theegala finishes in top 10 (+1200) Collins: Ignorance is not usually bliss, but Theegala will be the exception to that rule in his first start at The Open in St. Andrews.
Max Homa finished in the top 10 (+350)Fallica: Homa put together a solid first three rounds last week before falling on Sunday. He’s been outside the top 25 once since the Masters, is 13th on tour in strokes gained: tee-to-green and should improve here after touching The Open last year (T-40th) .
Shane Lowry finished in the top 20 (+130) Ratings: Lowry was playing great golf this season, off his putter. He’ll be back in his element on a links course where his game is top-notch and the rebounding will keep him in the top 20, if not higher.
Jordan Smith finishes in the top 40 (+150) Ratings: I picked Smith last week to finish in the top 20 and he did not disappoint. He has six straight top 25s on the DP World Tour and I expect him to pick up where he left off last week against a much tougher field.
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