British Open 2017: 10 dark horse golfers to win The Open Championship
With the 2017 British Open ready to tee off from Royal Birkdale starting on Thursday, July 20, a look at 10 dark horses to win The Open Championship
The third major championship of the 2017 PGA Tour season has finally arrived. Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England will play host to the 2017 British Open. Given the high-profile tournament, obviously the best golfers in the world will be in the field. However, the conditions of the course and area in addition to the recent form of these top players makes things interesting.
When you look at players like Dustin Johnson, the World No. 1 and the favorite to win at the 2017 British Open, he hasn’t been in great form lately. He’s missed his last two cuts (the Memorial and U.S. Open) and hasn’t played since Erin Hills. The same can be said for the likes of Rory McIlroy in terms of poor form recently, and players like Jordan Spieth have been up-and-down all season.
Obviously there are other favorites that should have a strong chance at winning the 2017 British Open. Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama and Sergio Garcia, among others, figure to be in contention. However, there are other less notable names that have a strong chance this week at Royal Birkdale, the dark horses to win at The Open Championship.
Looking at the odds for the 2017 British Open via OddsShark, we’ll look at golfers with odds worse than +2000 who have a chance to hoist the Claret Jug. With that in mind, let’s jump into the 10 dark horses to win The Open Championship.
10. Brian Harman (+12500)
One of the trademarks of Royal Birkdale and one of the factors that could decide the winner is the critical nature of being accurate off of the tee. When you look back to the U.S. Open, that was one of the primary reasons that Brian Harman remained in contention all the way into Sunday. Though he ultimately fell short in finishing tied for second, Harman should have a good shot at a major again at the 2017 British Open.
Harman’s top-end performance throughout the 2017 season obviously factors into him being an attractive option. He has a win to his credit this year, in addition to two other top-five showings and seven top-25 finishes on the year. And while the stats don’t show that he’s been great in terms of driving accuracy, he has been as of late coming off of the U.S. Open. He’s been consistent and has put himself on the green, which is where he really shines.
Putting has long been the strong suit of Harman, and that’s been on display throughout the year. He ranks seventh on the PGA Tour in terms of Strokes Gained: Putting, and also is 11th or better in every other statistical category that pertains to the flat stick. Harman has been playing exceptionally well this season. The veteran player has long been steady, and that should serve him well at The Open Championship.