The Open Championship: Picks, Predictions and Odds

It's the final chance of 2024 for the best golfers in the world to win a major when they tee off at Royal Troon in Scotland for the Open Championship, which starts on Thursday.

Not for the first time this year, world number one Scottie Scheffler is regarded as the man to beat and is available to back at +500 to get his hands on the Claret Jug for the first time, while Rory McIlroy comes next in the market at +800.

American Brian Harman, who claimed victory at Royal Liverpool last year, is +7500, while PGA champion Xander Schauffele is +1500 and U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau is +1700 for more major glory.

2024 Open Championship betting picks and predictions

Rory McIlroy to win (+800)

McIlory was left distraught last month when he missed short late putts to leave the door ajar for Bryson DeChambeau to win the U.S. Open at Pinehurst and it has taken him some time to deal with the disappointment.

The Northern Irishman took a step away after that blow, but it looks to have done him good as he was refocused for last week’s Scottish Open, where he finished in a tie for fourth.

Scot Robert MacIntyre got the better of him then, but McIlroy built on a victory at the Renaissance Club to finish sixth at last year’s Open and he looks to be in the sort of form that suggests he can make another bold bid this week.

McIlroy had finished third the previous year at St Andrews and while he has not won a Major since the 2014 PGA Championship, he has finished in the top six in six of his last eight attempts to win one of the sport's biggest prizes.

He has won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with Shane Lowry and the Wells Fargo Championship this year and it is worth remembering that the last time he allowed a Major to slip away at the 2011 Masters, he recovered immediately to take the U.S. Open at Congressional by eight shots just two months later.

He has a point to prove this week and this makes McIlroy a dangerous animal as he seeks his fifth Major triumph.

Collin Morikawa to win (+1700)

Collin Morikawa is showing the sort of form that suggests he could be the player who gives McIlroy the most to think about.

He has missed his last two Open cuts since he lifted the Claret Jug at Royal St George's in 2021, but he has been a model of consistency recently.

Morikawa has not tasted victory since he triumphed at the Zozo Championship in October, but he has been knocking on the door for weeks and has not finished lower than 16th in his last nine events.

A string of impressive 2024 showings include third at the Masters, fourth at the PGA Championship and 14th at the U.S. Open, and the fact he, like McIlroy, was tied for fourth at the Scottish Open, is also a reason for encouragement that the American will again produce an inspired performance.

Jason Day to finish in the top ten +850

Jason Day to finish in the top 10 (+1000)

It is nine years since former world number one Jason Day claimed his first and, so far, only Major at the PGA Championship, but there looks a strong chance that the Australian can put up a decent show at Troon.

Day was tied for second when Harman won last year and four top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this year, including fourth at the Wells Fargo Championship, suggests he is still capable of competing with the best in the game.

He was 22nd at this venue the last time it hosted the Open Championship in 2016 and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he could better than effort and post a top-10 finish.

2024 Open Championship outright odds

Scottie Scheffler is +500 favourite to get his hands on the Claret Jug on Sunday with McIlroy his closest rival in the market at +800, while Swedish starlet Ludwig Aberg is +1300 to emulate his countryman Henrik Stenson in winning at Troon.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.