The 150th Open is coming up this week and all eyes will be on St Andrews as golf’s best battle it out.
We have enjoyed three brilliant Majors so far this summer with Scottie Scheffler winning at The Masters, Justin Thomas clinching PGA Championship glory and Matt Fitzpatrick claiming the US Open title.
But now, we’re set of one of the biggest golf tournaments in history as the Old Course plays host to this year’s Open Championship.
It’s a huge occasion for the sport and everyone in the field will be desperate to claim glory during a historic week.
A host of big names are in contention for victory including the likes of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Tiger Woods.
But who are the favourites going into the Scottish blockbuster? talkSPORT has a look at the top names and some selected others who could contend…
The Open 2022: Favourites
Rory McIlroy 10/1
McIlroy has enjoyed another stunning year and is playing some magnificent golf but a fifth Major title still eludes him.
He has been superb at all the Majors this season, finishing eighth at the PGA Championship, T5 at the US Open and runner up at The Masters.
The 33-year-old has looked good for glory at each tournament only for one bad day to scupper his chances.
McIlroy has been poor at his last two Opens but won it in 2014, finished third at St Andrews in 2010 and came close three years running between 2016 and 2018.
If he can put together a full week without a blip, he’ll be hard to beat.
Xander Schauffele 14/1
Schauffele has propelled himself into Open contention with a fine run of form in recent weeks.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion has won the Travelers Championship and Genesis Scottish Open in recent weeks and also topped the leaderboard at the star-studded JP McManus Pro-Am in-between.
There’s no player in better nick than the 28-year-old at the moment but question marks remain over his true Major credentials.
He finished T2 at The Open in 2018 but has struggled since while his best Major finish this year has been T13 at the PGA.
But form and momentum counts for a lot in golf and he has a great chance at St Andrews.
Jon Rahm 16/1
Rahm was the heavy favourite going into last year’s Open and ultimately claimed third, four shots off winner Collin Morikawa.
After a stellar year in 2021, the Spaniard has struggled at the Majors this season with his best being T12 at The Country Club.
Rahm is far better than his stats this year suggest and it could take only the slightest thing to help him ignite and overpower the Old Course.
He won the Mexico Open in May and is always a dangerous player.
Matt Fitzpatrick 16/1
Fitzpatrick’s coming of age win at the US Open last month will go down in the golfing folklore.
The unorthodox Sheffield star has been knocking on the door for several years but has now taken his place among the elite.
While his US Open win was superb, Fitzpatrick’s game perhaps suits Links golf even better.
A hardy competitor, he’ll be looking to add to his maiden Major title with another in quick succession and should go close especially if the weather turns.
Jordan Spieth 16/1
Spieth has been America’s top Links talent for the past ten years and has a superb Open record.
He won it in 2017 and has four top tens in his last six tournaments.
He came close to victory at St Andrews in 2015 and would’ve won if it hadn’t been for a costly double on the eighth hole of his final round.
Spieth won the RBC Heritage earlier this year and will be desperate for a good week in Scotland.
Scottie Scheffler 18/1
What a year Scheffler has had.
After going into 2022 without a professional win, he now has four including the Arnold Palmer and, of course, The Masters.
He also threatened at the US Open and has shown no signs of relenting on his incredible form.
One question mark remains over Scheffler’s effectiveness on Links courses and in rougher weather conditions.
He was poor at The Renaissance Club last weekend.
Justin Thomas 20/1
JT is creating some CV for himself having won The Players last year and then claiming a brilliant win at the PGA Championship in May.
The American is yet to produce his best in Britain and that is something he’d dearly love to change at St Andrews.
Thomas’ best Open finish was a T11 in 2019 but he’ll be eager to prove he is a true global star by going close in Scotland.
He is one of the game’s most in-form players and should challenge.
Collin Morikawa 28/1
Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington both won back-to-back Opens between 2005 and 2008 and that’s what Morikawa will be out to do.
The 25-year-old hasn’t claimed a win since his wonderful performance at Royal St George’s last year but he has a superb major record.
He has finished at least T8 in five of his last six Majors including top five finishes at The Masters and US Open this season.
The Open 2022: Other top picks for glory
Dustin Johnson 33/1
A LIV Golf defector would not be a popular winner of the 150th Open but in DJ, that could well happen.
The two-time Major winner performed well at Royal St George’s and is due another run on the biggest stage.
Brooks Koepka 40/1
Another LIV Golf star, Koepka’s reputation as Mr Major has just gone off the boil recently.
But he has always performed well at the Open and has made no secret about wanting to win at St Andrews, his favourite course.
Shane Lowry 22/1
Lowry claimed a memorable win in the 2019 Open at Royal Portrush and is surely destined to add to his maiden Major title at some point.
He’s come close at a host of tournaments in recent years and will no doubt be a threat in Scotland’s notoriously tough conditions.
Will Zalatoris 25/1
Arguably the most unlucky golfer in the game at the moment, Zalatoris’ first pro win is surely a matter of when not if.
He finished second at the PGA Championship and US Open but can he perform like that again on the Links?
Tiger Woods – 66/1
Woods is a St Andrews legend having won the Open twice on the Old Course.
Surely winning it again this summer is beyond comprehension but come on, this is Tiger Woods…
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News Summary:
- Who are the favourites for glory at St Andrews? McIlroy, Thomas, Fitzpatrick, Johnson and even Woods tipped for Claret Jug
- Check all news and articles from the latest Golf updates.