Rory Mcllroy is not the favorite of the New Jersey bookmakers to win the Open Championship next a month. Nor is fellow-countryman Graeme McDowell.
American Brooks Koepke, at around +700 (7/1), is their pick.
The two Northern Irishmen are, however, the clear emotional favorites for golf’s oldest major – and why not? Now the season’s final major, it is set to return to Northern Ireland for the first time in 58 years.
It’s to be played at famed Royal Portrush, which, of course, is in the town where McDowell grew up. It’s also just a short journey away from Holywood where Mcllroy has his roots.
After a disappointing US Open – he finished 9th after starting as a favorite – Mcllroy is a 2nd favorite for The Open. At +800 he is close behind World No 1 Brooks Koepke on a closely-packed futures list of odds.
Almost as close behind him are three others who would have come away from Pebble Beach feeling disappointed. They are Dustin Johnson (+1000), Tiger Woods (+1200) and Justin Rose (+1600).
Johnson-Woods never really contended at Pebble Beach.
Johnson (35th) and Woods (21st) never really contended at Pebble Beach and finished out of sight on the top 10 leader board. Rose finished in a 4-way tie for 3rd. However, he would have been disappointed that he was unable to successfully finish off his strong 54-hole charge.
Ironically, the man who would have been happiest coming away from Pebble Beach is only a +5000 (50/1) shot for Royal Portrush. He is, of course, the first-time major winner of the US Open, Gary Woodland.
Woodland did a magnificent job of holding off Koepke, currently the most difficult man to beat in a major. Koepke was coming off a second at the Masters in April and a win in the PGA Championship in May. Furthermore, he was bidding for a 3rd straight US Open title and a 5th major in the past three seasons.
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In the circumstances, it is hardly a surprise then that he is once again a favorite to win the next major.
What is a surprise that Woodman and McDowell have been down-graded to joint 50th?
McDowell has not contended much since his 2010 win in the US Open, it’s true. However, he looked good in finishing 16th at Pebble Beach. And Royal Portrush and home turf might just spark a rush that gets him up amongst the front runners on Day 4.
At 50/1 he certainly looks a good bet, if not for a win, then for a place. And you can say the same about Woodland.
He is an all-around athlete who switched from basketball to golf midway through College. For some time now he’s been knocking on the door to the big time. His big breakthrough at Pebble Beach could raise his confidence sky high and take him there. Right now he’s as good an outsider as it gets.
Leading odds for 2019 British Open
Brooks Koepka 7/1
Rory Mcllroy 8/1
Dustin Johnson 10/1
Tiger Woods 12/1
Justin Rose 16/1
Jordan Spieth 20/1
Francesco Molinari 20/1
Rickie Fowler 20/1
Jon Rahm 20/1
Xander Schauffele 25/1
Patrick Cantlay 25/1
Tommy Fleetwood 25/1
Justin Thomas 30/1
Jason Day 30/1
Adam Scott 30/1
Louis Oosthuizen 40/1
Hideki Matsuyama 40/1
Sergio Garcia 40/1
Henrik Stenson 40/1
Matt Kuchar 40/1
Bryson DeChambeau 40/1
Paul Casey 50/1
Tony Finau 50/1
Graeme McDowell 50/1
Phil Mickelson 50/1
Gary Woodland 50/1.
