The 2024 Open Championship is set to take place, and Todd Hamilton, the winner of the Open Championship in 2004, recalls how five people bet on him to win the championship 20 years ago. Despite his long shot odds of 500-1 and his poor performance leading up to the tournament, Hamilton emerged victorious in a playoff against Ernie Els. This success story is a reminder that underdogs can prevail in golf tournaments, and there are always opportunities to bet on unlikely winners.
As another Open Championship approaches, golf enthusiasts and bettors are looking for sleeper picks with long odds to potentially win the tournament. Members of the Golf.com staff have shared their picks for sleeper players in the upcoming championship. These picks include Nick Taylor, Sahith Theegala, Matthew Jordan, Jason Day, Keegan Bradley, and Justin Rose, among others. Each player has unique qualities that could give them an edge in the tournament.
Ryan Barath’s sleeper pick is Nick Taylor, citing his strong statistics in links golf and his positive strokes gained around and on the greens. James Colgan chooses Sahith Theegala, highlighting his past performances in majors and his potential to thrive in the Open Championship. Dylan Dethier selects Matthew Jordan, who has demonstrated success on seaside links courses. Nick Dimengo picks Jason Day, a former world No. 1 player with a strong track record in major championships.
Connor Federico predicts that Keegan Bradley, the newly named U.S. Ryder Cup captain, has the potential to earn a victory at Royal Troon. Jack Hirsh also selects Sahith Theegala as his sleeper pick, emphasizing his creativity and shot-making skills. Zephyr Melton chooses Mathieu Pavon, a French golfer who has had a breakout year on the European Tour. Nick Piastowski selects Tom Hoge, emphasizing his strong iron play, while Josh Sens agrees that iron play will be crucial in the championship.
Jonathan Wall’s sleeper pick is Justin Rose, despite his recent struggles in major championships. Rose has a strong track record on links-style courses and has excelled in Strokes Gained putting statistics. As golf fans and bettors gear up for the 2024 Open Championship, these sleeper picks offer intriguing possibilities for those looking to make strategic bets on the tournament. Whether for a friendly office pool or more serious sportsbook wagers, these underdogs could provide an exciting twist to the tournament.
