This will be the 148th edition of the Open and will serve as only the 2nd Open Championship in history to take place outside of England or Scotland. It will feel particularly significant for the Northern Irish golfing fraternity, who probably never have envisaged hosting an Open Championship in the midst of all that sectarian violence.
It’s that time of the year again, where Wuthering Heights enthusiasts and golfing fanatics can join for a common cause. The recently rejigged PGA Tour schedule did right by one thing- it allowed for the grandest event in world golf to close out the Major schedule. There’s just something about the savage beauty of links courses that emotionally connect with me. It hints at a time past whilst keeping its feet firmly planted in the present.
The European Tour 2019 | The Open Championship
The Dunluce Links, Royal Portrush, Portrush, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Thursday 18 July - Sunday 21 July 2019
Royal Portrush played host to the Open in 1951 in an event won by the colourful Max Faulkner, a man famed for his sartorial panache. Located on an exposed expanse hugging the North Atlantic coastline, Royal Portrush is comprised of two courses: the Valley Course and the Championship Course. Originally designed by Old Tom Morris in 1888, the Dunluce Course underwent a drastic redesign by the famed Harry Colt in 1932. With the demands of hosting Open Championship galleries ever-increasing, the course underwent yet another overhaul. The 17th and 18th holes - viewed by many to be the least spectacular holes on the course - were transformed into the mandatory spectator village. Two new holes added length to the course and allow for an even more dramatic finish.
Key Hole: the 16th - known as Calamity: Formally the 14th hole, this fiendishly difficult par 3 will now be part of a challenging final three holes, followed by the drivable par 4 17th.
The Championship Course will - as with any other links course - be beholden to the coastal weather conditions. This part of Northern Ireland is said to be particularly mercurial, with all four seasons likely to be experienced on a given day. With less than 70 bunkers, this course will actually feature fewer bunkers than any other Open Course on rotation. Having said that, it’s the devilish greens that are its chief insurance. Scrambling will prove key this week, as it generally does in Open Championships. The course will certainly favour those with length, but the rough is said to be fairly treacherous this week. So it will hardly be a bomber’s paradise in Northern Ireland this week.
Rory McIlroy goes in as the favourite this week. And it’s not just based on Northern Irish sentiment. Rory shot a 61 here - the course record - when playing as a 16-year-old amateur. He has top 5 finishes in his last 3 Open Championships. Brooks Koepka has gone slightly off the boil post-Pebble Beach, though the return of Major Championship golf may be enough to stir him from his hibernation. Jon Rahm’s closing 62 in the Irish Open must put him in the reckoning for a maiden Major title. And haven’t I mentioned Tiger Woods? Seriously, there are enough subplots at play here to fuel a Sherlock Holmes mystery. After the sporting histrionics of last weekend, one thing should be guaranteed. This will be one to remember.
Past Winners
2018: Francesco Molinari (-8)
2017: Jordan Spieth (-12)
2016: Henrik Stenson (-20)
2015: Zach Johnson (-15)*playoff
2014: Rory McIlroy (-17)
Outright Betting (To Win)
Rory McIlroy (9/1)
Brooks Koepka (12/1)
Dustin Johnson (17/1)
Jon Rahm (17/1)
Tiger Woods (18/1)
Value Bets
Matt Kuchar
To Win (40/1), To Place (8/1)
The metronomic Kuchar has had an extraordinary season that has been blighted somewhat by petty controversies. But the man - affectionately or boorishly regarded as Kuuch - enters this event in fine shape. He finished solo 2nd at Birkdale in 2017. He followed that up with another top 10 at Carnoustie last year. His two victories on the PGA Tour this season came in windy, coastal events: he won the Mayakoba event and Sony Open. He is inside the top 10 for scrambling on the PGA Tour, making him an ideal pick this week. His low ball trajectory will always make him dangerous on links courses.
Rafa Cabrera Bello
To Win (66/1), To Place (13/1)
The Spaniard has been in blistering form of late, with three consecutive top 10 finishes leading up to the Open. That included brilliant links form at the Irish and Scottish Open. He had that Irish Open in the palm of his hands, only for an error-strewn final round to ruin his chances and hand the initiative to Jon Rahm. Cabrera Bello has historical links pedigree to add to his recent form. He is a former Scottish Open Champion. He also managed a tie for 4th at Royal Birkdale in 2017.
Tyrell Hatton
To Win (90/1), To Place (18/1)
This one just screams value at 90/1. Tyrell Hatton is a past links master who has just battled for form this season. His decision to switch allegiance to the PGA Tour has produced fairly innocuous results. He had a top 10 at the Fort Worth event before a creditable top 25 finish at Pebble Beach. He troublingly missed the cut at the Irish Open but made amends with a top 15 last week. History seems to suggest that Scottish Open form is far more predictive of Open Championship success than the Irish Open. The two-time Alfred Dunhill Links Champion has top 5’s in both the Irish Open and Scottish Open, plus a top 5 at the 2016 Open Championship. Has to be worth a shot in the place markets at 18/1.
The Man to Beat
Patrick Cantlay
To Win (33/1), To Place (13/2)
Patrick Cantlay strikes me as the value bet towards the upper end of the market, despite his relative lack of Open Championship experience. He made his Open debut at Carnoustie last year, finishing in a highly creditable tie for 12th. He currently tops the PGA Tour in bogey avoidance - which is always critical in Open Championships: just look at Molinari’s bogey-free weekend last year. Cantlay nearly won the Masters earlier this year prior to a 3rd in the PGA Championship. I was just so impressed with the way he closed out at Memorial. I have the feeling that this could be another great week for the rapidly rising American star.
Top European
Rafa Cabrera Bello (22/1)
For the reasons I stated earlier, this one just has value written all over it.
Top South African
Brandon Stone (12/1)
This one is always tricky, with South African players often producing their best golf on links courses. There have been several winners on both tours this year. Dylan Frittelli broke through last week while the likes of Bezuidenhout and Van Rooyen have shone. And there’s always the spectre of Major aficionado Louis Oosthuizen to deal with. Brandon Stone just looks a good price at 12/1. He almost shot 59 en route to the Scottish Open title last year. This year he didn’t quite repeat the heroics, but he did shoot up the leaderboard and was firmly in contention.
Written by Damien Kayat for Hollywoodbets
from Hollywoodbets Sports Blog https://ift.tt/2LmcdiA
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