We finally have the 150th Open Championship after it was cancelled due to covid in 2020, there couldn’t be a better venue than this the home of golf.
St Andrews has been the home of golf since 1552 and it’s the oldest golf course in the world, this course is steeped in history and enthralling finishes leaving us on the edge of our seats.
Last weeks Scottish open was a good prep for the Championship, Zander Schauffele prevailed after a hard fought contest, there are a handful of players who have caught the eye.
The market is headed by Mcllroy 9/1 after some good recent form and his win in the Canadian Open, next in line is Rahm at 11/1 and hot on his collar is the world number 1 Scheffler at 12/1 with both USPGA Champion Thomas 14/1 and newly crowned US Open champ Fitzpatrick 16/1.
Next up is former Open champions Spieth and Morikawa at 18/1 and 20/1 respectively, with the new LIV recruits close behind Johnson and Koepka, lets not forget about Tiger , the Open wouldn’t be the same without him and at 50/1 there might be some value in that.
COURSE
The 150th Open Championship is hosted at the home of golf, Old Course at St Andrews, Fife, Scotland.
Established in 1552 the home of golf was born, and what a beautiful thing it has become, just seeing the professionals walking up the 18th, with the grandstands showing their respect has my hairs on the back of my neck standing.
In 1552 the Archbishop John Hamilton gave the towns people of St Andrews the right to play on the links and in 1754, 22 noblemen, professionals and Landowners founded the society of St Andrews Golfers, this society would then become the precursor to the R&A.
St Andrews links had a scare when they went bankrupt in 1797. The towns council of st andrews decided to allow rabbit farming on the golf course-to challenge golf for popularity. Twenty years of legal battle between the golfers and rabbit farmers ended in 1821 when landowner and golfer James Cheape brought the land and is credited for saving the links for golf.
The course was designed in the 1850s by Daw Anderson and Old Tom Morris (1863- 1908) and was responsible for the old course and how its set up today, the course has hosted this major 29 times since 1873.
PAST WINNERS
2021 Morikawa 265
2020 cancelled
2019 Lowry 269
2018 Molinari 276
2017 Spieth 268
2016 Stenson 264
2015 Z Johnson 273
2014 Mcllroy 271
2103 Mickleson 281
2012 Els 273
2011 Clarke 275
ANGLES IN
Ive been looking at past Open Championship winners, but as usual there ain’t much to to on, last year Morikawa won at Royal St George and prior to that his form was T71-2nd- T14- T8-T7 so apart from the Scottish open he was in good form, Lowrys form coming into his win at Dunluce was T34- T28- T2-T8-T3.So again I would say it was very good form going into it.
It seems like a running theme as Molinari was in excellent form winning the Pga Championship and Quicken loans before going on to win the Open ans two seconds, all winners going into the open had an excellent approach game stretching back 5-6 tournaments before the win.
You can look through the stats and nearly every player has recent very good form and one other thing players who played well at the PGA Championship go on to play well at the Open, it seems to be a good guide to the winners.
WEATHER FORECAST
The forecast for the opening day is sunny with a 13mph winds, the Friday is a similar forecast with 14mph winds, Saturday is overcast with a 15mph winds and the final day the weather is overcast again with 15mph winds
PICKS
SCHEFFLER 12/1 4PTS EW – 11PLS BYL
How can we not put this man in after the season he has had so far.
Scottie won his first major earlier this year at the masters, prior to that he won three times, his maiden win came at the Phoenix Open, which was no surprise given the great golf he was playing.
The rookie of the year in 2020 has not just exploded on the scene he’s taken over, 2021 he made the team in the Ryder cup and didnt disappoint he got 2.5 points and defeated former world number one Rahm in the singles on Sunday.
In 2022 so far Scheffler has won three times which is rare on the PGA tour unless your an exceptional player and yes he is, he has only one missed cut to his name this year which was at the PGA Championship.
He went so close to winning the US Open in June, losing by one shot to our English boy Fitzpatrick, his stats this year are impressive his numbers are SGT2G 7TH- SGOTT 47TH – SGAPP 7TH – SGGIR 1ST – SGARG 21ST – SGPUTT 39TH.
This 26yr old from New Jersey is no stranger to Majors so far his record reads Masters won- PGA T4- US Open T2- T7-The Open Championship T8 , after T8th last year at Royal St Georges Scottie is primed for a big shot at his first claret jug.
SCHAUFFELE 25/1 -3PTS EW 11PLS BYL
The resurgence of Zander cant be overlooked, he’s had a barren few years but the tide is turning, up until this year he had only one PGA tour win to his name, now he has two and a win in the doubles at the Zurich along side Cantlay, he did win the gold Medal at the Olympics.
Zander is playing some excellent golf at the moment, he has nine top 20s to his name, he played well at both the PGA and the US Open with both of them top 20, there has been a couple of missed cuts along the way with one of them at Augusta, the other being at the players so both can be excused.
