Brooks Koepka Favored to Win Open Championship at Royal Portrush
The Open Championship returns for just the second time to County Antrim, Northern Ireland and Royal Portrush Golf Club for 2019’s final golf major beginning July 18. The last time Royal Portrush hosted the Open Championship was in 1951.
Odds makers have made Brooks Koepka the 7 to 1 favorite to win the prestigious event. Rory McIlroy has the second best odds to win at 8 to 1, while Dustin Johnson is 12 to 1, and Justin Rose and Tiger Woods are 14 to 1 to round out the top 5 best odds.
The next five best odds are Francesco Molinari at 18 to 1, Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth at 20 to 1, Xander Schauffele at 22 to 1 and Rickie Fowler at 25 to 1 to round out the top 10.
In the U.S. Open held last month, Koepka just missed winning his fifth major in his last nine played as Gary Woodland was victorious at Pebble Beach. Nevertheless, Koepka has won or finished second in four of the past five majors and has finished in the top 10 twice in his past three appearances at the Open Championship.
The reigning champion of the Open is Francesco Molinari, but the Italian is not in the same form he was last year entering the tournament. However, Molinari has played well in two of this year’s three majors finishing tied for fifth in the Masters and tied for 16th at the U.S. Open. However, at the PGA Championship the Italian finished well back tied for 48th.
For the world’s best players, the 7,344-yard par 71 course will prove to be difficult. The classic links course constantly changes in elevation and direction. The most recent big event played at Royal Portrush was the 2012 Irish Open.
