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British Open 2019: 5 dark horse picks who could win The Open Championship

By Cody Williams

PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 15: Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland walks of the first tee during a practice round prior to the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 15, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 15: Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland walks of the first tee during a practice round prior to the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 15, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/R&A/R&A via Getty Images) /
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BLAINE, MINNESOTA – JULY 05: Phil Mickelson of the United States plays his shot from the 14th tee during the second round of the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities on July 05, 2019 in Blaine, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

2. Phil Mickelson (100-1)

Winner of the 2013 British Open at Muirfield, success across the pond is not something foreign to Phil Mickelson by any stretch. While that may be his lone time to capture the Claret Jug, Lefty also finished third at the event in 2004, tied for second in 2011 and finished outright second in 2016. Heck, he even tied for 24th just last year, his best finish in a major championship for 2018.

The simple fact of the matter, though, is that Mickelson has not been good this season. So far on the PGA Tour in 2019, the veteran ranks outside of the top 100 in every Strokes Gained metric with the exception of Strokes Gained: Around the Green. And even then, looking at the best part of his game, he ranks just 66th on the tour in that department.

Since winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am back in February, the 49-year old Mickelson has missed six cuts and has only finished inside of the top 30 once in 12 tournaments. Again, it’s just been a struggle for him on the golf course this season. That’s why he’s changing things around and even fasting to lose weight for Royal Portrush.

However, Mickelson doesn’t make this list because he’s lost 15 pounds. No, he’s here because he’s Phil Mickelson at 100-1 odds. When you have a multiple-time major winner of his caliber at those kinds of odds, you can’t ignore the possibility that he turns the switch and comes out making a run for a win.

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