Open Championship 2019 Betting and Odds Preview
After Tiger Woods’ spectacular win at the Masters, golf fans are pretty excited to see if the legendary American can win another major. Although it’s a difficult feat, Woods will have 3 more chances – the upcoming PGA Championship, the US Open, and the most prestigious tournament of them all – the Open.
The Open Championship (also referred to as British Open) is the oldest tournament in the history of the sport. It is organized by the R&A and held annually since 1860. It’s the only major played outside the USA and is always played on a links golf course at various locations across the UK. Traditionally, the tournament was held in mid-July. However, after the PGA Championship was moved to May in 2019, the Open will now serve as the fourth and final major of the season.
With a $10.5 (changed currency from GBP to USD in 2017) prize purse in 2018, The Open is a pretty lucrative tournament. It’s not about the money, though – it’s all about the prestige. If we can compare it with a non-golf tournament in terms of prestige, we can only think of Wimbledon, which is also held in the UK. Throughout the years, great golf champions have won The Open, with Harry Vardon sitting on the top with 6 trophies. Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods both have three.
Italian golfer Francesco Molinari won the last Open Championship 2 strokes ahead of Kevin Kisner, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, and Xander Schauffele. The golf odds at bookies last year didn’t really make Molinari a major favourite, yet the Italian managed to snatch his first major from the hands of far bigger golf stars.
This year, the Open Championship odds at bookies are in favour of Tiger Woods and McIlroy. The possible showdown between the two golfers and the favourites lurking in the shadows means that we’re probably in for another exciting weekend of golf in July.
Event Date: July 18-21, 2019
Tiger Woods – a Top Favourite Once Again
Last month, Tiger Woods produced a display for the ages at the Masters. It was the golfer’s 15th major and his first one in over a decade. It was an emotional moment for the legendary golfer, who got close to a new major on several occasions yet he couldn’t go all the way. Talk about him being ripe for retirement certainly raised made him feel pressured, yet true golf fans always knew that Woods should never be written off.
There’s a reason why Tiger Woods is among the top favourites for any tournament he enters. The man is a living legend in golf, currently trailing none other than Jack Nicklaus in terms of major titles (15 vs. 18). With his 5th trophy at the Masters, there’s a genuine belief among experts that Woods can win more majors this year, and bookies seem to agree.
Woods is sitting on the top of the list of favourites with odds of 8/1 at Bethard, Fun88, Mansion Bet, and Letou. The American golfer’s odds look solid to us – place a reasonable bet on him and you’ll earn almost 10 times your stake. Although winning the Open won’t be easy, if there’s anyone in the world who can do it, it’s definitely Tiger Woods.
Rory McIlroy – Tiger’s Main Threat?
As things stand now, Rory McIlroy is the second favourite for this year’s The Open Championship, sitting pretty close to Tiger Woods. The Northern Irish golfer has only won the tournament once in 2014, ending as a runner-up in 2018. There’s no question that McIlroy is a major favourite for any major he plays and that includes The Open.
At 9/1 (Letou, Mansion Bet, Fun88, and Bethard), Rory McIlroy is a second-to-none favourite for the Open. If there’s anyone that can challenge Tiger Woods up to the end, it’s McIlroy. He’s been waiting for a new major trophy since 2015, and this year’s The Open Championship is a perfect opportunity. A bet on the Northern Irish golfer will land you a pretty serious sum of money, especially if you’re a high roller.
Although Woods would be our main pick as well, sleeping on Rory McIlroy is a big mistake. He has shown that he has the quality to compete with anyone on the Tour, and if luck blows his way, he may win his second Open Championship this year.
Can Dustin Johnson or Justin Rose Win the Open?
Bookies can’t seem to separate Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose for this year’s the Open Championship. Both have won the same major once in their careers – the US Open. Justin Rose won it in 2013, while Johnson won in 2016. Even though they lack the resume of Woods or McIlroy, Johnson and Rose are still formidable golfers coming in right behind the leading favourite duo at the number 3 spot.
The American and English golfers stand at odds of 14/1. The odds, as you can see, are much higher than Woods’ and McIlroy’s. However, that doesn’t diminish their chances. Johnson and Rose have proven time and time again that they can play against the best golfers on the Tour, and if things go their way, each of them could score their first Open Championship.
A bet on those 14/1 odds will bring a more than solid return, so keep Johnson and Rose in mind.
Where Does Francesco Molinari Stand?
The Italian player won last year’s Open in spectacular fashion with a bogey-free final run of 69. He defeated the likes of Kisner, Rose, and McIlroy to win his first major. The heat wave in Scotland last July made things much harder for the golfers, making Molinari’s win even more significant.
This year, however, Francesco Molinari is not the main Open Championship favourite. He is, however, part of a group of three players given the same odds by most bookies. Molinari’s chances of winning the Open Championship stand at 16/1 (Fun88, Bethard, Letou, Mansion Bet), odds he shares with Brooks Koepka and Jordan Spieth.
Even though he doesn’t look like a favourite, it’s last year’s story all over again. Molinari showed that he has what it takes to win major trophies with that win, and with a bit of luck, he could repeat it this year again. Of course, it won’t be easy at all, but it wasn’t easy last year as well.
