Round one of the Open has concluded, and several prominent players have made impressive starts, with Scottie Scheffler standing out. He is highlighted in our best bets for day two.
Golf Betting Tips: Open Three-Balls
2pts Fowler and Oosthuizen to win their three-balls at 7/2 (Coral, Ladbrokes)
1pt Herbert, Cantlay, and Scheffler to win their three-balls at 7/1 (General)
0.5pt five-fold the above selections at 33/1 (General)
While there aren’t many Friday morning three-ball matchups available just yet, RICKIE FOWLER offers a good value to repeat his first-round victory over Adam Scott, with amateur Ethan Fang joining them. Fang struggled during his Open debut, which makes Fowler a favorable 6/4 bet in their head-to-head matchup. Although things can vary, Fowler’s strong recent performance suggests he’s a safe choice.
Fowler previously enjoyed Portrush during his first appearance in 2019 and recorded a solid opening round, making him a candidate worth backing. Scott seemed inconsistent, relying heavily on his putting, whereas Fowler should be the preferred option.
I considered sticking with Harry Hall, who rebounded well after a rocky start, but Aaron Rai showed excellent form, and Angel Hidalgo edged out Matt McCarty with improved ball-striking. Meanwhile, LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN remains a strong pick, even after a frustrating finish on day one due to a three-putt on the 18th green. His performance off the tee was solid, making him a worthy contender against KJ Choi, who struggled in his last round.
LUCAS HERBERT convincingly outperformed Darren Clarke and Davis Riley, and there’s a solid chance he’ll triumph at even money. Clarke had ups and downs in past competitions, and with Riley’s poor ball-striking, Herbert should extend his winning streak.
Brooks Koepka’s minor injury issues make Sam Burns an intriguing choice, but I find SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER‘s performance concerning. I prefer him at 10/11 against Shane Lowry and Collin Morikawa. While Morikawa continues to underperform, Lowry’s home course advantage poses a challenge for Scheffler. However, Scheffler’s solid finishing suggests he could dominate this week.
From the lesser matchups, I see potential in opposing John Axelsen, while Dylan Naidoo looks promising against him. Jesper Sandborg occupies too much market space for my liking, and I see Oliver Lindell and Justin Suh as equally matched at their prices.
Finally, I find it surprising to see PATRICK CANTLAY at 5/4, especially given his class compared to the struggling Cameron Young and Mackenzie Hughes. Cantlay’s solid play, aside from a single hiccup at the 16th, contrasts sharply with Hughes’ poor performance. While Young has a decent Open record, the course doesn’t seem as favorable as in previous events.
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