July 16, 2025
Cameron Young has a way of appearing in contention in majors. The American golfer came out of almost nowhere to win the Claret Jug at St. Andrews in 2022. Young finished one stroke off the lead then to Cameron Smith. Young had poor form early in 2025 but then rattled off a T-4 at the U.S. Open in June. Oakmont is far from an easy course to play. At +8000, Young has to be considered among longer betting options given his numbers at Liverpool in 2023 (T-8) as well. He can play steady golf even in the worst of conditions. Ranking 11th at 0.534 strokes gained when it comes to putting may help more this week than most. Reed must hit more greens, however. His greens in regulation stands at 62.82% which only ranks 155th.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
July 16, 2025
Cameron Smith has played in three majors in 2025. The Australian golfer has missed the cut in each one. However, hope springs eternal for Smith. Anyway, he is listed at +11000 to win the Open Championship. Given his struggles, that may be conservative. Smith has had one dreadful round in each major this year which has kept him from seeing the weekend. He did win at St. Andrews in 2022 on a much more spread out golf course. With his ability to drive the ball, Smith has a chance if the weather cooperates. He did finish T-20 at Royal Portrush in 2019 but faltered badly with a Sunday 76 in poor conditions. Smith could be considered a volatile betting choice.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
July 16, 2025
Making his first start since the U.S. Open, Jordan Spieth is returning to Royal Portrush having finished T20 in 2019. Given his late arrival this season after dealing with recovering from wrist surgery, he's put together a decent year with two top 5s, two top 10s, and four top 25s. His record in Open Championships is equally as impressive, although putting has become as big a liability as a strength in recent memory. The former Longhorn has lost strokes in two of his last three appearances. He's also lost strokes in three of his previous four starts at an average of -0.125. Still, the 31-year-old has solidified himself as one of the better links course players, especially from the States. Leaning into his history across the pond may not be a bad option, even at $10,400 on FanDuel.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
July 16, 2025
Patrick Reed only plays the majors on the PGA Tour these days. However, the American golfer does not have nine career wins (including the 2018 Masters) by accident. Reed did finish T-3 at this year's opening major. He even rebounded from a poor start at the U.S. Open with a 71-70 to end up inside the Top 25. Reed has positive course history at Royal Portrush with a tenth in 2019. Reed was steady despite the conditions then as he posted three rounds of 71 and one 67. With less than optimal conditions expected this time, Reed's +8000 to win may not be quite as long of a shot. As with links golf, it can be sunny one minute and horizontal rain off the water the next. Reed's ability to stay in contention in majors is a huge asset.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
July 16, 2025
Sungjae Im could be a true wildcard heading into The Open Championship. The golfer from South Korea has experienced a lot in his four appearances in the United Kingdom. Last year at Royal Troon, Im finished T-7 behind a strong 66-69 weekend. However, he has truly bottomed out since the PGA Championship where he missed the cut. Aside from a T-16 at the Memorial, the golfer has now missed consecutive cuts including last week at the Genesis Scottish Open. The largest concern with Im is approaching the green where he ranks 176th in strokes gained at -0.937. With very changeable conditions, Im's inability to keep balls on the green makes him difficult to consider as a betting option.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
July 16, 2025
Coming off a T8 finish last week at the Scottish Open, Xander Schauffele makes the trip to Northern Ireland this week to hopefully become the first person since Padraig Harrington in 2008 to defend in golf's oldest championship. His play at The Renaissance Club started and ended with the irons, averaging +2.38 strokes gained on approach, which led the field. His overall stat line was eerily close to that of his Open win last year. One grave concern is that he has failed to gain anything on the greens over his previous two starts, but the flat stick has the potential to have its importance diminished in the right conditions. At $11,400 on FanDuel, Schauffele would be worth some consideration if his relatively uneventful season decreases ownership levels.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
July 16, 2025
Tony Finau knows that the trends are not with him. The American golfer took some time off after a final round 76 at The Travelers Championship late in June. Finau finished T-66 in that event and only has one Top 10 result in 2025. He has not played that badly but consistency has been a huge issue. While putting has always been hit or miss, his approach to the green was ranked second last year. Currently, strokes gained there ranks 88th. Even off the tee, Finau has dropped into the red (114th) along with his putting (137th). Greens in regulation is only 106th at 65.3%. Worse, sand saves are 160th at 50.55%. Finau may be a golfer to fade this weekend given the potential conditions at The Open Championship.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
July 16, 2025
Daniel Brown was hopeful after a second round 66 at the Genesis Scottish Open. The English golfer made the cut and appeared poised to have a solid weekend. Unfortunately, that was not meant to be after a 73 and 72. The 281 on the Par-70 course had to be frustrating for the 30-year-old. Brown did finish in the Top 10 at the last Open Championship at Royal Troon after an opening round 65. However, many argue that Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland is a different beast. Getting off to a good start with a later tee time may be more of a challenge. Brown may face more windy, rainy conditions potentially and his form suggests a Royal Troon repeat may be unlikely.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
