Rory McIlroy 2019 British Open Odds
Odds to Win British Open: 8-1
DFS Pricing: $11,600 DraftKings; $12,000 FanDuel
Tee Times: 5:09 a.m. ET Thursday; 10:10 a.m. ET Friday
Not only does no other player have as much pressure on him this week as Northern Ireland’s own favorite son, I’m not sure any player has had as much pressure on them at a major in recent years – except, well, maybe McIlroy at the Masters.

We’ve seen how he’s played in that situation, trying to capture the career grand slam, which is to say, good, but not good enough. While it’s always possible Rory vanquishes the field by a half-dozen strokes, it’ll be tough in front of the adoring home crowd

Brooks Koepka British Open Odds
Odds to Win British Open: 10-1
DFS Pricing: $11,400 DraftKings; $12,200 FanDuel
Tee Times: 8:04 a.m. ET Thursday; 3:03 a.m. ET Friday
There’s obviously nothing wrong with picking Brooks in a major. He’s won three of them so far, and in his three Open appearances, he’s added two top 10s to his resume. It’s not quite the high end finishes we’ve seen at the other majors, but solid results nonetheless.

If you had asked me a few years ago where Koepka’s major breakthrough would come, the Open would have been my guess. He came up through the Challenge and Euro Tours and should be comfortable with the style necessary to win at an Open. His caddie grew up playing at Portrush and is a member at the course, so he should be able to provide that valuable local knowledge on a relatively unfamiliar course.

Dustin Johnson 2019 British Open Odds
Odds to Win British Open: 10-1
DFS Pricing: $10,900 DraftKings; $11,900 FanDuel
Tee Times: 10:59 a.m. ET Thursday; 4:58 a.m. ET Friday
Just once, I’d love to hear DJ pissed off and fired up, saying it’s unacceptable that a player of his caliber only has one major victory, while insisting that he knows he’s every bit as good as Brooks Koepka. Alas, that ain’t ever, ever gonna happen.

Instead, we’re left with the cool cat who continues to come close, though The Open is decidedly his least favorite major. Johnson owns three career top-10s, but in the last four years he’s only once finished better than 49th

Tiger Woods 2019 British Open Odds
Odds to Win British Open: 18-1
DFS Pricing: $10,200 DraftKings; $11,700 FanDuel
Tee Times: 10:10 a.m. ET Thursday; 5:09 a.m. ET Friday
When he insisted he’d play way fewer events this year, Woods wasn’t embellishing. More than halfway through the calendar, he’s made just nine starts – three fewer than any other player in the world’s top-five.

Tiger obviously proved he can still win at Augusta National and if we’re ranking the majors that best suit his 43-year-old body and game, The Open would have to be next on the list. Dialing in long- and mid-irons has always been his specialty and that should keep in the mix this week, as well

Rickie Fowler 2019 British Open Odds
Odds to Win British Open: 25-1
DFS Pricing: $9,300 DraftKings; $11,100 FanDuel
Tee Times: 5:20 a.m. ET Thursday; 10:21 a.m. ET Friday
If you’ve been backing Rickie to win his first major for the last handful of years, you’re likely at a crossroads: Keep firing and hope the “inevitable” happens soon, or cut your losses and risk Fowler FOMO if he wins. I understand the surrender, but this might be a foolish jumping-off point.

His ability to embrace links with creativity around the course should serve him well, though the recent results have been disappointing: Since a runner-up finish in 2014, he’s finished 30th-46th-22nd-28th.

Jon Rahm 2019 British Open Odds
Odds to Win British Open: 16-1
DFS Pricing: $10,600 DraftKings; $11,300 FanDuel
Tee Times: 10:21 a.m. ET Thursday; 5:20 a.m. ET Friday
No contender has moved in the recent markets like Rahm, who recently claimed yet another Irish Open title, then sang the praises of links golf and competing in Ireland.

A massive talent who is targeted for big things, many believe it’s only his short fuse of a temperament which is holding him back, though that might serve only as a rationalization for why he hasn’t won a major yet. Still just 24, that day is coming – and it might be coming this week, as he’s clearly figured out the secret to this style of golf.

Matt Kuchar (-115) over Jason Day

Day isn’t typically known as a strong iron player, he’s more known for his elite short game and putting. However, his irons have been decent lately, gaining strokes on approach in three-straight tournaments, while his short game and putting struggled in two of the past three.

I’d expect Day’s short game to progress back to his usual elite status, but that’s obviously no guarantee. And Kuchar is one of the guys I am highest on this week. Day hasn’t been played since the 3M Open in early July and Kuchar put together a respectable 20th-place finish at the Scottish Open last week.
Overall, Kuchar is just in better form than Day at the moment (Kuchar listed first):

Recent Adjusted Round Score: 67.9 vs. 69.2
Birdies per tournament: 18.7 vs. 15.3
Adjusted strokes on par 4s: -3.0 vs. -0.5
And over their past 24 rounds Kuchar rates higher in the other Strokes Gained metrics I am looking at for The Open:

Strokes Gained: Approach: 11th vs. 60th
Strokes Gained: Short Game: 13th vs. 60th
Day has actually been consistent at British Opens, making eight-of-eight cuts, but it’s been the same story for Kuchar, making every cut since 2012. I’ll ride the hot-hand with Kuchar, who I think also has a better all-around game.

Ben Hebert (-120) over Keith Mitchell

Hebert has seen heavy line movement against Mitchell so far this week at some books, but you can still find him at a good number depending where you look. The dude is hot: He finished second at last week’s loaded Scottish Open, hitting a ridiculous 86.1% of his greens. He’s one of the best at hitting greens in the field, and he’s been especially good lately.

Mitchell has a win this year at the Honda Classic, but he’s missed two of his last three cuts entering the Open Championship and has a miserable 62.5% Recent Greens in Regulation mark. He typically gains strokes with his driver and doesn’t seem to be a great fit for links-style courses.