British Open picks to win, sleepers and odds to win the 2019 British Open

Rory McIlroy is the betting favorite to win the British Open with 8/1 odds, but Brooks Koepka (10/1), Dustin Johnson (12/1) and Tiger Woods (16/1) are lurking. Who comes out on top and lifts the claret jug come Sunday evening at Royal Portrush? Our staff chimes in with its picks to win and sleepers.

British Open picks to win

Jonathan Wall, equipment editor (@jonathanrwall): Xander Schauffele. Xander has a thing for the majors. He was runner-up at 2018 Open Championship and has finished T6 or better in four of the last six majors. I could see him taking down the field at Portrush.

Josh Sens, contributor (@JoshSens): Gimme Adam Scott. His winless season so far belies how well he’s played, having put himself into the mix in all the majors, not to mention a couple of runner-ups in other events. The man is back in form, and back to an event where he’s got a long, strong history.

Sean Zak, associate editor (@sean_zak): Give me the man playing for Grandma. KUCH! Our Controversial Man of 2019, Matt Kuchar, gets revenge from Birkdale.

Jeff Ritter, digital development editor (@Jeff_Ritter): This first-time (in a long time) major venue feels like a spot for a first-time major winner. I’ll take Jon Rahm. At some point he’s going to control his emotions on a major weekend, and he just shot 62 to win the Irish Open — he’s gotta be in a good mood at the moment.

Pat Ralph, associate editor (@Pat_Ralph): Brooks Koepka. This guy is the best golfer in the world and he shows it every time he suits up in a major. He plays his best when the lights shine brightest, and he’s one of the few golfers in the field with some insight on Royal Portrush, thanks to his caddie, Ricky Elliott. A claret jug for Brooks!

Josh Berhow, senior editor (@Josh_Berhow): Rory McIlroy winning at Royal Portrush, where he set the course record when he was 16 and where he’s played countless rounds since he was a kid, seems like a cop-out answer. But that’s just cause it makes so much sense. A Rory win would send Northern Ireland into a frenzy. He’s my pick.

Alan Bastable, executive editor (@alan_bastable): Louis Oosthuzien is too talented to win only one major, and he showed at Pebble Beach — where he led the field in birdies — that his game is rounding into form. Your 2010 Champion Golfer of the Year will also be your 2019 Champion Golfer of the Year.

British Open sleepers to watch

Jonathan Wall, equipment editor (@jonathanrwall): Charley Hoffman. At 250/1, Hoffman is the epitome of a deep sleeper pick. Sure, he’s missed the cut in his last four starts, but you can’t overlook back-to-back top-20 finishes at The Open. I’ll bite.

Josh Sens, contributor (@JoshSens): Matt Wallace. Hard to call a guy with his record a sleeper, but even his T3 at the PGA Championship didn’t really put him on the radar for the average state-side golf fan. He’s already proven he can win in Europe. Just a matter of time before he wins an event that makes headlines here.

Sean Zak, associate editor (@sean_zak): Rafa Cabrera-Bello isn’t going to win The Open but he will play well and finish top 12. He’s faded in some big moments during his career, but he’s so darn solid he’s worth an each-way bet.

Jeff Ritter, digital development editor (@Jeff_Ritter): This first-time (in a long) major venue could produce a long-shot, out-of-nowhere winner. It’s been a while since The Open crowned a Paul Lawrie, a Todd Hamilton, or a Ben Curtis, and we’re due. Today, give me Erik van Rooyen at 125/1, a South African who just had a nice week at the Scottish Open, cracked the top 10 at the PGA at Bethpage and may be ready to take another step this week.

Pat Ralph, associate editor (@Pat_Ralph): I agree with Ritter that, given the relative obscurity surrounding Portrush, a one-off, first-time winner could be coming this week. And I like a European’s chances after Americans have snapped up the first three majors this year. With that, give me Matt Wallace. A T3 at Bethpage and T12 at Pebble, Wallace is playing well and knocking on the door.

Josh Berhow, senior editor (@Josh_Berhow): Erik van Rooyen was my pick, too, but in the name of variety I shall identify someone else. Graeme McDowell has missed the cut in his last two starts but was playing well before then, which helped him get a spot at Portrush, where he’s from. You can’t underestimate how much this week means to him; he’ll play inspired golf.

