We, like many other fantasy golf fans were caught off guard with how many top golfers missed the cut or were non factors at the US Open…At least we now get a shot at redemption for the British Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
The Open Championship can be an easy event to handicap unless the weather kicks up and then all bets are off. Often a solid strategy in picking a fantasy golf lineup is focussing on top golfers that have experience playing on links courses and have faced some of the weather challenges as they pop up almost every year.
The golfers below are the guys that we think have the best shot at winning the 2017 British Open Championship and will be favorites at most golf betting sites. Each of them could be the winner this week but we have narrowed it down to one name that we really like.
Who We Think Wins The Open Championship in 2017
First let's break down the contenders this year's field:
Dustin Johnson
A lot of US Open fantasy lineups blew up with DJ being their main anchor that they built around and him missing the cut. Many top players missed the cut but Johnson was a heavy favorite going in and was a complete disappointment at the US Open. Look for him to bounce back and once again be a contender at Royal Birkdale.
Rory Mcilroy
Rory has won the Open Championship already and depending on how his ribs feel he should once again challenge for another major this week. Royal Birkdale is in England and all Englishmen try to step up their game for the Open when it’s on their home turf. If healthy Rory will once again be a top favorite to win the Open Championship.
Sergio Garcia
Up until his win at the Masters I honestly believed that the British Open was the one major that Sergio would win. He has finished in the top 10 – TEN times in 21 tries and has three straight top 10’s currently. It completely wouldn’t surprise anyone if he was to win the 2017 Open but although I will take him in a bunch of lineups
Jordan Spieth
Spieth was my pick to win the US Open and although he made the cut, he just never got anything going enough to mount a challenge. He went out and won the Travelers the following week so he is still playing at a high level…will it get him a major this week? It wouldn’t be a shock, but with Spieth it may depend on how well he starts off the Open in the first round.
Justin Rose
I was all in on Rose and Speith for the US Open and got kicked out of most of my lineups when Rose missed the cut. Rose is too good a golfer to not bounce back and as a major winner already he should be a good bet again for the British Open Championship especially as an Englishman playing in England and having the hometown advantage.
And Our Top Pick To Win The Open
Rickie Fowler
I am going out on a limb this week and picking Fowler to win! Many had Fowler as their pick to win the US Open but on the weekend he faded and again started wearing the choke necklace around his neck. Fowler seems pretty dedicated right now to his game and if the weather holds up, I think Fowler may finally be poised to win a major. I will assume that he is tired of fading in the home stretch and will be super focussed this week.