The final major of the year takes place at Royal Liverpool this week and we’ve picked out four golfers fancied to get off to a strong start in The Open special bets.
While the Claret Jug won’t be won during Thursday’s opening round, big guns like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler will be eager to leave themselves well placed on the leaderboard.
Among the leading contenders to put themselves in contention in The Open Championship 2023 betting are McIlroy heading the first-round leader market at 18/1 and Scheffler priced at 20/1.
However, for those wanting a bit more value in The Open special bets, here are our alternatives:
Jon Rahm
The Open first round leader betting odds: 25/1
Favourable scoring conditions are forecast for Thursday, meaning the first-round leader is likely to have plenty of birdies on their card. Few players exploit the chance to go low better than Rahm, who is looking to land a third major after adding this year’s Masters to his 2021 US Open crown.
The Spaniard led from the front at Augusta National, holding a share of the first-round lead, and also topped the leaderboard after 18 holes at the PGA Tour’s Tournament of Champions in Hawaii and Arnold Palmer Invitational this season.
Justin Rose
The Open first round leader betting odds: 55/1
Home favourite Rose has enjoyed a return to form in 2023 after dropping out of the world’s top 50 last year. A win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am proved that the 42-year-old is still a force to be reckoned with and this year’s Open marks the 25th anniversary of his remarkable tied-fourth finish as an amateur at nearby Royal Birkdale.
Rose recently led after an opening 65 at the Belfry and the 2013 US Open winner was also ahead after 18 holes at the 2021 Masters and 2019 US Open.
Corey Conners
The Open first round leader betting odds: 70/1
Few players have put themselves in contention as consistently as Canada’s Corey Conners this year. He surged clear with an opening 64 at the Valero Texas Open en route to a second PGA Tour title and was briefly on course for a third when he kicked off the Canadian Open with a 67 last month.
A first-round leader at the 2021 US PGA Championship, Conners was tied for 15th at St Andrews last year and has made the cut in four of his last five majors.
Yannik Paul
The Open first round top 10 betting odds: 9/1
As well as offering a first-round leader market, bwin also have prices for players to be in the top five or top 10. German Paul, who won his first DP World Tour title in Spain last year, should be considered at a big price for both.
At 20/1 to be in the top five or 9/1 for the top 10, the 29-year-old has twice been a first-round leader on the DP World Tour this season and produced an opening 65 in Scotland last week.
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