Open predictions: Five outsiders to consider
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The battle for the coveted Claret Jug takes place at Royal Troon Golf Club, Scotland this week with a star-studded field competing in the 152nd Open Championship.
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler is the 5/1 favourite with LiveScore Bet to land the fourth and final Major of the season, ahead of 7/1 Rory McIlroy and 12/1 shots Ludvig Aberg and Xander Schauffele.
But there is plenty of value further down the betting and we have picked out five players at bigger odds that look to have a chance of coming out on top in South Ayrshire.
Finau to land Claret Jug
Tony Finau has yet to break his Major duck but he arrives in Scotland in solid form, recording a tied-eighth finish at the Memorial, taking a share of third at the US Open before bagging a top-five at the Travelers last time out.
His debut Open appearance came the last time Royal Troon hosted the tournament in 2016, when he was T18, and his results in this event since read T27-T9-3-T15-T28-CUT.
Finau's tee-to-green game has been stellar this season and if he can continue to show improvement with the putter, which has been heating up nicely over his last three outings, he can challenge.
DJ worth a look
Dustin Johnson's appetite for golf has come into question since his move to LIV but there have been better signs from him of late on the breakaway tour, with seventh, 13th and 17th-place finishes in his last four starts.
The 40-year-old American came close to lifting the Claret Jug in 2011 when tied-second and his record in this tournament makes for solid reading with four further top-10 Open finishes, one of which came at Royal Troon.
At triple-figure odds, Johnson is a value each-way pick.
Lowry can land second trophy
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Shane Lowry won the 2019 Open Championship and he heads to Scotland looking for his second Claret Jug in a positive mood, with his last two starts producing T19 (US Open) and T9 (Travelers Championship) finishes.
The Irishman boasts one of the best short games around, an area that will be crucial to success at Royal Troon, while his long game has been in great shape as he ranks 18th in strokes gained: tee-to-green.
Bhatia can impress on debut
American star Akshay Bhatia's last two starts have seen him finish tied-fifth and tied-second and he can keep the momentum going on what will be his Open debut this week.
The 22-year-old landed his second PGA Tour title in April at the Texas Open and his statistics on the US circuit make for solid reading, as he ranks in the top 20 for strokes gained: tee-to-green, approach and total driving.
While his lack of experience of links golf is a concern, Bhatia is taking everything in his stride and he has the game to compete for one of the most coveted prizes in the sport.
In-form Scott to contend
Australian Adam Scott was scratching around for form until last week's Scottish Open, where he ended up in a tie for second and reaffirmed his love for links golf.
The 43-year-old was runner-up at the Open in 2012 and has also recorded two top-five and two top-10 finishes in the Major, highlighting his affinity for the tournament.
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