2023 British Open Power Rankings: Can Rory Roar to Major Title?

The top golfers from around the globe will begin their play at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on Thursday for the final major of the 2023 season. Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and Brooks Koepka are the favored players in the British Open odds on our top sports betting apps, and they are all highlighted in our British Open power rankings.

Rory McIlroy claimed victory at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in 2014, lifting the Claret Jug. As the 2023 Open Championship approaches, he is the favorite to triumph once again.

This year marks the 13th time the championship will be held at this venue, drawing attention to the final major of the 2023 golf season. The field is stacked with the top 12 golfers in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) competing at Hoylake, with only one player ultimately crowned the Champion Golfer of the Year.

British Open power rankings

10. Wyndham Clark

Clark is brimming with confidence as he heads into Royal Liverpool. His exceptional short game is expected to be a key asset, considering his recent victories in two highly competitive tournaments leading up to the Genesis Scottish Open. Additionally, his impressive T-25 finish at The Renaissance Club indicates that he is well-prepared for the upcoming challenge.

Please note that Clark does not have a long history of major championships, and this will only be his second time competing in The Open.

9. Tony Finau

Best of luck trying to understand Finau.

He achieved nine top-10 finishes in a 13-major run early in his career, but has struggled in major tournaments since the 2021 PGA Championship. Finau is also going to Royal Liverpool without a top-20 finish since his victory at the Mexico Open in late April.

Despite playing in all six trips to The Open and consistently making the weekend, he still isn’t getting much attention. Let’s band together and form a contrarian group to support him.

8. Tommy Fleetwood

The English golfer has been performing well at The Open, with six top-20 finishes in his last eight events, including a T-5 finish in the U.S. Open. Although he has yet to win a PGA Tour event, Fleetwood is a seasoned player on links-style courses and has a wealth of experience going into his ninth Open Championship.

7. Jon Rahm

Although Rahm is currently considered one of the top contenders in betting, I believe his victory at the Masters marked the end of a strong run. However, taking a short break after his disappointing performance at the Travelers Championship may be beneficial for him.

Rahm’s best finish was a T-3 at the 2021 Open Championship, but he placed T-34 last year and has only managed two top-10 finishes in majors since the start of 2022.

6. Cameron Smith

After winning at LIV Golf London, Smith is now heading to Royal Liverpool as the reigning Champion Golfer of the Year. His exceptional short-game skills make his competitors jealous, and when his wedges are on point, Smith is a master at making birdies and saving pars.

I am concerned about his performance in tee shots. Smith is currently ranked 36th in driving accuracy on the LIV circuit and has struggled with tee shots in two out of the first three majors.

5. Rickie Fowler

Fowler consistently found success at The Open, always managing to locate his game. He also delivered three strong rounds at The Scottish Open, however, he struggled on Sunday and ultimately fell short.

After finishing second in 2014, he returns to the same scene in top form. Fowler’s impressive performance at the U.S. Open proves he is back at his best, with no weaknesses in his game. He has achieved 10 top-20 finishes in 12 events since The Players Championship, showing his consistency and skill.

4. Viktor Hovland

Evans Santiago has identified Hovland as one of his top picks for the British Open.

Despite not enjoying the Los Angeles Country Club, the fan favorite managed to improve his score and finish in 19th place. With top-10 finishes in the last three majors, Hovland is currently on a hot streak. Although his short game still needs work, his strong ball-striking skills give him a good chance of winning if he continues to put himself in contention.

Not many can match Hovland’s speed in connecting circles on a scorecard.

3. Brooks Koepka

Visualize a T-17 finish in a major tournament being seen as a significant letdown. Despite gaining strokes in all areas during the U.S. Open, Koepka was never a contender for the title.

Koepka’s third place ranking in birdies per round (4.74) on the LIV tour, along with his impressive combined score of -18 in the first three majors of the year, has solidified him as a top contender in Hoylake in my eyes.

2. Rory McIlroy

Prior to his victory at the Genesis, McIlroy had achieved five consecutive top-10 finishes starting from the PGA Championship. He is now in peak form, regaining his putting prowess and showcasing precision in his approach shots. McIlroy’s tee game remains consistently strong as well.

I anticipate Rory will participate in the race on Sunday, and if he is performing at his best, he will win the Claret Jug for the second time. It’s worth noting that his first victory was also at Hoylake.

It is challenging to win in consecutive weeks.

1. Scottie Scheffler

I was the first to point out Scheffler’s difficulties with putting, but that hasn’t stopped him from consistently contending in tournaments. Since 2020, he has achieved nine top-10 finishes in 13 major tournaments.

In addition, he leads the PGA Tour in scoring average, bogey avoidance, birdie-to-bogey ratio, and greens-in-regulation percentage. The first step to competing in major championships is minimizing errors, and Scheffler excels in this area with the strongest tee-to-green performance in the industry.

British Open odds 2023

(odds as of July 19 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time)

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