10 other outside bets for title
Kevin Chappell Age 31 Nationality USA Best Open finish T53 (2016)
Resembles Dustin Johnson in his gait from a distance but even though he is not quite the world No1, he is often underestimated. Finished seventh at the Masters in April and finally broke his duck on the PGA Tour in Texas later that month, beating US Open champion Brooks Koepka in a play-off, a victory which hauled the Californian into the world’s top 25 for a time.
Lee Westwood Age 44 Nationality GB Best Open finish 2nd (2010)
Has split with his long-time manager Chubby Chandler and it remains to be seen how this upheaval will affect him. But if he can shrug it off, then his chance of finally winning a major should not be discounted. Has four Open top-fours to his name and still has plenty of game. Seeing friend Sergio Garcia lose his tag as ‘best player not to have won a major’ can only have inspired him.
Xander Schauffele Age 23 Nationality USA Best Open finish N/A
Debut-making Americans have a proud tradition in this major, most recently underlined by Ben Curtis, before him by Tony Lema and also by Ben Hogan and Sam Snead. Schauffele is no Hogan or Snead but neither is he Curtis, having won the Greenbrier Classic three weeks after finishing fifth inn the US Open. Full of confidence and putts well.
Daniel Berger Age 24 Nationality USA Best Open finish Cut (2015)
Even though a quote last week signified that Berger believes Scotland to be in England, this son of Jay Berger – the former top 10 tennis pro
– really should be suited to this links malarkey. A member of America’s Class of
11 – including Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas – Berger has the game and the grit to challenge this week. A two-time winner on the
PGA Tour.
Anirban Lahiri Age 30 Nationality IND Best Open finish T53 (2015)
With respect to Jeev Milkha Singh, Arjun Atwal and the other Indians who have cracked the top level in the last decade, Lahiri is the most talented golfer to have emerged from his country. Is the same height as Rory Mcilroy and is reminiscent of the Ulsterman in the prodigious lengths he can propel the ball. Has 18 wins to his name.
Matthew Fitzpatrick Age 22 Nationality GB Best Open finish T44 (2013)
Birkdale favours the great putters and that is a description which can be applied to this Yorkshireman, despite his youthful years. Has missed the cut in two of his three prep events and has clearly not emulated the form of his breakthrough season last year, in which he finished seventh at the Masters and won twice on the European Tour. Yet he did finish second in Sweden last month.
Stewart Cink Age 44 Nationality USA Best Open finish Won (2009)
Famously, and very cruelly, depicted as the man who killed Bambi when beating the 59-year-old Tom Watson at Turnberry in 2009. Remarkably, that is the former world No8’s last victory. But since the recovery of his wife, Lisa, from cancer, Cink has showed an upturn in form, recording two top 10s on the
PGA Tour in the last few months.
Brings experience as a former champion.
Martin Kaymer Age 32 Nationality GER Best Open finish T7 (2010)
A former world No1 and a two-time major winner, who is only 32. Kaymer is a curious player in that his career lurches from staggering highs to long periods of mediocrity. He is in the latter of late but be sure that the German has the quality and it is only a matter of when he prevails again. Birkdale might be beyond his shortgame but don’t be surprised if he makes a mockery of the odds.
Ryan Moore Age 34 Nationality USA Best Open finish T12 (2014)
The former world amateur No1 is a brilliant putter and a five-time winner on the PGA Tour. Last year, he ran Mcilroy so close at the
Tour Championship and made his debut in the Ryder
Cup, in which he won two out of three points. So why is he listed with the supposed no-hopers? True, he has yet to post an Open top 10 but he is a gutsy competitor and could represent outstanding value.
Steve Stricker Age 50 Nationality USA Best Open finish 4th (2016)
While the Stenson and Mickelson duel rightly commanded all the headlines last year, Stricker’s own battle should have gained more coverage. The weather dictated that those who were drawn late-early in the first two rounds had a huge advantage. Stricker was among the unfortunates, but showed what still could be achieved with experience by finishing fourth.