{"id":39525,"date":"2026-07-14T07:27:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T11:27:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/?p=39525"},"modified":"2026-07-14T07:27:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T11:27:29","slug":"the-open-predictions-picks-and-best-bets-pga-golf-preview-july-16-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/golf\/the-open-predictions-picks-and-best-bets-pga-golf-preview-july-16-19\/","title":{"rendered":"The Open Predictions, Picks and Best Bets – PGA Golf Preview July 16-19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Open Betting Preview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Open<\/strong> picks from WagerTalk golf handicapper Andy Lang<\/a> are available before golfers tee off from Royal Birkdale GC in Southport, England<\/strong><\/strong>! Andy discusses his predictions, picks, who can trip you up, the course and more surrounding The Open<\/strong> starting July 16!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay on top of the latest Golf<\/a> updates direct from Las Vegas!<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

WagerTalk also offers Free Picks<\/a> all year long!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Open<\/strong><\/th>The Open<\/strong> Betting Notes<\/th><\/tr>
When:<\/td>July 16-19<\/td><\/tr>
Where:<\/td>Royal Birkdale GC in Southport, England<\/td><\/tr>
Defending Champ:<\/td>Scottie Scheffler<\/td><\/tr>
Current Favorite:<\/td>Scottie Scheffler (+700 at DraftKings<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr>
TV:<\/td>NBC, USA Network, Peacock<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Open<\/strong> Course: Royal Birkdale GC<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 154th Open Championship <\/strong>returns to Royal Birkdale<\/strong>, one of the fairest and\u00a0 most respected venues in The Open rota. For 2026, the course has undergone its\u00a0most significant renovation in decades, with a new par-70 layout measuring approximately 7,223 yards<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several holes have been redesigned, including a new\u00a0 drivable 5th, a shorter but more demanding 7th, a completely reworked 14th, and a\u00a0brand-new long par-3 15th. New tees, rebuilt bunkers, and reshaped green\u00a0surrounds have modernized the course while preserving its classic links identity.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike many traditional links courses, Royal Birkdale is known for its relatively flat fairways and straightforward sightlines, rewarding quality golf more than fortunate bounces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Players still face deep revetted bunkers, thick fescue, firm\u00a0 fairways, and fast greens, but success here comes from precision ball-striking,\u00a0smart course management, and controlling trajectory in the coastal winds<\/strong>.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The redesigned holes place an even greater emphasis on decision-making, forcing\u00a0players to carefully weigh risk and reward throughout the round.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Royal Birkdale has consistently produced deserving champions because it rarely\u00a0favors one style of player over another. Long hitters can take advantage of scoring\u00a0opportunities, but accuracy and patience remain just as important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With its updated layout and classic links conditions, expect another demanding Open Championship\u00a0where avoiding mistakes, navigating the bunkers, and handling the wind will\u00a0ultimately determine who lifts the Claret Jug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Open<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>: Players That Can Trip You Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Xander Schauffele <\/strong>missing the cut at the Scottish Open is a major red flag\u00a0 heading into The Open. It\u2019s now just one Top 10 finish in his last seven tournaments<\/strong>, and the underlying numbers aren\u2019t much better, ranking 25th in\u00a0total strokes gained <\/strong>over the last three months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a player still being priced near\u00a0 the top of the board, that simply isn\u2019t elite form. Until he starts stringing together consistent results again, I\u2019m staying away.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ludvig \u00c5berg <\/strong>has reached the point where it feels like something just isn\u2019t right.\u00a0Whether it\u2019s an injury or simply poor form, the results continue to disappoint\u2014missed cut last week, 55th the week before, and no Top 15 finishes in his last five starts<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His Open Championship record isn\u2019t inspiring either, with a 23rd and\u00a0a missed cut<\/strong>. Yet the sportsbooks continue to price him like a Top 10 golfer every\u00a0week. Based on what we\u2019ve seen lately, that\u2019s hard to justify.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cameron Young <\/strong>is finally seeing his odds come down, but I still think he\u2019s\u00a0overpriced. He\u2019s posted three straight finishes outside the Top 40<\/strong>, and his Open\u00a0Championship history includes a missed cut and a 31st <\/strong>in his last two appearances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even more concerning, over the last six weeks he ranks outside the\u00a0Top 75 in total strokes gained<\/strong>, showing how much his overall game has slipped.\u00a0The talent is there, but the current form simply isn\u2019t. He\u2019s another easy fade this\u00a0week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Open<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>: DraftKings Darlings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Brian Harman ($6,600) <\/strong>always seems to elevate his game when The Open rolls\u00a0around. He\u2019s made five straight Open Championship cuts<\/strong>, with four Top 20\u00a0 finishes and a Claret Jug <\/strong>during that stretch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also made the cut at the Scottish Open last week with a 36th-place finish and has now made 14 of his last 15 cuts<\/strong>, including all four majors this season. At this salary, you\u2019re getting one of the safest\u00a0 major championship players in the field.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patrick Reed ($7,000) <\/strong>is exactly the type of player who seems to elevate his game\u00a0 when the stage gets bigger. He missed the cut at the U.S. Open, but outside of that\u00a0he\u2019s been outstanding in marquee events this season, finishing 12th at The\u00a0Masters<\/strong>, 10th at the PGA Championship<\/strong>, and 13th last week at the Scottish\u00a0Open<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s also won twice <\/strong>and added a runner-up <\/strong>on the DP World Tour,\u00a0proving his form is no fluke. Reed has built a career on thriving in difficult\u00a0 conditions and high-pressure tournaments, making him one of the best values on the DFS board at just $7,000<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russell Henley ($7,700) <\/strong>is built for this style of golf. He\u2019s finished 5th and 10th <\/strong>in the last two Open Championships and posted a respectable 37th <\/strong>the last time this course hosted in 2017. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henley remains one of the most accurate drivers in the field, and both his approach play and putting have been elite throughout the season.\u00a0With precision at a premium this week, he profiles as one of the strongest DFS\u00a0plays in this price range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rest Of Lineup: Alex Fitzpatrick $7400, Matthew Fitzpatrick $10,000, Tommy\u00a0Fleetwood $10,500<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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