The Open Championship is an annual golf tournament held in the UK, and is one of the four major championships which take place throughout the year. It is also simply referred to as the “The Open” or occasionally the “British Open”.
Unlike other Majors, the location of the Open is flexible, and it tends to change each year. It is the oldest of the four majors, and is watched by millions of golf fans across the world. It is the only one of the four majors to be played outside of the United States, and golf aficianados regularly travel the globe in order to attend the event.
It is traditionally held in mid-July, although this is also a moveable feast. Prior to 2019, it was the penultimate golf major of the season, but due to recent restructuring, it has now the last of the four to take place.
Having been in existence since 1860, the tournament is one of the most prestigious on the sporting calendar, and will be taking place for the 148th time in 2019. The first ever staging of the event was held at Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire. This venue has hosted the event 24 times in total.
The Open Championship has many traditions, and it is always held at coastal links golf course. This is seen as the ideal way to maintain the traditions and origins of the inaugural staging. These courses tend to be “shaped”, as opposed to be built, and windy conditions can often play a huge part in determining the outcome of the tournament.
As well as Prestwick, St.Andrews is another regular venue for the Open Championship, whilst Royal Lytham St.Annes, Muirfield and Royal Birkdale have also held the event on multiple occasions.
The winner will receive a claret jug, and this has been the tradition since 1873. The engravers will add the name of the winner to the trophy before the presentation can be made. Players will get to keep the Claret Jug for twelve months before being asked to return it.
156 players take to the course in mid-July, and takes the format of 72 hole stroke play. Each competitor will play the 18 holes across the first two days, and then the 70 players who make the cut will do it all over again on the Saturday and Sunday.
The prize money for the winner of the Open Championship currently stands at $10.5million.
Francesco Molinari was the most recent champion in 2018. Other recent winners include Jordan Spieth, Zach Johnson and Phil Mickelson. Harry Vardon still holds the record for the most victories in the Open Championship with six victories between 1896 and 1914. Jack Nicklaus has seven runners-up finishes to his name.
When and Where?
The Open is typically held in mid-July and is staged at various courses across the UK. 2019 will mark just the second time that the tournament has been held in Northern Ireland.
Why is the Open Championship so Popular?
As one of the four golf majors, the Open Championship was always going to be hugely popular. It is a chance for golf fans to see their favourite players in action, and it is always a hugely competitive four days. With 156 players to be whittled down, there is always plenty of drama and excitement.
The event is also televised in the UK, and the round-the-clock coverage also helps its popularity.
From a betting perspective, there are always plenty of opportunities for golf obsessives to enjoy a wager on the event.
What Betting Opportunities are Available?
Although golf diehards tend to place wagers all-year-round, the Open tends to attract those who are less likely to follow the PGA and European Tour action on a weekly basis.
As well as all of the usual betting opportunities, punters also have a number of extra markets to enjoy. Bookies will offer enchanced offerings, and they will provide additional match-bets and 2-balls during the opening couple of days.
Key Betting Markets
Open Championship Winner – This is the most popular market, and also one of the simplest. It is a chance for punters to predict which player will come out on top and collect the prestigious claret jug. The Open Championship tends to have a number of different winners, and it is uncommon for players to successfully defend their title. This allows plenty of scope for bigger price selections. Most bookies will offer 1/5 of the odds for your player to finish in the top five. However, during the majors most operators will offer additional places.
First Round Leader – This is a market which has become increasingly popular over the last couple of years, and allows bettors to predict which player will be leading after the first day of golf is complete. In order to receive a pay-out, your player must be top of the leaderboard once every single player has completed their first round of golf. Punters should look for typically fast starters.
Second Round Leader – Same as above, but your chosen player must be leading after the second day of action (Friday).
Top Ten Finish – Similar to betting each-way on the outright market, but this will pay out in full if your chosen player manages to secure a top ten finish. Players must finish in one the top ten spots (including ties) at the end of Sunday.
Top Twenty Finish – As above, but with twenty places. This is suitable for those big-priced outsiders, who might just be underrated by the market.
To Miss the Cut – After the first 36 holes, the field will be chopped in half. Those players with the lowest scores will progress and get to do it all over again on Saturday and Sunday. The rest will be heading home. If you fancy a player to finish outside of the top 70, you can back them to miss the cut, and have their Open Championship hopes curtailed.
Top Australian/Top Japanese/Top Swedish etc – The bookies have every nationality covered. With players hailing from all over the world, there are a plethora of different markets to enjoy. Punters can predict who will be the highest finishing player from their nation. This is a great way of betting without having to predict the winner of the tournament itself.
Winning Margin – This is another clever way of avoiding an outright prediction. It allows bettors to predict whether a play-off will be required, or whether the eventual winner will triumph by a single stroke etc.
Nationality of the Winner – Punters can predict which country the player will come from. This can be particularly handy if there are several top players hailing from the US or the UK. It helps narrow down the field without having to make a commitment.
Bobby’s Big Betting Tips for the Open Championship
Horses for Courses – With the tournament being staged at multiple events, it can be a good opportunity to use local knowledge to your advantage. It is recommended that you read up on the undulations of the course, and focus on the players who have previously enjoyed success in that part of the world previously. Local players always have an immediate advantage, but certain players just simply feel more comfortable competing on a particular courses.
If there are very few players who haven’t tackled the course previously, it can be advantageous to analyse similar venues on the PGA or European tour.
Weather Conditions – The Open Championship is generally played on a coastal course, and anyone who has ever lived in close proximity to the sea will know that blustery conditions are likely – even in July.
Sudden changes in wind direction can affect the outcome of the tournament, and conditions can often cause slower conditions on the greens. This makes it very different to the majority of the PGA Tour venues, and this could affect several players in the field.
Lower ball flights are not uncommon at this tournament as players desperately look to avoid a wind-affected outcome, and this should be factored into your bets.
Always check to see how a player has coped with blustery conditions previously. If it knocks him off-kilter or greatly affects his game, it may be worth backing him to miss the cut.
Value Lies Outside of the Outright Markets – The outright markets are extremely fun, but savvy punters tend to wait until the field has been greatly reduced. Outright markets are available throughout the tournament, and bettors will be able to predict the overall winner on Sunday.
Instead, it is often better to stick to different markets. Match Bets (Player A to beat Player B) are a good way of playing the opening couple of days, whilst the aforementioned markets relating to nationality and players mkaing the cut are often the best way of finding value.
Those who don’t fancy waiting until Sunday for a potential pay-out should have a look at the first-round leader markets.
Where Can I Watch the Open Championship?
Sky Sports have had the rights to show the Open Championship in the UK since 2015. Viewers can enjoy round-the-clock coverage on their dedicated golf channel.
