Scottie Scheffler enters the 152nd Open Championship with a price of +500, making him the outright favorite once again in a major golf tournament. This marks the fourth time this year that Scheffler has carried such favoritism, a feat that has him in the company of golfing legend Tiger Woods. Woods, considered by many to be the greatest golfer of all time, achieved the status of being favored outright in every major of a calendar year back in 2013. The fact that Scheffler has been the pre-tournament favorite or co-favorite at eight consecutive majors is no small achievement, tying him with Woods for the longest such streak in the last 15 years.
The betting public seems to be in favor of Scheffler, as evidenced by the 9.3% of the bets and 19.6% of the handle that he has attracted at ESPN BET. Other major sportsbooks like BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel also report Scheffler as their tickets and money leader. Despite the strong backing from bettors, DraftKings has not yet accumulated a significant liability on Scheffler, likely due to his relatively short price. This could change as the tournament progresses, and more bets come in.
Competition and Challenges
While Scheffler has managed to maintain his favorite status through his dominant performances in the PGA Tour regular season, he is yet to secure a major championship victory outside of Augusta National. The Open Championship, historically, has not been particularly favorable to American golfers. Since 1950, Americans have won The Open only 47% of the time, far below their success rate at the Masters (68%). The pressure is further intensified by the fact that Americans have not won back-to-back Opens since 2003 to 2006. With Brian Harman being the reigning champion, the expectations for American players are high.
Alternatives to Scheffler
Rory McIlroy emerges as the second-favorite for the tournament with +800 odds on ESPN BET. Despite his recent struggles at the U.S. Open, McIlroy still commands a significant amount of betting action as he trails only Scheffler in ticket percentage and handle at various sportsbooks. Other notable European contenders include Ludvig Åberg, Tommy Fleetwood, and Jon Rahm, all of whom are expected to put up a strong challenge. The rising star Robert MacIntyre, who recently won the Scottish Open, is also in the mix with odds of 45-1. Despite his recent success, MacIntyre has not garnered as much attention from bettors as some of his counterparts.
As the 152nd Open Championship unfolds, all eyes will be on Scottie Scheffler as he aims to justify his status as the outright favorite. With stiff competition from the likes of Rory McIlroy and other European contenders, the tournament promises to be an exciting spectacle for golf fans around the world. Only time will tell if Scheffler can rise to the occasion and secure his first major championship victory outside of Augusta National, or if one of the challengers will steal the spotlight at Royal Troon.
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