The Open betting preview: Five selections for Royal Troon
By Ben Coley
Last Updated: 12/07/16 7:54am
On the back of tipping Alex Noren to win the Scottish Open last week, Ben Coley has five selections for The 145th Open at Royal Troon...
Royal Troon returns as host for The Open Championship, 12 years on from the shock success of unheralded American Todd Hamilton.
Hamilton was close to the world's top 50 at the time but arrived out of sorts and without any links form, yet somehow managed to overcome Ernie Els in a four-hole play-off for the Claret Jug.
One thing which shouldn't have surprised anyone was the nationality of the winner, as there have now been six American wins in a row at Troon dating back over half a century. With that in mind, it might pay to side with another this week.
Top of the list is Jordan Spieth, who so nearly won last year's Open only to just miss out on a play-off won by friend and compatriot Zach Johnson.
Spieth was looking for his third straight major win at the time so arrives with a little less pressure on his shoulders one year on, especially as it's Dustin Johnson and Jason Day who've taken over at the top of world golf.
On what is a classical in-and-out links, one which doesn't lend much of an advantage to power, Spieth's ability to manufacture a score even when he's not at his best sets him apart as the strongest candidate from the top of the market.
Last time out he finished third on a long course to set himself up perfectly for this altogether more subtle challenge and it's significant that this year's schedule enabled him to land in Scotland last Saturday and get plenty of homework done.
Pick of the European challenge comes from Martin Kaymer, who has been seventh and 12th in previous Opens and arrives in great form.
With two majors already in the locker, there is no doubt the German has what it takes to win a Claret Jug and his links form includes wins in the KLM Open and the Dunhill Links.
He played well in Scotland last week, continuing the fine form he's shown on European soil throughout the spring, and looks primed to challenge with his long game under control and the putter working nicely.
Those hoping for a winner even closer to home should consider Russell Knox and Sunday qualifier Richie Ramsay, but England's Chris Wood has even better credentials and looks good each-way value.
Wood's career has really taken off this year, with his second European Tour title coming via the flagship event at Wentworth, and he's continued to play good golf, including at the US Open where he finished inside the top 25.
Having twice hit the frame in The Open when still wet behind the ears, he has every reason to be confident heading to the type of golf course on which he thrives thanks to a piercing ball-flight and great imagination.
Wood played a lot of golf with Danny Willett as a youngster and has clearly taken inspiration from the exploits of his compatriot, so it would be no surprise were he to quickly follow him into the major winners' circle.
With previous form in the biggest and best events always a good guide - two of last year's play-off trio had won majors while the other had contended for them - I'm finishing off with a pair of tough-as-teak grinders who've got the job done before.
First is Graeme McDowell, who rediscovered something like his best form last time out and has won in windy conditions on the PGA Tour this season.
McDowell has two top-10 finishes in his last four Open starts and Troon looks an ideal fit for his game.
The same goes for Padraig Harrington, who was tied for fifth behind Justin Leonard here in 1997.
Harrington has been inside the top 30 in each of his last three starts including when tuning up for this at Castle Stuart, and at three-figure prices always looks value on an old-fashioned links like this one.
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