British Open odds to win

Brooks Koepka-10/1
Rory McIlroy-8/1
Dustin Johnson-10/1
Tiger Woods-18/1
Justin Rose-20/1
Jordan Spieth-40/1
Francesco Molinari-20/1
Rickie Fowler-25/1
Jon Rahm-16/1
Xander Schauffele-20/1
Patrick Cantlay-25/1
Tommy Fleetwood-25/1
Justin Thomas-25/1
Jason Day-40/1
Adam Scott-30/1
Louis Oosthuizen-30/1
Hideki Matsuyama-40/1
Sergio Garcia-80/1
Henrik Stenson-30/1
Matt Kuchar-30/1
Bryson DeChambeau-40/1
Paul Casey-50/1
Tony Finau-80/1
Graeme McDowell-50/1
Phil Mickelson-100/1
Gary Woodland-60/1
Marc Leishman-60/1
Matt Wallace-50/1
Shane Lowry-80/1
Ian Poulter-80/1
Tyrrell Hatton-100/1
Patrick Reed-80/1
Zach Johnson-150/1
Webb Simpson-100/1
Kevin Kisner-125/1
Bubba Watson-200/1
Matthew Fitzpatrick-80/1
Rafael Cabrera Bello-80/1
Branden Grace-200/1
Brandt Snedeker-150/1
Haotong Li-150/1
Thomas Pieters-200/1
Eddie Pepperell-100/1
Lee Westwood-150/1
Alex Noren-150/1
Lucas Bjerregaard-250/1
Thorbjorn Olesen-150/1
Keegan Bradley-200/1
Jim Furyk-250/1
Cameron Smith-200/1
Si Woo Kim-300/1
Russell Knox-200/1
Aaron Wise-250/1
Danny Willett-125/1
Byeong Hun An-200/1
Billy Horschel-250/1
Sungjae Im-150/1
Charley Hoffman-250/1
Emiliano Grillo-200/1
Kiradech Aphibarnrat-500/1
Padraig Harrington-250/1
Sung Kang-500/1
Luke List-300/1
Bernd Wiesberger-80/1
Justin Harding-500/1
Keith Mitchell-500/1
Jimmy Walker-300/1
Ryan Fox-500/1
Adam Hadwin-150/1
C.T. Pan-300/1
Kyle Stanley-300/1
J.B. Holmes-300/1
Jorge Campillo-300/1
Andy Sullivan-200/1
Abraham Ancer-200/1
Andrew Putnam-300/1
Jazz Janewattananond-300/1
Romain Langasque-300/1
Shubhankar Sharma-500/1
Joost Luiten-300/1
Adrian Otaegui-500/1
Chris Wood-500/1
Ernie Els-500/1
Alexander Bjork-500/1
Alexander Levy-500/1
Shugo Imahira-500/1
Stewart Cink-500/1
Miguel Angel Jimenez-500/1
Brandon Stone-500/1
Zander Lombard-500/1
Oliver Wilson-500/1
Patton Kizzire-1000/1
Dimitrios Papadatos-1000/1
Yuta Ikeda-1000/1
Shaun Norris-1000/1
Sang-Hyun Park-1000/1
Takumi Kanaya-1000/1
Jake McLeod-2000/1
Prom Meesawat-1000/1
Yoshinori Fujimoto-2000/1
Yuki Inamori-2000/1
Yosuke Asaji-2000/1
Isidro Benitez-3000/1
Paul Lawrie-2000/1
Tom Lehman-1000/1
Doyeob Mun-2000/1
Chan Kim-1000/1
Gunn Charoenkul-2000/1
Darren Clarke-1000/1
David Duval-3000/1
James Sugrue-2000/1
Innchoon Hwang-2000/1
Dongkyu Jang-2000/1
David Lipsky-500/1
Kurt Kitayama-500/1
Robert Macintyre-500/1
Richard Sterne-500/1
Erik van Rooyen-125/1
Chez Reavie-150/1
Charles Howell III-250/1
Ryan Palmer-300/1
Corey Conners-500/1
Joel Dahmen-500/1
Lucas Glover-250/1
Jason Kokrak-300/1
Tom Lewis-300/1
Mikumu Horikawa-2000/1
Matthias Schmid-2000/1
Christiaan Bezuidenhout-200/1
Mike Lorenzo-Vera-300/1
Adri Arnaus-500/1
Nate Lashley-300/1
Doc Redman-500/1
Andrew Wilson-3000/1
Thomas Thurloway-3000/1
Aston Turner-3000/1
Garrick Porteous-2000/1
Jask Senior-2000/1
Matthew Baldwin-2000/1
Curtis Knipes-3000/1
Callum Shinkwin-500/1
Austin Connelly-1000/1
Brandon Wu-1000/1
Connore Syme-1000/1
Sam Locke-2000/1
Robert Rock-500/1
Paul Waring-500/1
Kevin Streelman-300/1
Joaquin Niemann-200/1
Mikko Korhonen-500/1
Andrea Pavan-300/1
Rory Sabbatini-250/1
Benjamin Hebert-300/1
Andrew Johnston-300/1
Nino Bertasio-500/1
Dylan Frittelli-250/1

*Odds according to GolfOdds.com.

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