The Open Championship Preview : World Number One Bids to Win First Open Title

Last Updated : 16th July, 2018 By Steve A

VENUE

Carnoustie

TIME

Thursday 19 July

BROADCAST

Live on Sky Sports

See Stats

The 147th Open Championship starts at Carnoustie in Scotland on Thursday. Our preview looks ahead to the tournament with many players being leading contenders.

A Tough Puzzle to Solve

When it's 12/1 the field you know that finding a winner isn't going to be an easy task. That's the case with the Open this week as the best players in the world travel to Scotland. There are many challengers for the title so let's take a look at some of them. Justin Thomas is top of the US Money list and ranked second in the world but has a poor record in this tournament. His highest finish has been 53rd and he missed the cut last year after rounds of 67 and then a disastrous 80. He won the USPGA last year but will do well to get in contention here.

Rory McIlroy won the Open in 2014, missed it the following year but has had two top five finishes in the past couple of years. He won the Arnold Palmer Invitational tournament this year,, finished fifth in the Masters but missed the cut at the US Open. He tends to blow hot and cold but if he get off to a good start, he's more than capable of winning a second Open.

Others to consider include this year's Masters Champion Patrick Reed. His last three Majors have seen him finish 2nd, 1st and 4th and his best result in the Open was 12th in 2016 having finished 20th the year before, he's a good each-way shot. Another for the shortlist is the Swede Alexander Noren who has won on the US Tour this year, finished fourth in the Masters, recently won in France and had two top ten finishes in this tournament.

Get odds of 25/1 on Alexander Noren to win the Open with Betfair (18+, Ts & Cs Apply. Please Gamble Responsibly)

Rose Preparing for Battle

It was twenty years ago that Justin Rose finished fourth in the Open as a teenage amateur. Remarkably that remains his best finish in the tournament and this year he's thoroughly prepared for his title bid. Rose is currently the world number three and since last August he's had 17 top ten finishes including four wins. He finished 10th in the recent US Open and since then has returned to the UK as he prepares for the Open. Rose has won the Scottish Open in the past and finished ninth in that tournament last week breaking 70 in each round. A srong challenge for the title is surely overdue, could this be his year?

There are some great odds on Justin Rose wining the Open of 16/1 with Boylesports (18+, Ts & Cs Apply. Please Gamble Responsibly)

Dustin Johnson Arrives in Form for Open Bid

Dustin Johnson is the current world number one and is second behind Justin Thomas on the US Money List. He's only a few hundred thousand dollars behind though and has played four less tournaments. Johnson has only won one Major so far, that being the US Open two years ago. He's had several top ten finishes though and finished tenth at Augusta this year and third in the US Open.

Last year was a difficult one for Johnson after he hurt himself falling down some stairs at  a rented home prior to the Masters last year. He's shown good form this year with two wins on the US tour including a six-stroke win at the St Jude Classic. He hasn't played since the US Open which is a slight worry but he is a good links player with three top ten finishes at this tournament and well worth backing each way.

Current odds for Dustin Johnson to win the Open are 14/1 with 188Bet (18+, Ts & Cs Apply. Please Gamble Responsibly)reebets.rg.uk P

Freebets.org.uk Prediction

It's never easy workiing out who's going to win a golf tournament, even in the days when Tiger Woods dominated. It'd be great to see him back in contention but unlikely. This preview suggests a bet on Rory McIlroy. He's won in the USA this year, did well at the Masters and has a strong record in this tournament.

Get odds of 18/1 on Rory McIlroy winning the Open with BetStars (18+, Ts & Cs Apply. Please Gamble Responsibly)