By Chris Havlicek
Updated 7/17/24 9:03pm ET
Golf’s final major this season will occur in Ayrshire, Scotland for the 152nd edition of The Open Championship at Royal Troon
Golf fans will see some familiar faces atop the betting boards. Scottie Scheffler enters as the clear favorite (+450), while Rory McIlroy (+850) is the second favorite as he continues to pursue his first major victory in a decade.
Scheffler already has six wins this season and has earned a record $28 million but he has a chance to move into rarified air if he can pick up another major championship along with his two green jackets.
Joining Scottie and Rory among the favorites are PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele, U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Åberg, Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, and Brooks Koepka. While Schauffele and DeChambeau already have trophies on their mantle from this season, Morikawa happens to be in the midst of a career statistical year, and Åberg is putting on a memorable rookie run despite not yet claiming a victory.
Dates/Location:
What: The Open Championship
Where: Royal Troon Golf Club, Scotland
When: Thursday-Sunday, July 18 – July 21st
Purse: $17 Million
Defending Champion: Brian Harman
The Course:
Known as one of Scotland’s greatest links courses, Royal Troon offers a challenging test from tee to green. The last time the Open Championship was held here was in 2016 when Henrik Stenson triumphed over Phil Mickelson in an impressive finish. This time around, the par-71 layout has been extended to 7,385 yards, making it nearly 200 yards longer than it was eight years ago.
Troon’s design follows the traditional out-and-back layout of the Old Course at St Andrews. The course starts with a relatively gentle opening through some of the most breathtaking links terrain found at any Open venue. The front nine usually plays downwind and offers numerous birdie opportunities. However, the back nine, which is mostly played into the wind, is famously challenging and is considered one of the toughest finishes in the world.
Odds: Top 10 (Courtesy of FanDuel):
Scottie Scheffler +450
Rory McIlroy +850
Xander Schauffele +1100
Ludvig Aberg +1600
Collin Morikawa +1600
Bryson DeChambeau +1800
Jon Rahm +2500
Tommy Fleetwood +2500
Tyrell Hatton +2800
Viktor Hovland +3300
Keys To Victory:
Success at Royal Troon depends heavily on positioning the ball in the fairway and keeping it in play off the tee. The club’s motto is “As much by skill as by strength.” Missing the fairways typically results in a bogey so using the driver involves significant risk. Windy conditions can cause shots with excessive height and spin to end up in the deep, foot-long fescue rough. Similarly, low-binding shots that run through the fairway due to a poor tee shot angle can yield the same result. Fairway bunkers pose a significant challenge on the course,
Rain and gusty winds are expected for Thursday’s opening round, and blustery conditions could continue into the weekend. Those who can effectively navigate the varying elements on the Scottish coast will have an advantage and may find themselves at the top of the leaderboard come Sunday evening.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock
