All eyes are on the Open Championship this week and it doesn’t get more exciting in the golfing world.
There are many storylines heading into the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews, including Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, and Xander Schauffele.
Golf betting is available for every player in the final major of the year.
Let’s check the latest golf news, stats, injury reports, and golf odds for Open Championship. We’ve plenty of picks and predictions for you to consider.
Have a Gander at Xander
Xander Schauffele has shredded the tag of being a golfer who is always around the top of the leaderboard but doesn’t win. He has put together consecutive wins in the Travelers Championship and Scottish Open, so he’s the man to beat.
Confidence is a golfer’s best asset and the American is brimming with it following a classy win in Scotland. He held off an Open Championship-quality field and it was an excellent follow-up to his win on home soil.
Many of the world’s best golfers struggled, including Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm, so that puts Schauffele at the top of our list. He adjusted to links golf best, and although it’s not always pretty, he understands how to cope.
“It’s what links golf promotes, getting the ball in the hole. I was telling myself that: it doesn’t really have to be pretty,” Schauffele told PGA Tour. “It wasn’t very pretty, unfortunately, but I got the ball in the hole and one better than everyone else.”
There is a worry about the lack of golf Schauffele has played at St. Andrews, but he’s excited to check it out.
“I’m not really one to get too excited to go to a new golf course,” Schauffele said, “but I’m pretty excited to go to this one.”
The sportsbook has Schauffele at +1400 to win the Open Championship. Prior to these latest victories, he was around +2200, so there has been a steady flow of betting support.
Pick: Xander Schauffele +1400
Woods to Create More Magic?
If you have seen how brittle Tiger Woods’ legs look, you’d forgive him for missing the cut at the Open Championship. However, the G.O.A.T has defied belief before, so we’re not going to doubt him.
Woods has been battling serious injuries, but he’s committed to playing this week and he’ll attract a huge crowd.
“This is going to be a special week of golf, and having many of the sport’s great champions and future stars play in this event is a great way to mark this historic championship,” Woods said in a statement. “St. Andrews has such a unique atmosphere, and I’m looking forward to playing in front of the fans again and on a course that holds fantastic memories for me.”
Bettors get huge golf odds for Woods, who is currently trading at +6000. He is always worth a bob each way, as he showed when winning the 2019 Masters.
Pick: Tiger Woods +6000
Stars Aligning for McIlroy
Rory McIlroy hasn’t won a major since 2014, so the Northern Irishman is long overdue. However, the current tournament favorite has been in solid form.
The +1000 Open Championship favorite won the RBC Canadian Open last month before finishing T5 at the U.S. Open. His most recent tournament result was a T10 at the Travelers Championship, so we’re not shocked at his odds.
McIlroy is due a major victory, and although that comes with added pressure, there is no better place for him than St. Andrews. He has a wealth of experience playing The Old Course and he has been backed with confidence in betting online markets.
He is typically a good bet and gives bettors a run for their money. Despite his eight-year major drought, he has to be on your ticket for the 2022 Open Championship and the odds are appealing.
Pick: Rory McIlroy +1000
Woodland Back in Contention
Gary Woodland, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, did a disappearing act following his breakthrough win, but he’s back in form as the Open Championship approaches.
The smooth-swinging American finished T10 at the 2022 U.S. Open and he was in contention at the Scottish Open for most of the year. He didn’t fire in the final round but being around the top of the leaderboard is a positive.
We think bookmakers have missed him at +8000 and those odds are worth snapping up. He’s a value pick and he has handled Open Championship conditions, so playing at St. Andrews won’t be an issue.
Pick: Gary Woodland +8000
