The Open: SB Nation staff picks, predictions for who will lift Claret Jug

After an exciting Genesis Scottish Open, which noticed Scotsman Robert MacIntyre prevail by one over Adam Scott, the main target shifts from Scotland’s East Coast to the West, the place The Old Course at Royal Troon awaits.

Troon will host The Open Championship for the tenth time, because the Ayrshire course final welcomed the world’s finest in 2016. It’s a correct links-style structure, which receives loads of wind and rain off the Firth of Clyde. The first six holes run alongside the coast, usually aided by a northerly wind that makes this stretch simpler than the remaining. Holes 7, 8, and 9 flip inland, with the well-known par-3 eighth, “The Postage Stamp,” being among the finest quick holes on the earth. It solely measures 123 yards.

The again 9 turns in direction of the clubhouse, a beastly set of holes highlighted by the brutal par-4 eleventh, often known as “The Railway.” This difficult par-4, measuring 498 yards, was essentially the most tough gap on the PGA Tour through the 2015-2016 season. It runs alongside a set of practice tracks, that means out-of-bounds is in play down your complete proper facet, and it most frequently faces the prevailing wind.

Good ball-strikers and gamers with imaginative quick video games are likely to do nicely on this course, so it is no surprise that Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson produced the best Open showdown since “The Duel in the Sun” in 1977, when Tom Watson narrowly defeated Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry.

So, contemplating all of this, let’s get to our staff picks, as we have now RJ Ochoa serving as our visitor picker this week as soon as once more:

Jack Milko — Staff Writer, Golf

Eight years in the past, in his fifth Open look, Tyrrell Hatton made the reduce for the primary time and tied for fifth at Royal Troon, a outcome that helped spark the then 24-year-old’s profession in the suitable course. Hatton has since ascended to change into among the finest gamers on the earth.

But a serious championship is the one obvious omission on the Englishman’s resume. He has completed within the high 10 at 5 majors since that first journey to Royal Troon in 2016, which features a tie for ninth at Augusta National earlier this 12 months. Hatton has additionally made the reduce in 11 straight majors, relationship again to The 149th Open at Royal St. George’s.

He additionally jumped to LIV Golf in late January, which has not affected his sport a lot. Hatton gained the LIV Golf Nashville occasion by six strokes, one week after tying for twenty sixth at Pinehurst No. 2. He then got here in solo third in Anadalucía final week, lacking out on a playoff with Sergio Garcia and Anirban Lahiri by one stroke.

Hatton is trending in the suitable course, and his sport fits Royal Troon nicely. The three-time Ryder Cupper has lengthy been one of many sport’s high ball-strikers, however his quick sport is underrated, too. That mixture will assist him in Ayrshire, as I envision Hatton changing into the following Champion Golfer of the Year.

DraftKings Odds: +2800

RJ Ochoa — Senior Producer, Blogging the Boys

Photo by Luke Walker/R&A through Getty Images

The final time I used to be requested to select right here at Playing Through, I defied logic and selected Rory McIlroy over Scottie Scheffler. That didn’t work out nicely!

Since then, McIlroy has been by way of what we will name “some stuff,” whereas Scottie has continued to play exceptional golf. Scottie nonetheless looks as if the logical selection now that we have now reached Royal Troon, however issues felt that means at Valhalla and Pinehurst as nicely.

I’m going to go only a bit out of left subject and let my coronary heart actually make my decide in the way in which I assumed it did with McIlroy. Give me Tommy Fleetwood to win his first main championship title, which will undoubtedly be a win for the ages. He has been so shut, so many instances, and this seems like his week.

Let’s experience.

DraftKings Odds: +2200

Savannah Richardson — Staff Writer, Golf

Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

I’m going with Ludvig Åberg!

He is on the cusp of a run, particularly after his sturdy performances at The Masters and the U.S. Open. He additionally performed nicely on the Genesis Scottish Open, despite the fact that he struggled through the ultimate spherical—a theme that has sadly plagued him as of late. But I feel he will overcome these latest struggles and win in his Open Championship debut.

On high of that, Åberg vividly remembers what Henrik Stenson did on this golf course in 2016, even calling that day a “national holiday” in Sweden. He will make it two Swedish winners in a row at Royal Troon.

DraftKings Odds: +1400

Jack Milko is a golf staff author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be positive to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.