The Open 2023: Preview and betting tips

One of the oldest golf tournaments in the world is here again! The fourth and final major of the season returns to England’s Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake. PGA Tour stalwarts, the DP World Tour, as well as professionals playing LIV Golf will once again be on the scene. Who will be among the biggest favourites this year?

The Open is also one of only four majors not played on US soil. This will be the 151st edition, but the Royal Liverpool Golf Club course will be hosting the tournament for only the 13th time. Since the last championship, however, the course has undergone several changes, including a brand new 17th hole.

There are many favourites in the field

There are several golfers who could be considered potential winners after Sunday’s final round. The absolute biggest one according to the bookmakers will be Irish pro Rory McIlroy. It was he who last won on this course in 2015. He is also the player who won the Scottish Open last week.

Right behind him with the second lowest odds is Scottie Scheffler. The world number one has two wins so far in 2023, but has finished tied for fifth ten times. His form has been consistent, fighting for the top spot every tournament. There is no doubt that he will be among the elite on the leaderboard this time too.

Jon Rahm from Spain is also in great form. He has four triumphs already this year. The sweetest was undoubtedly the Masters in Augusta. Rahm is always a force to be reckoned with when it comes to title aspirants.

Then there’s the wild card. Last year’s winner of the 150th anniversary edition of The Open – Cameron Smith. There was quite a buzz around him last year, as it was at this tournament that he was inundated with press regarding his alleged move to LIV Golf. “Hey, man! I just won and you’re asking me that?“, Smith blurted out during a press conference shortly after the tournament.

A couple of weeks later, his transfer was complete after the last FedEx Cup tournament. And it seems the timing of the Open Championship tournament couldn’t have come at a better time for the Australian player. For less than two weeks ago, he won the last LIV Golf tournament in London so far.

What’s on and where to watch?

Robert MacIntyre is the favorite for 23 percent of bettors. Cameron Smith is second at 21 per cent. McIlroy is then trusted by 10 per cent of users, while Scheffler occupied just 3 per cent of the tickets two days before the start of the tournament.

The Open 2023 will be broadcast by the Czech version of the Golf Channel. On Thursday and Friday, the rich golf program begins at 7:30 a.m. On Saturday from 11:00 a.m., the broadcast of Sunday’s final round will start at 10:00 a.m.

Betting Tip

As we wrote above, there are many favourites. Maybe too many to shoot the champion for 2023 from the waist up. Maybe that’s why Irish champion Rory McIlroy will be left without the famous trophy after all.

But he certainly can be trusted not to lose the tournament. He knows the local course well and the comfort of the tournament in Scotland a few days ago will play into his hands. The chances of him finishing in the top five are quite high.