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

British Open 2021 sleeper No. 1: Ian Poulter (+7000)

Ian Poulter is no stranger to the British Open. This will be his 15th try teeing it up at The Open Championship with his best finish coming in 2008 when he finished outright second. The Englishman hasn’t always fared well in this tournament and, in fact, he missed the cut at Royal St. George’s in 2011. But the veteran 45-year-old has been displaying some impressive form this season.

Not only is Poulter coming off of a strong T4 at the Scottish Open last week — an even almost designed to prepare golfers for The Open — but he hasn’t missed a cut since The Honday Classic before The Masters (where he finished T26). Furthermore, while his T40 at the U.S. Open might not raise too many eyebrows, he was legitimately in the mix near the top until a bad round on Sunday, which can happen to anyone at the U.S. Open.

We’ve seen Royal St. George’s produce winners in the last two times The Open was played at the venue who were veterans that were capable of grinding and making things happen. Poulter undoubtedly fits that bill and is coming into the final major championship of the year in terrific form for a 45-year-old. It would be quite a win for Poulter to get his first major at and it could very well be in the cards.