The Open: SB Nation golf workers picks winners for Royal Troon

After an exciting Genesis Scottish Open, which noticed Scotsman Robert MacIntyre prevail by one over Adam Scott, the main target shifts from Scotland’s East Coast to the West, the place The Old Course at Royal Troon awaits.

Troon will host The Open Championship for the tenth time, because the Ayrshire course final welcomed the world’s finest in 2016. It’s a correct links-style format, which receives loads of wind and rain off the Firth of Clyde. The first six holes run alongside the coast, typically aided by a northerly wind that makes this stretch simpler than the remaining. Holes 7, 8, and 9 flip inland, with the well-known par-3 eighth, “The Postage Stamp,” being probably the greatest brief holes on the planet. It solely measures 123 yards.

The again 9 turns in direction of the clubhouse, a beastly set of holes highlighted by the brutal par-4 eleventh, often known as “The Railway.” This difficult par-4, measuring 498 yards, was essentially the most tough gap on the PGA Tour in the course of the 2015-2016 season. It runs alongside a set of practice tracks, that means out-of-bounds is in play down the complete proper aspect, and it most frequently faces the prevailing wind.

Good ball-strikers and gamers with imaginative brief video games are likely to do nicely on this course, so it is no surprise that Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson produced the best Open showdown since “The Duel within the Sun” in 1977, when Tom Watson narrowly defeated Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry.

So, contemplating all of this, let’s get to our workers picks, as we have now RJ Ochoa serving as our visitor picker this week as soon as once more:

Jack Milko — Staff Writer, Golf

Photo by Stuart Kerr/R&A by way of Getty Images

Eight years in the past, in his fifth Open look, Tyrrell Hatton made the minimize for the primary time and tied for fifth at Royal Troon, a outcome that helped spark the then 24-year-old’s profession in the precise path. Hatton has since ascended to turn into probably the greatest gamers on the planet.

But a significant championship is the one obvious omission on the Englishman’s resume. He has completed within the prime 10 at 5 majors since that first journey to Royal Troon in 2016, which features a tie for ninth at Augusta National earlier this 12 months. Hatton has additionally made the minimize in 11 straight majors, relationship again to The 149th Open at Royal St. George’s.

He additionally jumped to LIV Golf in late January, which has not affected his sport a lot. Hatton received the LIV Golf Nashville occasion by six strokes, one week after tying for twenty sixth at Pinehurst No. 2. He then got here in solo third in Anadalucía final week, lacking out on a playoff with Sergio Garcia and Anirban Lahiri by one stroke.

Hatton is trending in the precise path, and his sport fits Royal Troon nicely. The three-time Ryder Cupper has lengthy been one of many sport’s prime ball-strikers, however his brief sport is underrated, too. That mixture will assist him in Ayrshire, as I envision Hatton changing into the subsequent Champion Golfer of the Year.

DraftKings Odds: +2800

RJ Ochoa — Senior Producer, Blogging the Boys

Photo by Luke Walker/R&A by way of Getty Images

The final time I used to be requested to select right here at Playing Through, I defied logic and selected Rory McIlroy over Scottie Scheffler. That didn’t work out nicely!

Since then, McIlroy has been via what we’ll name “some stuff,” whereas Scottie has continued to play exceptional golf. Scottie nonetheless looks like the logical alternative now that we have now reached Royal Troon, however issues felt that means at Valhalla and Pinehurst as nicely.

I’m going to go only a bit out of left subject and let my coronary heart really make my choose in the way in which I assumed it did with McIlroy. Give me Tommy Fleetwood to win his first main championship title, which is able to undoubtedly be a win for the ages. He has been so shut, so many instances, and this looks like his week.

Let’s experience.

DraftKings Odds: +2200

Savannah Richardson — Staff Writer, Golf

Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images

I’m going with Ludvig Åberg!

He is on the cusp of a run, particularly after his robust performances at The Masters and the U.S. Open. He additionally performed nicely on the Genesis Scottish Open, though he struggled in the course of the closing spherical—a theme that has sadly plagued him as of late. But I believe he’ll overcome these latest struggles and win in his Open Championship debut.

On prime of that, Åberg vividly remembers what Henrik Stenson did on this golf course in 2016, even calling that day a “nationwide vacation” in Sweden. He will make it two Swedish winners in a row at Royal Troon.

DraftKings Odds: +1400

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be positive to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.