Open Championship first-round predictions: Conners to make a fast start at Troon
Recommended Bets:
Corey Conners to beat Ryan Fox and Jorge Campillo
Rasmus Hojgaard to beat Henrik Stenson and Jacob Skov Olesen
Jason Day to beat Rickie Fowler and Byeong Hun An
Thursday sees the start of the final golf Major of the year, the Open Championship, with the game’s elite looking to claim the famous Claret Jug at Royal Troon in Ayrshire, Scotland.
Most of the players will go out in groups of three during the day and LiveScoreBet offer markets on who will come out on top among the players in each group.
So here are three predictions on these popular threeball markets featuring groups who will start their quest for glory on the afternoon of the first day.
Bet 1: Corey Conners to beat Ryan Fox and Jorge Campillo - 11/10
Corey Conners has not tasted success since the Valero Texas Open in April 2023, but he has finished in the top 20 in six of his last eight starts, which should boost his confidence for the Troon task.
That spell included a sixth spot when the pressure was on in his home Canadian Open and he was also ninth at the US Open.
Four solid rounds at the Scottish Open last week provide further encouragement and he can get the better of both Ryan Fox and Jorge Campillo, both of whom have struggled since moving to play on the PGA Tour this season.
Bet 2: Rasmus Hojgaard to beat Henrik Stenson and Jacob Skov Olesen - 11/10
Henrik Stenson enjoyed his finest hour at Troon in 2016 when he claimed a three-shot win over Phil Mickelson, but despite finishing 13th at Royal Liverpool 12 months ago, he has not flourished since joining the LIV Tour.
Danish amateur Jacon Skov Olsen, who won the Amateur Championship to gain a spot, could find it all a bit overwhelming and faces a steep learning curve, which could clear the way for Rasmus Hojgaard to win this threeball.
Hojgaard made a mess of his first round on his Open debut last year with a 78 and a subsequent 71 was not enough for him to make the weekend.
He should make a better fist of it this time, having finished 21st at the Scottish Open, where he carded a second-round 63, having finished fourth in his previous outing at the KLM Open.
Bet 3: Jason Day to beat Rickie Fowler and Byeong Hun An - 6/4
It is nine years since Jason Day won his only Major to date at the US PGA Championship, but the signs have been encouraging for the former world number one after a succession of injuries.
He was tied for second behind Brian Harman last year and a creditable 22nd the last time the tournament was played at this venue in 2016.
The Australian can get the better of Rickie Fowler, who has not had a top-ten finish since winning the Rocket Mortgage Classic 12 months ago and Byeon Hun An, who has never finished better than 23rd in nine Opens and let a promising start slip to miss the cut at the last week’s Scottish Open.