Categories
PGA Golf

2014 PGA British Open Betting Odds Preview | Picks

British Open Prediction

The world’s best gather at Royal Liverpool Golf Club this week for the 2014 British Open. The last time the Open was played here Tiger was on top of the heap – not many are expecting that to happen again.

2014 British Open
Location: Hoylake, England, United Kingdom
Course: Royal Liverpool GC
Date: Jul 17-20, 2014
Defending Champion: Phil Mickelson ($1,442,141)
Golf Odds from Bovada

Royal Liverpool will play 7,312 yards on its par 72 layout, with four par 3s and four par 5s on the scorecard. As with every British Open those who have had success on links style courses have the edge – course history and knowledge of this type of golf may be more important than present form – although Phil Mickelson carried his momentum from last year’s Scottish Open win into a victory in the 2013 Open.

Landing the ball in the fairways will be typically critical in this year’s edition of the Open as will strong long iron play. This is one event in which players will play irons off the tee in favor of driver. As mentioned earlier, perhaps the most important thing to look at when determining a winner this week is familiarity with links style golf – a hot putter on Royal Liverpool’s predictably hard and fast greens will also help.

So who should we keep our eyes on this week – let’s take a look.

The Favorites:

Justin Rose 14/1

Everyone is looking at Rose this week off two straight wins – Quicken Loans National and Scottish Open. He is playing as well as any pro on the planet right now. He has yet to finish top 10 as a pro in a British Open however but he did have a top 10 as an amateur way back in 1998. His history in Open company scares the heck out of me – his present form relaxes me just a tad. That said winning three tournaments in a row is incomprehensible especially in an event he has traditionally struggled at.

Rory McIlroy 14/1

Just can’t seem to put four rounds together lately! If he could eliminate Fridays we may be talking about a Rory with multiple wins already. He has 13 top 25s in 14 starts this year but is another that has struggled in British Opens and links golf. His T14 after shooting a course record at the Scottish Open last week is certainly reason for optimism – his inconsistency is not.

Adam Scott 16/1

World Number 1 hasn`t been seen since a T9 at the US Open. He always shows up in majors – he has finished second and third in his last two British Opens. The last time this event was held at Royal Liverpool Scott finished eighth. He is superb with his long irons making him an obvious favorite this week.

Henrik Stenson 16/1

Finished second in the Open last year – one of three top 3s in his career at this event. He was quiet at the beginning of the year but has definitely started to trend upward – big time! He has a T7, 5th, T4 (U.S. Open), and T2 in his last four worldwide starts. Stenson finished 48th the last time the Open was held here but his iron play should keep him right in the hunt this week.

The Contenders:

Tiger Woods 18/1

Worth a mention but off back surgery and a missed cut, don`t expect a whole lot.

Martin Kaymer 20/1

Slipped under my radar in the US Open – that won`t happen again! The bigger event – the better Kaymer seems to play as evidenced by his wins at THE PLAYERS and U.S. Open. His only top 10 in this event came in 2010 – a seventh place finish. Other than that he`s struggled. Kaymer is coming off a missed cut after the US Open (understandable) and a T12 in France two weeks ago.

Phil Mickelson 20/1

Defending champion has ZERO top 10s in his last 14 starts – unreal! He is coming off a T11 at the Scottish Open – a good sign but as always, I have no idea what to think of Phil!

Graeme McDowell 25/1

Won the French Open a couple of weeks ago and had a T6 in Ireland two weeks before that – his form can`t be questioned ahead of the Open. McDowell will be out to avenge poor performances in the other majors this year and is an intriguing 25/1 this week.

Sergio Garcia 25/1

Has the distinction of being the “Best without a Major Title” – something he hopes to change this week! The last time the Open was held here Garcia finished T5 and he has seven top 10s in this event in the last 14 years. He was last seen finishing T2 at the Travelers after the US Open. Garcia has the game – the question is whether or not he has mastered the mental side of the game!

Dustin Johnson 33/1

DJ is a bomber who should be able to eat up the par 5s and do some damage with his long irons. He has made four of five cuts in this event with two top 10s including a T2 in 2011. Johnson has been playing well overall and was T4 in the last Major – the US Open. He has yet to win on the biggest stages but his love of links style golf and his distance make him a contender this week for sure!
[soliloquy id=”82219″]
Jason Day 33/1

Somehow has never recorded a top 10 in this event but his form at present is very good. He is a guy that raises the level of his game this higher the stakes and there is no bigger stage than the Open!

Jordan Spieth 33/1

Has been terrific this year – no matter the track. He has top 20 in 15 of his 19 starts in 2014 – five top 20s in a row heading into this week. He was T7 at the John Deere last week – no task looks too big for this kid. Although I love his game I don`t necessarily like his chances this week – familiarity with links golf is lacking and his T44 at the Open last year has me looking elsewhere.

Rickie Fowler 33/1

Has really been coming on – three straight top 15s ahead of the Open including a T2 at the US Open and a T8 in Scotland. He has made three of four British Open cuts with a top 5 in 2011. Fowler looks prime for a breakthrough – it may come this week!

Bubba Watson 40/1

Bubba`s game doesn`t seem to suit a links track but Bubba has a knack at surprising us. He has two wins, two T2s and a third in 2014 and has to hope that his accuracy matches up with his power this week. You don`t see Bubba at 40/1 very often!

Lee Westwood 40/1

Is always a factor in Majors somehow. He has top three finishes in three of the last five British Opens – incredible but just can`t seem to get that elusive win. His present form isn`t great – I wouldn`t count on the trend reversing itself this week.

Luke Donald 40/1

Has top fives in two of the past five Opens but also has two missed cuts over that span.

Matt Kuchar 40/1

Has nine top 10s this year and had a T9 (2012) and T15 (2013) in the last two editions of the Open. Kuch is a premier ball striker that could emerge this week.

The Sleepers (50/1 or higher):

Angel Cabrera 50/1

Loving Angel this week. He is coming off a win at Greenbrier and had two top 25s prior to that. He finished seventh the last time the Open was held here and was T11 in the Open last year. Cabrera is terrific with his long irons and could be a serious factor this week!

Hideki Matsuyama 50/1

Looks like the best value on the board. He won at Memorial a few weeks back and was T6 in his first ever British Open start – last year. Matsuyama has been in every event he`s entered lately – I am expecting more of the same this week.

Ian Poulter 50/1

Is another guy that seems to save his best for Majors. He has top 10s in his last two appearances at the Open including a third last year. He finished T17 in the last Major – the US Open but missed the cut the last time the Open was played here. Translation – he is a tough one to figure out!

Zach Johnson 50/1

Is coming off a second at the John Deere and has two top 10s in this event to go along with another two top 20s in the last eight years.

Ernie Els 66/1

Finished third on this track in the 2006 British Open and has continued to light it up at this event – top 10 in five of the past eight years with one win. He knows how to play this event and is a very intriguing 66/1

Jim Furyk 66/1

Finished T12 at the U.S. Open in his last start and was fourth the last time the Open was contested on this track.

The Pick:

The pick this week is Adam Scott at 16/1 – not a shocking pick but a smart one. He has finished second and third in this event the last two years and no other tournament should motivate him more after his collapse a couple of years ago. Scott enters a tad under the radar – watch out!

The sleeper is Angel Cabrera at 50/1. He always shows up big in majors – he also enters on the heels of three straight top 25s including a win at Greenbrier Classic.

VIEW OUR TOP CAPPERS PICKS FOR ALL SPORTS – EVERY SINGLE DAY 24/7 —–>

By DaveB

Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.