2017 British Open Preview And Predictions: Are We Going To See Another First-Time Major Winner?
Get ready for the 146th Open Championship.
Thursday morning, or late Wednesday night for those in certain time zones, one of the most stellar four-day stretches in all of sports gets underway with The Open at Royal Birkdale.
This is just the 10th time The Open has been played at the course along the Irish Sea and its past nine features it has produced world-class winners: Pádraig Harrington, Mark O’Meara, Ian Baker-Finch, Tom Watson, Johnny Miller, Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer and Peter Thomson not once but twice. Harrington hoisted the Claret Jug back in 2008 at Royal Birkdale with a total score of 3-over for what was his second straight Open victory. The streak of first-time major winners could extend to eight this week, but don’t be surprised if it doesn’t.
Royal Birkdale is much different than what most think of as a ‘traditional’ Open site due to the fact that the greens are smaller than what you’ll see at a course such as St. Andrews. The fairways are also extremely flat unlike what you see at say Carnoustie and while they are surely inviting off of the tee, missing the fairways could blow up anyone’s scorecard. Yep, players are going to have to be accurate off of the tee, at least more accurate than they have been at the more recent Open sites.
But make no mistake, this is an Open and the weather and which side of the draw you fall on will be a gigantic factor.
Now, onto the field that will tackle the course this week.
Here are the most favorited golfers this week, per OddsShark:
Jordan Spieth +1400
Dustin Johnson +1400
Jon Rahm +1600
Rickie Fowler +1600
Hideki Matsuyama +200
Rory McIlroy +200
Justin Rose +200
Tommy Fleetwood +2200
Three Picks To Win
Jordan Spieth — Spieth is an obvious and simple pick here based on how he’s been playing as of late, but what is wrong with picking a favorite? His best finish at The Open came back in 2015 when he tied for fourth. He won at The Travelers Championship just a few weeks back in a playoff and as of late he’s shown his game is getting closer and closer to being where he surely wants it to be. You don’t have to be crazy long off the tee this week and Spieth is eventually going to raise a Claret Jug in his career, so who is to say it doesn’t happen this week?
Rickie Fowler — There isn’t too much to be said here. Fowler is getting closer and closer. We’ve seen it, heard about it and read about it and I wouldn’t be surprised if it all just comes full-circle this week. He’s a terrific ball-striker and can control his ball flight with the best in the world if weather becomes a very serious factor. Fowler tied for second at The Open back in 2014 for his best ever finish at the event.
Henrik Stenson — The last repeat Open winner, Padraig Harrington, won his second at Birkdale so Stenson has that on his side after winning at Royal Troon a year ago. Stenson also owns the best scoring average at The Open over the last five years at 69.9.
P.S. John Daly is in the field, just a friendly reminder there. He hasn’t finished inside the Top 20 at this even since 2005, but what a story that would be.
