The Open :: Our picks to win at Troon

Not sure which way to turn with your bets for Royal Troon? We’re here to help.

The bunkered team have chosen the men who they believe are worth putting some cash on this week. Have a read – and don’t forget to thank us when you collect your winnings.

BRYCE RITCHIE • EDITOR

WINNER – Sergio Garcia

Sergio looks more focused, comfortable and content this year than he’s ever been. Add that to his penchant for links golf and he’ll be right there. Soft greens mean he won’t face any tricked up putting surfaces, which will suit him. Troon is short, for major standards, and his iron play is dynamite.

OUTSIDER – Zach Johnson

The defending champion should not be forgotten this week. Troon, if the weather stays fair, is no brute and, at 55/1, Johnson is the each way pick of the field. Fewer Americans have won more on tour in the last few years, yet he never gets the credit. He’s a brilliant putter – he leads the stats from 3ft in – and his short game is outstanding.

MICHAEL MCEWAN • ASSISTANT EDITOR

WINNER – Rory McIlroy

Despite winning in 2014, Rory has what you might call a ‘spotty’ Open Championship record. Still, the way the course is shaping up this week – long and soft on account of persistent rain – it should suit him perfectly. Three of his four major triumphs have come in similar circumstances. Assuming the wind doesn’t get up, I’d expect Rory to factor strongly this week.

OUTSIDER – Branden Grace

The South African has already won twice this year (including his first PGA Tour title in April) and so is trending towards a major. He has finished in the top five in three of his last five majors and, crucially, knows what it takes to win on links as his 2012 Alfred Dunhill Links victory demonstrates. He putts great and has a solid iron game. A tremendous E/W bet.

CRAIG DENNETT • STAFF WRITER

WINNER – Dustin Johnson

This time last year we were lamenting DJ for his inability to close out the big tournaments. Now, DJ arrives at Royal Troon as the hottest golfer on the planet on the back of his maiden major triumph and a WGC victory. In his last six majors, he has finished in the top seven places on five occasions, including his US Open win. He has the temperament and the distance to do it, all he needs is a hot putter.

OUTSIDER – Matt Fitzpatrick

His rise into the upper echelons of the European Tour has been quick and impressive. His win at last year’s British Masters was followed up by Nordea Masters triumph earlier this year to cement his place as a real contender of note. Throw in a T7 finish at the Masters in April, his calm, cool and collected approach to the game and his experience playing links golf at amateur level, and you’ve got an outsider who could be in the mix on Sunday.

MARTIN INGLIS • ONLINE WRITER

WINNER – Adam Scott

You’ll struggle to find a better player with a better recent Open Championship record than the Aussie. After his heartbreaking runner-up finish at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2012, Scott finished T3 at Muirfield, T5 at Hoylake and T10 at St Andrews – where he was in with an excellent chance of winning until another collapse on the final five holes. He’s a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this season, too.

OUTSIDER – Martin Kaymer

We just spoke about Adam Scott’s form – so Kaymer’s is certainly worth a mention as well. The German finished T6 at the Spanish Open and since then, his results have been: T5, T7, T37, T5, T13. Not bad, huh. The latter of those results was at a wet and windy Scottish Open, with similar conditions expected this week. The two-time major winner tends to go under the radar – and he’ll be hoping that continues right up until the back nine on Sunday.

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