2019 British Open Betting Preview

The British Open returns to the Royal Portrush Golf Club for the first time in nearly 70 years this weekend, as the prestigious tournament takes place in Northern Ireland for the second time.

Royal Portrush last hosted the Open in 1951 so you can be guaranteed no one that teed it up back then will be in the field this week. At Bovada Sportsbook, the favorite at the Open is Northern Ireland’s own Rory McIlroy at +800. The 2014 British Open champion has finished in the top five in the last three Open Championships, including tying for second last year at Carnoustie.

Following McIlroy on the British Open odds at Bovada is Brooks Koepka at +1000 and a trio of players, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm and Tiger Woods, all at +1600.

Koepka second to McIlroy on Open oddsboard

Koepka has been in contention in five of the last six major tournaments, finishing at least second in all five. That includes two wins, at the PGA Championship and his second career U.S. Open title. He hasn’t had as much luck in the British Open, though. Last year at Carnoustie, he finished well back, tied for 39th, while in 2017 he cracked the top 10 by tying for sixth.

Johnson has struggled mightily at the British Open the last two years. He missed the cut at Carnoustie and tied for 54th in 2017. His best career finish across the pond was in 2011 when he tied for second place.

Rahm continues to hunt for his first major win after tying for third at the U.S. Open last month. He also missed the cut at Carnoustie last year and his best finish in three British Open appearances is tying for 44th in 2017.

Woods is a three-time British Open champion, but his last was 13 years ago, in 2006. The 2019 Masters champion hasn’t fared as well at the last two majors this year, but he did show flashes of his former self at Carnoustie last year when he tied for sixth place.

Defending champ Molinari +2500 to repeat

The defending British Open champion is Francesco Molinari. He’s a +2500 underdog to repeat, sharing those odds with Tommy Fleetwood and Xander Schauffele. Along with Molinari, McIlroy and Woods, other former British Open winners in this week’s field include Jordan Spieth (+3300), Henrik Stenson (+2800), Zach Johnson (+20000), Phil Mickelson (+10000) and Louis Oosthuizen (+5000).

Royal Portrush may not have hosted the Open in decades, but more recently it did host the Irish Open in 2012. A few notable finishes in that tournament include Rafa Cabrera Bello (+6600) in second place, McIlroy and Molinari tying for 10th and Graeme McDowell (+6600) tying for 16th.