Scheffler Leads the Odds, But Europeans Are Favorites at the Open Championship
Scottie Scheffler, as expected, arrives at another major as the favorite in the betting. However, bettors are showing strong support for the European players ahead of the start of the Open Championship in Northern Ireland, and the bookmakers are adjusting their handicaps accordingly. Scheffler leads the odds table with +550, followed by Rory McIlroy (+750) and Jon Rahm (+1200), according to the betting lines. Bryson DeChambeau (+1800) is the only other American among the eight with the lowest odds, with European golfers occupying the next four places. The betting houses see Royal Portrush as a traditional European-style course where many players from the continent were forged in their beginnings, which could give them an advantage over Americans or other international players.A player who appears to be receiving preferential treatment for this reason is Tommy Fleetwood, who notably has never won a major and was close to securing his first PGA Tour victory at the Travelers Championship in June. The English golfer was runner-up the last time The Open was held at this course in 2019 and is a seven-time winner on the European Tour.I really like fields like this. A coastal field with links, you always have to take the wind into account. It definitely favors European players who are used to playing there… you always have to give them a little push.
Anthony Salleroli, lead sportsbook trader at Caesars Sportsbook
Avello also mentions Tyrrell Hatton (+2500), Matt Fitzpatrick (+4000) and Robert MacIntyre (+4000) as mid-range players who get a boost from the venue. The bettors seem to believe this could be Fleetwood’s week, as they have been backing him despite his inconsistent record. ESPN BET reports that 5.6% of the total bets are in favor of the 34-year-old player, the fourth-highest amount of any golfer in the field and only behind the top three leaders in the betting. In the words of Salleroli, “the public loves to support him.” Salleroli says that another player who is generating “great anticipation” this week is Rahm, who has the second-highest money backing (9.7%) on ESPN BET. Meanwhile, DeChambeau, who had been a popular option among bookmakers and public bettors in the first three majors, has dropped in the odds table and only had 3.3% of the total bets on ESPN BET, although he attracted a $5,000 bet at +2200 to win $110,000 on BetMGM. In terms of field adaptation and mentality, many bettors are looking at McIlroy, who is playing the tournament in his home country and is in better shape since his slump after his historic victory at the Masters. BetMGM points to him as their biggest liability, but bookmakers are even more cautious with him in live markets.Tommy Fleetwood is not a winner in golf. He’s been close in many tournaments, but he doesn’t win much. And he’s at 28-1, when in another major he would be at least 60.
Johnny Avello, director of sports betting at DraftKings
Salleroli agrees and also posits that Shane Lowry (+3000), who won the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush, could be another popular live bet if he is in contention.If Rory is a contender in this, we won’t be in good shape because we get a lot of money in the game. So, if Rory is going to be in the mix early, and it could be just a couple of holes, I could see the bettors jumping.
Johnny Avello
