Here’s Who Vegas Is Picking to Win the Open Championship in 2017

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Published on
July 24, 2017
Published on
July 24, 2017

The third major championship of the PGA Tour season is now only days away. The 2017 Open Championship will take place at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England for the 10th time in tournament history.

The 146th playing of The Open Championship currently has a scheduled field of 156 of the best golfers in the world. The oddsmakers in Las Vegas give these seven golfers the best chance at dethroning Henrik Stenson and adding the title of 2017 Open Championship winner to their career resume.

[Editor’s Note: Article based on odds as of July 17, 2017]

7. (tie) Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland acknowledges the crowd during the BMW South African Open Championship.
Rory McIlroy has his eye on the prize. | Warren Little/Getty Images

Odds: +1800 (18-1)

Rory McIlroy hasn’t exactly been playing well (by his standards) in his three PGA Tour tournaments since The Masters in early April. He finished in a tie for 35th at The Players Championship; he missed the cut at the U.S. Open; and he tied for 17th at the Travelers Championship.

To make matters worse, McIlroy recently said that he’s working to correct his swing after he formed a couple of bad habits while playing in the wind. That said, The Open Championship means a great deal to the Northern Ireland native, and we expect him to be on top of his game.

7. (tie) Justin Rose

AVONDALE, LA - APRIL 26: Justin Rose of England reacts after putting in for a birdie on the 18th hole during the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana on April 26, 2015 in Avondale, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Justin Rose is looking for his first win at The Open Championship. | Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Odds: +1800 (18-1)

Justin Rose is currently ranked No. 12 in the Official World Golf rankings, despite missing the cut in two of his last three PGA Tour events. However, this tournament will have special meaning to Rose.

Back in 1998, at the ripe age of 17 years old, Rose played in his first career Open Championship. That tournament happened to be held at Royal Birkdale. Needless to say, winning in 2017 would mean a lot to Rose.

4. (tie) Sergio Garcia

MUNICH, GERMANY - JUNE 25: Sergio Garcia of Spain hits his second shot on the 1st hole during the final round of the BMW International Open at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried on June 25, 2017 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Sergio Garcia proved that he can win a major this year. | Warren Little/Getty Images

Odds: +1600 (16-1)

Sergio Garcia, the No. 5 player in the world, has two career runner-up finishes at The Open Championship. The 37-year-old Spaniard finally got the major championship monkey off his back when he won the 2017 Masters, and he’s played at a high level ever since.

This will be Garcia’s 21st Open Championship, and it has long been a goal of his to win a Claret Jug (the trophy awarded to the Open Championship winner).

4. (tie) Jon Rahm

NAPA, CA - OCTOBER 14: Jon Rahm of of Spain tees off on the second hole during the second round of the Safeway Open at the North Course of the Silverado Resort and Spa on October 14, 2016 in Napa, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Jon Rahm is hoping to cash in. | Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Odds: +1600 (16-1)

Jon Rahm is one of the fastest rising golfers in the world. The 22-year-old Spaniard is currently ranked fifth in the Official World Golf Rankings, and he is a threat to win any tournament he enters. Rahm may have missed the cut in last two PGA Tour events, but we’d be shocked if he isn’t in the mix during the final two days of the 2017 Open Championship.

2. (tie) Rickie Fowler

NORTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 07: Rickie Fowler acknowledges the crowd on the sixth green during the final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Boston on September 7, 2015 in Norton, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Rickie Fowler is still chasing his first major victory. | Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Odds: +1400 (14-1)

Rickie Fowler may be the best, most accomplished golfer in the world who has yet to win a major championship. The 28-year-old has seven career professional wins. His best finish at The Open Championship came in 2014 when he finished in a tie for second place. Currently ranked 10th in the world, Fowler is coming off back-to-back top-five finishes.

2. (tie) Jordan Spieth

FORT WORTH, TX - MAY 29: Jordan Spieth reacts to making a birdie putt on the 18th green to win the DEAN & DELUCA Invitational at Colonial Country Club on May 29, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Jordan Spieth’s best finish at The Open Championship came in 2015. | Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Odds: +1400 (14-1)

Jordan Spieth appears to be peaking just in time to make a serious run at winning his first Open Championship title in 2017. The No. 3 ranked golfer in the world had a disappointing U.S. Open, but he will enter this week coming off a victory (in thrilling fashion) at the Travelers Championship in late June.

If Spieth can walk away victorious at Royal Birksdale this weekend, he will be three quarters of the way to the career grand slam at just 23 years old.

1. Dustin Johnson

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 26: Dustin Johnson of the USA in action during the Pro Am prior to the start of the WGC - HSBC Champions at the Sheshan International Golf Club on October 26, 2016 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Dustin Johnson’s golf game is so money right now…and he knows it. | Redington/Getty Images

Odds: +1200 (12-1)

When it comes to raw ability, there isn’t another golfer in the world on Dustin Johnson’s level. The 33-year-old is currently the No. 1 player in the world. He has three wins and two more top-five finishes in 2017 alone. Johnson will enter The Open coming off of two missed cuts, but if he plays well, he has to be considered the favorite to win at Royal Birksdale.

Statistics courtesy of PGATour.com. Odds courtesy of Bovada.