Well here it is folks, it’s the one that we’ve all been waiting for as we look forward to the final major on this year’s golfing calendar and some good auld Scottish Links golf with The 150th Open Championship at The Old Course, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland.
Before I continue with this week’s Open preview, I just want to say a huge thank you to every one of you for all your support and kind words. Honestly, I’ve been overwhelmed with so many nice messages, likes, DMs etc after selecting yet another winner in the shape of Xander Schauffele to win the Scottish Open.
It was some of the finest Scottish Links golf on show at The Renaissance Club but once again it was our main selection who came up trumps for the second time in as many weeks.
Xander Schauffele doubled up for both us and him after winning the Travelers Championship only a fortnight ago. Well done to everyone who followed my main selection last week and collected a tidy profit at the advised price of 20/1.
I’ll keep doing my homework week in and week out as we keep on track to smash last year’s £3.5 K profit, that’s just to a £10 stake, unbelievable. Seriously, it’s what makes it all worth my while knowing that I’ve helped so many too empty those bookies satchels while having fun watching golf, all I can say is well done to you all and long may it continue.
I’ll be hoping the good form continues as soon as this weekend up at the home of golf, St Andrews and on that note let’s get back to this week’s 150th Open Championship preview.
150th Open Championship Preview
The 156 field with the top 70 including ties making the cut, will all be competing for a share of the staggering £11.6 million ($14 million) prize purse with the winner collecting arguably the greatest ever title in the history of golf, The 150th Open Championship crown and a winners cheque for $2.5 M. Not bad for a weekends work!
Having singled out the winners at two of the three majors already this year with a second-place at the other, this is the one I want to land the most and I’ve had my radar on 24/7 for months now with one player, in particular, flashing up everywhere .
We’ve got a fantastic free 150th Open Championship fantasy competition with lots of prizes & giveaways on offer so why not enter your three players below and have some added fun and interest throughout the tournament.
Collin Morikawa returns to defend his Open Championship crown having won as a debutant last year at Royal St George’s where he held off his closet challenger Jordan Speith with two shots to spare .
So what player is most suited to the Old Course St Andrews this week?
That’s a really good question!
This is Links golf at its finest and with the huge prize at stake, I’d say it makes it even more of a level playing field or should I say golf course.
It’s going to be all about who can dazzle on the dance floors this week so a hot putter is pivotal. It’s also going to involve lots of thinking and working out the best way how to get on to these tricky greens. It’s what happens on these dance floors that will determine who’s dancing into the R & A clubhouse on Sunday evening.
The Old Course at St Andrew’s will be playing 7,313 yards long this week, it’s a par 72 links layout with spectacular scenery with some of the par fours reachable for the big hitters so expect plenty of birdie and eagle opportunities.
The weather is forecast to be mainly dry and warm for the most part with some showers and sunny spells in between. The breeze which will play a huge part in proceedings will peak at around 20mph, definitely enough for concern.
The tournament will be screened on Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Golf with live coverage starting at 6.30 am for the early birds on Thursday morning.
So without further ado let’s move on with this week’s selections for The 150th Open Championship at the home of golf, St Andrews.
Rory McIlroy
For my first and main selection, I can’t write this quick enough, you all know who it is eh? It’s the one I’ve been holding out for, the one and only Rory McIlroy 10/1 EW Bet365.
I’m sorry about the price everyone but I don’t make them up, not a good show from the firms I’m afraid, pure stingy but it proves they are all running scared of the ever-talented 33yrs old Irishman from Holytown. I can’t change my thoughts and instincts just because of the price and as I said, I’ve been holding out on Rory to win this for months now and nothing got in the way to change my mind.
I’ll hit you with some stunning stats and figures first then we’ll move on to performances.
Check this out everyone, it’s unbelievable, on the PGA Tour this year the Roaring Rory ranks 10th Going for the Green Birdie or better, 8th SG Putting,6th Birdie Average at 4.39, 5th Driving Distance at 317.3, 3rd SG Off The Tee, 2nd SG Tee To Green, 1st Scoring Average at 68.635 and finally keep the best for last 1st SG Total.
Phenomenal figures this year from the Roaring Rory of old!!
It’s no wonder that Rory now sees himself back up at No2 in the world rankings with the World No1 Scottie Scheffler in his sights. McIlroy has seven Top 20 finishes at the last seven times of asking .