July 16, 2025
Nearing the end of a historic season for Rory McIlroy, perhaps the event that's garnered the most attention from the 36-year-old kicks off on Thursday. It will be the fellow Northern Irishman's second crack at this course, having missed the cut in 2019. His length off the tee certainly gives him more scoring chances, so long as the long fescue doesn't come into play. Accuracy can reward players just as much, which is why we see the multitude of player types that have gotten the job done through the years. The ball striking as a whole needs to take better form, but +1.88 strokes gained putting average over his last two starts is worth taking a shot on. The stage wasn't too bright at Augusta, and don't expect it here either.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
July 16, 2025
Daniel Berger enjoyed a nice run early in the Spring that culminated in a T-3 at the RBC Heritage Open. The American golfer has struggled since the PGA Championship, missed a few cuts, and was outside the Top 50 last week at the Genesis Scottish Open. Berger just cannot make birdies the past few tournaments. His strokes gained to putting has dropped all the way to 138th on tour and is now -0.144. Royal Portrush may not be the most receptive to birdie opportunities but keep in mind Shane Lowry did shoot -15 in 2019. Putts per round is particularly troublesome for Berger. He averages 29.83 putts per opening round then 29.33 and 29.36. That may not be a recipe for success even in DFS formats or this Open Championship.
--Chris Wassel - RotoBallerSource: PGATour.com
July 15, 2025
It was a disappointing week at the Scottish Open for Robert MacIntyre, who posted a T65 in his title defense while averaging minus-1.19 strokes off the tee and minus-0.56 strokes putting. Thursday's two-under 68 was the best round of his tournament, as he failed to break 70 any of the following three days. He'll make his way to Royal Portrush for the 153rd Open, where he finished T6 in 2019. Given his 36th overall ranking in strokes gained off the tee for the season, the chances of that part of his game struggling for a second consecutive week are slim. Putting is still a concern, but he should do enough everywhere else to be a decent option at $10,800 on FanDuel.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
July 15, 2025
The vibes have to be immaculate for Shane Lowry, who makes his return this week to Royal Portrush. The site of his lone major championship, it was a joyous occasion to watch through the rain and muck of the week's weather. He was undoubtedly the best player that week, leading the field in strokes gained on approach and ranking highly both off the tee and around the green. Things are a bit unknown for the 38-year-old after two poor outings in his last two starts at the U.S. Open and Travelers Championship. He lost over 10 strokes between his putting and short game at Oakmont before missing the cut, and things didn't improve much in Connecticut. Still, his favoritism among the fans who will be in attendance and the typically accurate ball striking make him worth a nod, especially given how his season as a whole has gone.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
July 15, 2025
Since his run in late spring that included a win at the Valero Texas Open and a T3 at the RBC Heritage, Brian Harman has struggled to find consistency in both his iron play and off the tee. He's averaged -0.37 in strokes gained on approach over his last three starts. The driver has straightened itself out over that span, but his distance is still concerning. His win at Royal Liverpool two years ago was a perfect storm that may not always present itself in the unforgiving style of golf in this part of the world. The 38-year-old has not performed well with long irons, ranking outside the top 100 in many proximity distances beyond 200 yards. Still, his recent track record in this championship can't be overlooked, and he could be played in certain situations or people leaning into his clear comfort level for links golf, which many American players struggle with.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
July 15, 2025
It was impressive to watch Chris Gotterup perform under the pressure of having arguably the game's second-best player staring at him for 18 holes during the final round of the Scottish Open. The 25-year-old shot a -4 under par, 66 in the final round to win by two strokes. Often marveled for his length off the tee, Gotterup got things done with a red-hot putter, averaging +1.87 strokes gained on the greens at The Renaissance Club. His +1.22 strokes gained off the tee is something he's been able to do all season, which makes links golf a decent fit for him. Aside from the exhaustion of going toe-to-toe with Rory McIlroy, this week's Open Championship presents another decent opportunity to produce another high finish. It would be wise to check ownership levels, though, before officially adding him to lineups.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
July 15, 2025
It doesn't take too much digging through various data resources to figure out that Bryson DeChambeau has not performed well in his seven previous appearances in the Open Championship, aside from a T8 in 2022. The putting and approach play haven't been there, and unfortunately, the putting has taken a downturn over the last several weeks on LIV despite the dominance of his Crushers team. Wind and rain are slated to be factors, making the former SMU product a scary way to lean. If there is one major that hasn't been stamped with the 31-year-old's mark in recent memory, it's certainly this one, and another missed cut seems more probable than vying for the Claret Jug come Sunday.
--Todd McGillSource: Data Golf
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