Schauffeles major record reads Masters T2-T3- US Open T3-5TH-T7-T14, PGA T10-T13TH, Open T2- T26-T20.
His recent stats are a plus they read, SGT2G 8TH- SGOTT 38TH- SGAPR 8TH – SGGIR T12 – SGARG 31ST – SGPUTT 31ST.
Zander is primed for a big challenge of the claret jug, he tuned up himself by winning the Pro AM in Ireland, I can see him there at the end.
ZALATORIS 25/1 – 3PTS EW – 11PLS BYL
Willy z is the major nearly man and will be there again fighting his way up the leader-board, he’s still not yet got that first elusive win but boy has he tried, he’s gone through major heartbreak twice this year, losing in a play off with JT and looked to be going into another play-off with Fitzpatrick on the 18th until he came up with this out of the world bunker shot to win his first US Open.
Willy has already got the hearts of the fans and even though he lost in both majors he still managed a smile, its only a matter of time before he gets his first win and first major.
Zalatoris has seven top 10s so far and a couple of MC along the way, not many players can boast that, all the year he’s gained on the field apart from the MC, and talking of gained stats his putting has showed up good so far, both Majors he gained 1.26 and 1.76 respectively, and In both Majors he gained 3.84 in the PGA and 4.02 in the US Open total.
Willys stats for the year are as SGT2G 2ND – SGOTT 11TH – SGAPR 1ST SGGIR 8TH – SGARG 69TH – SGPUTT T122
There has been a big improvement in his putting and gained in both the Us Open where he was 4th in putting and 10th in putting at the PGA Championship.
Zala withdrew at last years Open after getting injured, but this year he’s fully fit and raring to go, and lift the holy grail the claret jug.
C SMITH 25/1 3PTS EW – 11PLS BYL
How can we no play this man, he has major champion written all over him, cam has been on my major radar for some time, its only a matter of time before he hits the heights.
Camerons form over the past two years has elevated him into a solid top ten player in the world, this year so far he’s won twice, his first win came at the start of the year at the Sentry Tournament of champions where he gained 4.53 strokes on the field.
The other win came at the prestigious Players Championship, the putter was red hot then gaining 3.00 on the field, but recently its gone cold so were taking a slight chance on it becoming hot, we all know how good cams irons are, and his short game is better bar none.
Smiths last five Tournaments read MC- T48 -T13 -T13PGA – MC , and his stats so far this year SGT2G T24TH – SGOTT 141ST – SGAPP 2ND – SGGIR 55TH – SGARG 28TH – SGPUTT 14TH.
Cams Major record reads Masters T2ND -T3RD – T5TH -T10TH, US Open T4TH -T33, PGA T13TH, OPEN T10TH – T33RD.
Smith is probably going to fly under the radar due to his recent form coupled with his wayward driving, but don’t discount him, he’s not world number six for nothing, I think the links test will suit that amazing short game he has and scrambling will be a big factor at the old course.
FITZPATRICK 25/1 3PTS EW – 11PLS BYL
We couldn’t leave out our newly crowned major champion Matt Fitzpatrick, this Sheffield lad has been sensational all year and was still waiting for his first PGA win in the states.
This lad has worked so hard on his fitness and swing and the changes are there to see, Matt has missed three cuts this year but in between that he’s put some good numbers together.
Matt’s last five tournaments read, 1ST – T10 – MC – T5TH – T2ND – , there have been eight top 10s this year only beaten by Scheffler and Thomas who are in 1st and 5th in the world.
Fitz numbers this year read SGT2G 1ST – SGOTT 8TH – SGAPR 22ND – SGGIR T78TH – SGARG 3RD – SGPUTT 36TH.
His major form reads Master T7TH – T34TH , US Open 1ST – T12TH – T12TH , PGA T5TH – T23RD, Open T20TH – T12TH – T12TH
Matt is trending towards another win, and I can see him winning two majors this year, he’s back in Britain and will have the backing of the locals, you would be mad not to have him on your betting slip.
MATSUYAMA 28/1 2PTS EW – 11PLS BYL
Hideki is another one who’s shown some terrific form this year, he’s not missed a cut all year and has had four top 10s, we also had a WD and a DQ at the Memorial due to his driver not conforming to standards.
He started the year with a win on his second start at the Sony Open beating Henley in a play-off, Hideki has eight PGA Tour wins and three DP Tour wins, he has no pressure of winning a Major after he won the masters in 2021, he can just play the shots with no pressure.
His stats for the year read SGT2G 10TH – SGOTT 65TH – SGAPP 3RD – SGGIR 6TH – SGARG 57TH – SGPUTT T126TH .
Matsuyamas major form reads, Masters 1ST – T13TH – T14TH, US Open T26TH – T17TH – T16TH – T2ND, PGA T16TH – T22ND – T5TH -T4TH -T23RD, Open T14TH – T18TH.
With the forecast for the weather to be sunny and calm this could turn out to be a wedge fest and who better to have on your side buy one of the best wedge players in the world.
There are other prices and places available by other bookmakers.