He has three Top 10 finishes at all three majors this year but it gets even better to have a look; 2nd at The Maters, 5th when defending his title at the Wells Fargo, 8th at The USPGA Championship, T18th at the Memorial Tournament, T5th at the US Open, T19th at the Travelers Championship and yet again keep the best for last, Winner at the recent RBC Canadian Open.
All I can do is list the form with all the stats and figures for you to look at but more importantly go with my instinct and for months and months now it’s all pointing in the direction of Rory McIlroy to bag the most famous victory in golfing history.
He’s the dancer in a strictly Scottish Links lineup.
Xander Schauffele
For my next golf pick, I’m going to single out a player who is flashing up red all over my radar.
I just simply cannot leave out the player who’s done the damage for both us and him over the last fortnight Xander Schauffele 18/1 EW Bet365.
What a fortnight it’s been for the impressive 28yrs old Olympic Champion from San Diego, California.
I’ve been saying for a while now to keep an eye on Xander Schauffele and he’s certainly not disappointed.
The winner last weekend at the Scottish Open as predicted at 20/1 and also the Winner at his previous start only a fortnight before at the Travelers Championship, also advised at 20/1.
Xander Schauffele hadn’t won since claiming the gold medal at the Olympics in Tokyo more than one year ago and he also hadn’t won on the PGA Tour since bagging the Tour Championship in 2020, almost two years ago but I did tell you all recently, he was heading to victory anytime soon.
He has since delivered two titles, that’s why I have the radar plugged in constantly everyone, it doesn’t miss a beep.
If you’re a stats person then let’s have a peek at some of the figures that matter, on the PGA Tour this season Schauffele ranks 9th SG Approach The Green, 8th SG Tee To Green, 10th Greens in Regulation Percentage at 69.54, 4th Putting Average at 1.592, 4th Lowest Round at 61, 2nd Proximity to hole, and most importantly of all 1st Sand Save Percentage at 67.14.
The latter could be the clue to solving the puzzle with bunkers galore at St Andrews, not a problem to the man of the moment, Xander Schauffele as he bags his maiden major title and third victory in as many weeks to the delight of both us and him yet again.
Sam Burns
For my next suggestion, I’m going to look for some good old value now that both selections above are out the way. In my honest opinion, almost anyone in this field could win this. When you think of all the added pressure with a world audience tuning in and all that goes with it, it’s going to be a true test of dedication and determination with every tool in the bag in prime condition to become the 150th Open Champion.
The Old Course will open the door for all concerned and a player that’s caught my eye in the markets is Sam Burns 50/1 EW 1-8 places Bet365. I can’t believe this price but this time it’s stacked in our favour.
For those of you who regularly read my previews you’ll all know Sam Burns was another all over my radar in 2021. The 25yrs old kid from Louisiana has now won four PGA Titles since, just as I advised when he made his breakthrough on the PGA Tour over one year ago.
I tipped Sam Burns to win his maiden title at the Valspar Championship last year and also the WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational and he duly obliged. This year Burns has already doubled up his tally with two more victories. He successfully defended his Valspar Championship crown back in March and most recent of all, he claimed the Charles Schwab Challenge.
Honestly, it sometimes baffles me how these firms price up markets and none more so than this week to win The 150th Open Championship. Some firms are offering as low as 33/1 for Sam Burns to bag his first major in style so my advice is to thank the 50/1 on offer safe in the knowledge that a place in the Top 8 will return a tidy profit.
Burns could yet again produce more fireworks and ignite St Andrews and the passionate crowd with a spectacular show .
Could this be the first of many majors for the hot Sam Burns?
For my final selection it’s the customary Match bet Nap and this week I’m going to try and keep up my good record with the 5pts Banker SuperNap. No pressure then. I’m liking the look of Ryan Fox beating Tiger Woods 4/7 Nap Betfair over 72 holes. Tiger isn’t getting any younger and this may just be a test too much for the best player ever.
Open Championship Betting Tips
- Rory McIlroy 10/1 EW Bet365
- Xander Schauffeke 18/1 EW Bet365
- Sam Burns 50/1 EW Bet365
- Ryan Fox to beat Tiger Woods 4/7 Betfair 5pts Super Banker Nap.
Golf Competition
Don’t miss our Fantasy Golf Competition for The Open. There’s £250 in prizes to be won and EVERY entrant will get a £50 travel voucher from Golf Travel Centre.
The post Golf Betting: 150th Open Championship Betting Preview and Best Free Tips appeared first on MrFixitsTips.
