The best betting props for the British Open

The COVID-19 pandemic robbed us of an Open Championship last year, so Irish hero Shane Lowry has managed to keep hold of the Claret Jug since 2019. This is golf’s oldest major, and if it was like the very first British Open to take place in 1860, Lowry wouldn’t have a Claret Jug on his mantlepiece, but a red belt made of Moroccan leather. I know which one I’d prefer.

The British Championship is back, and we head to Royal St. George’s in Kent, England for the 149th renewal of the event. This course is the scene of one of golf’s biggest shocks as Ben Curtis won in 2003 in his debut major, and equally as surprising was Darren Clarke’s win here in 2011.

The course is as tricky a links course as you’d expect, and greens in regulation is going to be a key stat to watch out for all week. Unsurprisingly we also need to be backing someone in form – this is a major where the cream rises to the top.

Five of the last seven Open winners had won in their previous five starts, and 15 of the 19 players to win this event since 2000 had won on either the European or PGA Tour in the last 12 months.

Open form is also key – 14 of the last 15 winners had already had a top 10 in an Open Championship, and 12 of them had a top six finish.

They may not b playing for a red leather belt anymore, but there is $2 million waiting for the winner so it’s not all bad. Here are the best four prop bets for the 2021 British Open.

Matchbet: Matthew Fitzpatrick to beat Bryson DeChambeau (-103)

This bet is more because I want to be on anything against BDC rather than being overly pro-Fitzpatrick, and here’s why. DeChambeau has played in three Open Championships, missing the cut twice and finishing 51st in the other. In his eight rounds of golf in this major he has only broken 73 twice and comes into this event off the back of splitting with long term caddie Tim Tucker.

Recent form is nothing to shout about, as he missed the cut in the Rocket Mortgage Classic – where he found just 55% of greens in regulation - and he hasn’t finished better than 18th in any of his last six events. Bryson ranks 74th on tour for greens in regulation, and 113th for shots gained around the green.

Fitzpatrick lost a play-off in the Scottish Open last week, which is a nice way to come into this event. That event is traditionally a great way to get some links course prep in, and six of the last 10 British Open winners warmed up by playing the Scottish Open.

Top Continental European Player: Jon Rahm (+163)

Jon Rahm looks the most likely winner of this competition, but if you’re not rushing to back him at +750 in the outright market, why not eliminate the threat of Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele and more while still getting +163?

The World No. 2 finished fifth at Augusta in the Masters only days after the birth of his first child, and the diaper dimension is in full swing. The Spaniard finished eighth in the PGA Championship and was set to romp home in record-braking fashion in the Memorial before the heart-breaking COVID-19 withdrawal on the 18th green. He bounced back to win the U.S. Open and break his major drought, and warmed up for this event with a strong showing in the Scottish Open where he finished seventh.

Rahm's best finish in a British Open is 11th (2019), but he’s an excellent links player and he won the Irish Open in 2017 and 2019. He is the most in-form golfer on the planet.

Top Former Georgia Bulldog Player: Patrick Reed (+225)

Patrick Reed is a nine-time PGA Tour winner, a two-time WGC winner, and a Masters Champion. He excels in the premium events, and it seems on the surface like the majors bring out an extra edge in the fiery American.

In his last seven majors he has finished in the top 20 every time and has posted four top 10s. Reed is already a winner this season having lifted the trophy at Torrey Pines in the Farmers Insurance Open, and he finished 10th in the last British Open, so he’s ticking all the right boxes.

Reed's driving can be a concern, and he isn’t the most consistent at finding the greens, but his creative short game should keep him in contention here, particularly if his putter heats up. Back him to hold off the attentions of Harris English, Kevin Kisner, and Russell Henley, among others.

To Make the Cut: Rickie Fowler (-175)

It’s incredible to think that Fowler, who is a five-time winner on Tour and has pocketed close to $40 million in career earnings in the last decade, is now on the verge of dropping out of the world’s top 100.

Fowler’s fall has been rough, but there are plenty of green shoots of hope to think he will make the weekend at Royal St. George’s.

Fowler's recent form is confusing as he’s missed the cut in three of his last six tournaments, but at the same time also finished 11th in the Memorial and eighth in the PGA Championship. More promising is that he has made the cut in nine of his 10 British Open starts, and has three top 10 finishes, so he clearly likes the style of course.

Fowler finished fifth in the British Open when it was played here in 2011, so that should bring back some fond memories, and he found 75% of greens last time out in the Rocket Mortgage Classic, which hints that he has his short game dialled in.