British Open 2024: Leading Contenders

The Open Championship has a few top contenders this year, and if you want an early look at who could end up at the top of the leaderboard, you are in the right place.

To win The Open Championship at Royal Troon, it will take four solid rounds of golf in quite windy conditions. The golfers with the best betting odds to win have already had a strong season.

Let's dive into the top players and the odds for the 2024 Open Championship. 

Scottie Scheffler (9/2) 

Without the incident that Scottie had to deal with at the PGA Championship, many believe he would already have two majors under his belt this year. Although we can't say that for sure, Scottie has played some impressive golf this year. 

His game is strong, and he adapts to any golf course he plays. His tee shots end up in the fairway quite often, and he's not afraid to attack a pin.

He'll need some confidence on these greens, but we've seen that with Scottie in the past. 

Rory McIlroy (15/2)

Rory won the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, and his game should be quite strong on links style courses.

He has just about as much distance as any player on tour; we will see if his short game can do what it is most certainly capable of. 

So far this season, Rory has played quite well and has a win, but his major performances haven't quite been what he had hoped. 

Bryson DeChambeau (12/1)

Fresh off a win at the US Open, Bryson DeChambeau is a top contender according to the Open Championship odds.

He has a unique game, and if he can adapt that to the windy conditions and difficult weather at Royal Troon, there is nothing stopping Bryson. 

In addition, his short game (especially putting) has been really good in the last few events. 

Xander Schauffele (14/1)

You won't see too many leaderboards at a major championship where Xander isn't listed as a top contender.

He plays so consistently well and now has his first major championship, so nothing is stopping his mental game either! 

Ludvig Aberg (16/1)

Although Ludvig Aberg is a new talent on the PGA Tour, he brings some very impressive talent with him.

He is an excellent ball striker, can play well under pressure, and seems as though he is just waiting to show us all how he can win a Major championship this year. 

Collin Morikawa (18/1)

Collin Morikawa is an Open Champion, so he knows what it takes to get the job done.

The one thing that always comes up about Collin's game is his iron play. He is one of the most consistent iron ball strikers, especially when under pressure.

If this Open ends up being about consistency because of poor weather or difficult conditions, Collin will be one to watch. 

Viktor Hovland (18/1)

Viktor Hovland has been a little more up and down this year than he was last year, but you certainly can't count him out when you are talking about the Open Championship.

Hovland has a strong short game; he's a confident player and seems to be increasing his confidence in his own game again. If Hovland's putts start dropping, he will be at the top of the leaderboard. 

Tommy Fleetwood (25/1)

Tommy Fleetwood is a consistent performer in The Open. He knows links courses quite well and is, again, a really good iron striker.

Another thing to note about Tommy is that his driving accuracy is very strong, and he can be really competitive coming down the stretch. Lots of Fleetwood fans would love to see him pull this one off. 

Other Notable Players 

The odds for the following players might not be as high, but we certainly can't count them out and they are worth considering when reading up on the latest Open Championship previews. 

• Cameron Smith (28/1): The 2022 Open Championship winner 

• Hideki Matsuyama (33/1): Steady performer, especially in Major championships with strong short game.

• Patrick Cantlay (33/1): Consistent top-10 finishes, strong all-around game, looking for a major this year! 

• Shane Lowry (33/1): 2019 Open Champion, experienced in links golf, knows how the short game necessary to go low when playing links. 

• Tom Kim (33/1): Emerging talent with strong recent performances is hitting the ball well right now. 

• Tyrrell Hatton (33/1): Solid performer, experience on links courses.

Expert Betting Tips for The Open Championship 

Finally, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you choose your best picks with 888Sport: 

• Consider Weather: Weather conditions play a significant role in The Open. Favor players with experience in windy conditions.

• Course History: Think about the golfers who have the best performances at Links style courses or who learned the game of golf at links courses. 

• Recent Form: Hot streaks should not be ignored; golfers can go on a run and stay on it for quite some time!

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*