The Open Championship – CopyBet
The eyes of the golf world will be focused on Northern Ireland this week as the final Major of the year, the Open Championship, takes place at Royal Portrush Golf Club, County Antrim.
World number one Scottie Scheffler is favourite as he goes in search of his fourth success of the year, while home favourite Rory McIlroy will be hoping to go one better than his second at last week’s Scottish Open.
Ireland’s Shane Lowry will also hope to put on a strong showing after he won by six shots the last time the tournament was held at this venue six years ago.
Tip 1: Royal Portrush will provide a links examination which is in sharp contrast to the majority of courses that host events on the PGA and LIV Tours, and that should suit England’s Tyrrell Hatton.
The High Wycombe swinger has yet to claim a Major title, but he has won the Dunhill Links three times and was sixth at Royal Portrush six years ago.
His fifth at Troon in 2016 is still his best Open result and he missed the cut last year. However, his confidence should be boosted by the fourth spot he earned at last month’s US Open, which he followed with a fifth place at LIV Dallas.
Royal Portrush is not a course where long drivers are expected to dominate and that should boost Hatton’s chances, which will also be enhanced if he can keep a lid on his emotions.
Tip 2: Shane Lowry has knocked on the door plenty of times on the PGA Tour this year and this could be the week it all comes together at the scene of his greatest triumph.
The man from County Offaly stormed to glory here in 2019 and he should also be motivated by the fact that he would have given Xander Schauffele a much closer run for his money last year had he not carded a Saturday 77.
Lowry has been runner-up at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Truist Championship this year and there could be no better stage for him to finally get over the line.
Tip 3: Those looking for an outside interest are pointed towards New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, who, like Hatton, is a former Dunhill Links winner.
Fox claimed his best Open finish at Royal Portrush when he was 16th in 2019 and should also take confidence from a runner-up finish he gained in the Irish Open at Ballyliffin.
He knows what it is like to be a winner this year following his successes in the Myrtle Beach Classic and the Canadian Open, so he looks likely to produce a bold show.
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