This weekend will be the last tournament of the year and also a weekend where we can enjoy another major tournament.
We’re heading to Royal Troon Golf Club in England for the British Open, which starts early Thursday morning.
Will this be the breakthrough major tournament for Rory McIlroy, recapturing past glory and making up for his recent disappointment at the U.S. Open?
Oddsmakers think that time may be coming, with BetRivers Sportsbook giving McIlroy the second-best odds for the tournament (+750), closely trailing Scottie Scheffler (+550).
McIlroy’s odds have been slowly but surely falling, with his best odds of +750 to win a PGA tournament featuring Scheffler since he was 6/1 at the BMW Championship in August 2023.
The start of the year has been tough for McIlroy, with a 16/1 bet at the RBC Heritage and then a disappointing performance at the U.S. Open.
But going into this major championship as something of a favorite shows just how serious a contender he is.
2024 British Open odds
| golfer | Odds |
|---|---|
| Scottie Schaeffler | +500 |
| Rory McIlroy | +800 |
| Xander Schauffele | 12/1 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | 14/1 |
| Collin Morikawa | 14/1 |
| Ludwig Aberg | 16/1 |
| Jon Rahm | 25/1 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | 25/1 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | 25/1 |
| Robert McIntyre | 33/1 |
| Viktor Hovland | 33/1 |
| Brooks Koepka | 40/1 |
| Shane Lowry | 40/1 |
2024 British Open Predictions
Some golfers seem unable to make decisions during the pressure moments of a major championship, but they are intriguing bettors.
We’ve already mentioned McIlroy, but let’s not forget Tommy Fleetwood and Tony Finau, neither of whom have won a major championship in their respective careers.
Will this time be different?
Fleetwood was runner-up to Shane Lowry at the 2019 British Open and runner-up to Brooks Koepka at the 2018 U.S. Open.
British professional golfers know this course well.
The only time Fleetwood has been worse than 25/1 in 2024 was when he tied for 49th at -3 in the RBC Heritage.
Learn more about the best US sports betting sites and apps
It was a disappointing performance, but the return of caddie Ian Finnis should help him this week.
That, combined with the fact that it’s on his home turf and his strong recent play (top-20 finishes in five of his last seven starts), makes him an intriguing player.
Meanwhile, Finau, who has had some major faux pas in his career, has finished in the top 10 in three consecutive tournaments.
Finau finished tied for third in a tightly contested U.S. Open tournament and appears poised to make a breakthrough.
Someone seems to be about to make a breakthrough, but who could it be?
For now, we’re placing small bets on these two moderate long shots.
Picks: Tommy Fleetwood (25/1, BetMGM) | Tony Finau (50/1, FanDuel)
