Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland’s big British Open hope, is a firm favorite to win golf’s final major of 2019. And that’s not too surprising.
He will, after all, be standing on home soil when he tees off in the Open in two weeks’ time. And for the first time ever. Northern Irelands last Open Championship took place 58 years ago.
New Jersey’s 14 sportsbooks were pretty unanimous about his odds this Thursday. Without exception, they all had him tops at +800 (8/1)—but not as the sole favorite.
It was also no surprise that alongside him, also at +800, sat world No 1 Brooks Koepka, who, as we know, has won four majors since 2017.
This year he’s won the PGA Championship for the second year in a row and finished 2nd in the both the Masters and the US Open.
In other words he’s been looking very much like Tiger Woods in his hey-day. He becomes a pretty formidable gladiator every time he tees off in a major.
Although tied with McIlroy, he’s recently been as low as +600 with some international bookmakers. This was when they’ve had McIlroy at +1000.
Tiger Woods among top contenders
And Tiger? How does he stand for this year’s Open? Back after 10 years of toil and trouble, he sensationally beat Koepke in this year’s Masters but hasn’t contended since. Nor has he played any tournament golf since the US Open.
Yet he hasn’t been written off as he attempts to win his 16th major in pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ record 18.
On Thursday, some NJ sportsbooks like FanDuel had him tied in 3rd place with big bomber Dustin Johnson at +1200 (12/1). Others like 888sport had Johnson in third place at 11/1 with Woods behind him at 12/1.
England’s Justin Rose immediately followed them at +1800.
Next up were Spain’s in-form Jon Rahm and Italy’s Francesco Molinari, this year’s defending British Open champion. Both were at +2000.
Gary Woodland, the man who beat Koepke in last month’s US Open, is further back at +5000 (50/1).
This, however, was in sharp contrast to a bunch of other former British Open champions including Mark Calcavecchia, John Daly, David Duval and Tod Hamilton. All were at +20000 (200/1).
Here are this year’s Top 10 odds-to-win Open favorites:
(As of Thursday, July 4)
Brooks Koepka (USA) +800
Rory McIlroy (NIR) +800
Dustin Johnson (USA) +1100
Tiger Woods (USA) +1200
Justin Rose (ENG) +1200
Francesco Molinari (ITL) +2000
Jon Rahm (ESP) +2000
Rick Fowler (USA) +2000
Jordan Spieth (USA) +2000
Xander Schauffele (US) +2000.
