British Open 2021: 5 dark horse sleepers who can win The Open Championship

The Open Championship heads to Royal St. George’s after missing last year but which golfers can emerge as sleepers to win the British Open in 2021?

Of the many historic venues that The Open Championship visits in its rotation, Royal St. George’s in Sandwich, Kent, England stands out as one of the most unique tests. Unlike at many venues in the United States and in parts of Europe, distance isn’t king. It’s been said there isn’t a flat spot on the golf course, meaning a good shot can still get a bad bounce. The winners are determined by how a player can creatively plot his way around the course with wisdom and quite a bit of grit.

Because of the unique British Open test that Royal St. George’s will provide in 2021 and has before, it’s no wonder that we’ve seen two heavy underdogs in Darren Clarke (2011) and Ben Curtis (2003) win the last two Open Championships played at this venue. So while Jon Rahm is the prohibitive favorite (and rightly so), who are the sleepers that can come up and hoist the Claret Jug?

We’re diving into five players with worse than +5000 odds according to WynnBET who have what it takes to win the 2021 British Open at Royal St. George’s. All stats are via PGATour.com and EuropeanTour.com unless noted.

British Open 2021 sleeper No. 5: Cameron Smith (+6600)

There is nothing that jumps off the page looking at the statistical profile of Cameron Smith outside of him being 13th on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Putting and inside the top 50 in Strokes Gained: Around-the-Green. Those are, admittedly, two important factors for playing links golf at The Open Championship, which does play into why he could have a chance to win. But the biggest reason is a bit beyond the statistical realm.

Put simply, if Royal St. George’s is going to provide a test in which you need to be a grinder and a, to use a broad term, shot-maker, then Smith jumps off the page. Despite not being the best off the tee or with his irons, Smith has routinely popped up on leaderboards at extremely difficult golf courses, finishing T2 and T10 at his last two Masters showings, fourth at The Genesis and even something like T11 at The Concession.

Smith has displayed an innate ability in his game to make the best of situations within a given round or even on a particular hole. He’s proven that bad bounces or breaks won’t eliminate him from making pars and competing, which is exactly what you need at this type of course and tournament. He simply can’t be ruled out because his mental game fits the necessary criteria.