Betting on the Open Championship is one of the highlights on the annual golf calendar.
This year’s Open Championship, celebrating 150 years, is scheduled for July 14-17, 2022, at the Old Course in St. Andrews.
St. Andrews is known as the home of golf. The power of its persuasion prompted Tiger Woods to make an early commitment to play in this year’s event.
“I am looking forward to St. Andrews,” Woods told Sky Sports. “That’s something that’s very near and dear to my heart. I’ve won two Opens there. It’s the home of golf. It’s my favorite golf course in the world. So, I will be there for that one.”
Woods is unlikely to be among the tournament favorites, but his presence at the Open Championship is sure to generate headlines. Woods had to withdraw before the final round of the PGA Championship in May as he continues to recover from a serious leg injury after a 2021 car accident. He did not compete in June’s US Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Legal online sportsbooks have Open Championship odds for bettors, who are advised to compare tournament odds at multiple books before making their wagers. The Open Championship is a little less than a month away as of this writing. Let’s examine the current Open Championship odds and top contenders.
2022 Open Championship Betting Odds
We’re down to the last major of the year after Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick won the US Open on June 19. Rory McIlroy is the +800 betting favorite at FanDuel and DraftKings.
Other big names including defending Open Championship winner Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, and Justin Thomas can be found in the range of +1200 to +2000 depending on the sportsbook. It’s always prudent to compare the odds being offered across the sports betting industry. Futures odds tend to vary more especially in the months leading up to a major championship.
Golf bettors need to look at two key pieces of data before making their bets on the Open Championship: A player’s recent form heading into the event and his past performances in the Open and particularly at St. Andrews.
2022 Open Championship Betting Analysis
After capturing his first major victory at the US Open, Fitzpatrick has crept up oddsboards to win this year’s Open Championship. Fitzpatrick has dropped from +3500 to +2000 odds at DraftKings after his US Open win. There can be a focus on players who are coming back “home” and the native of England falls into that category. Irishman Shane Lowry, +2200 at DraftKings as of this writing, won the 2019 Open Championship in his native country at long odds. McIlroy, also from Ireland, benefits from years of experience playing in Europe. He won the 2014 Open Championship.
We’ll be monitoring player performances in the weeks heading into the 2022 Open Championship, and offering some predictions on the outright winner as we get closer to the event.
Some players live for majors, and Brooks Koepka is one of them. Koepka has eight career wins and four of those came in major events. He is still looking for his first Open Championship. Koepka, who was listed at +3300 at FanDuel, won back-to-back US Opens (2017 and 2018) as well as consecutive PGA Championships (2018 and 2019). But he hasn’t been a threat to capture a major victory this year after recovering from a spate of injuries.
The professional golf world has been divided by the debut of the Saudi-backed LIV Tour. Several players including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and others are no longer competing on the PGA Tour. While the USGA allowed those players to compete in the US Open, the R&A has yet to announce its policy for the Open Championship. That’s something to keep an eye on, and we’ll keep you updated here on future developments.
The Best Sportsbooks For Betting On Open Championship Golf
This isn’t as easy as it may seem. With betting numbers all over the board, you should start by checking which books you can legally bet with from the comfort of your home and state. That’s the top priority.
Then, come the numbers. A player at “Book A” may be +1000 and that same player may be +1400 at “Book B.” Betting is just like buying an appliance for your home or even a car: shop around for the best pricing.
Also, sportsbooks typically offer sign-up bonuses for new users (see BetMGM’s below). Be sure to read the fine print, but these offers can definitely add to your bankroll in the form of risk-free bets or matching deposits.
Use Bonus Code TODAY For A $1,000 Risk-Free Bet At BetMGM
How To Bet On The Open Championship
One important part of betting on the Open Championship is making sure you wager early. The tournament tees off in the early morning here in the U.S. (like 3 a.m. early), so gets your bets in by late Wednesday night.
Betting on golf, specifically on the majors, is different from betting on baseball, football, and other major sports. First and foremost, it isn’t a team sport; there isn’t a “Team A” or a “Team B.” It’s one player against the rest of the field. In some instances, it’s a full field of 144 players.
It is always a challenge to pick the outright winner of a golf tournament. But the good news is there are plenty of other ways to bet on the Open Championship. Let’s examine some of these options now.
Open Championship Live Betting
Most sportsbooks offer live betting on the majors. Live betting in golf can be tricky. If a player has a big lead, bettors are looking at a huge minus when it comes to picking that player to win coming down the stretch. On the other hand, just about everyone else will be a nice plus. It’s all about momentum and finding the right number for your bet.
Remember, the later in the round you’re looking to bet, the wider the discrepancy in money. If a player has a four-shot lead with nine holes left, he will be a huge favorite. On the other hand, if it’s a horse race down to the wire, the odds will reflect more players having a chance to win and give bettors better odds for their favorite player.
Open Championship Prop Bets
Like all of the majors, the Open Championship will have more than its share of prop bets. From betting on “a hole-in-one” to “will there be a playoff” to “will the winner come from the last group,” there are prop bets for just about everyone’s tastes. Don’t forget to make any prop bet wagers before the first player tees off in the tournament. Once that opening tee shot is hit, the props are gone.
What Affects Open Championship Odds
Setting the odds is a time-consuming operation. Bookmakers take everything into account. From a player’s recent tournament history to his performances in the event the bookmakers are setting the current lines on, these guys dig deep. Sportsbooks are looking for that perfect number that will attract bettors to take a chance. But they also want to limit their liability.
Open Championship Odds At Leading Sportsbooks
BetMGM
- Rory McIlroy, +1000
- Scottie Scheffler, +1200
- Jon Rahm, +1400
- Justin Thomas, +1400
- Collin Morikawa, +2000
FanDuel
- Rory McIlroy, +800
- Jon Rahm, +1200
- Scottie Scheffler, +1200
- Justin Thomas, +1400
- Jordan Spieth, +1600
DraftKings
- Rory McIlroy, +800
- Jon Rahm, +1000
- Scottie Scheffler, +1200
- Justin Thomas, +1400
- Collin Morikawa, +1600
Open Championship Golf Betting Odds FAQs
Absolutely…if you live in a state that has legal sports betting. Michigan, Virginia, Nevada, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York are all in play with more states coming on board each year. Legal sports betting is now available in more than 30 states and the District of Columbia.
All of the sportsbooks have personnel who go over every stat possible to come up with starting numbers prior to the tournament. And in the majors, those numbers go up very quickly after the previous event ends. Numbers are adjusted as players take part in tournaments leading up to the majors.
Your favorite sportsbook will definitely have the odds on its site. Check out FanDuel, BetMGM, BetRivers, and DraftKings just to name a few. Also, casinos with sportsbooks on-site will also post odds.
Right here on Gaming Today. We will have previews and picks as the event gets closer.
The 2022 Open Championship will be held July 14-17, 2022, at The Old Course in St. Andrews, the home of golf.
Jon Rahm is the early top choice at a majority of the sportsbooks.
Yes and no…depending on the sportsbook app you may use. Check out your favorite sportsbook app for the best odds. If they do offer in-play betting, be prepared to pay a premium unless you’re looking for someone to come off the pace. All of the sportsbooks will have betting updates after each round as well as head-to-head matchups for each round to keep bettors intrigued.
Yes. As with all major sports, if it’s a big-time event, all sportsbooks will have it front and center. Golf is no different.
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