The 151st Open Championship Is the Final Of Golf’s Four Majors

The 151st Open Championships, to crown the “Champion of Golf” tees off Thursday at the Royal Liverpool Golf Course.

The Open, perhaps better known in Pennsylvania as the British Open, is the last of the four golf majors this season. It is the first time since 2014 Royal Liverpool has hosted the Open. With its links design, blustery conditions and unique layout, it’s a challenge for the best on the PGA and LIV Tours.

Last year Australian Cameron Smith took home the Claret Jug with a fantastic -20 over the four days at St. Andrews, edging Cameron Young by a stroke.

Harry Vardon has the most Open Championship titles with six, but he played back when the clubs were made of wood and the ball stuffed with cotton. His last title was 1914. Four other players have five titles each, with the best-known being Tom Watson, whose last title was in 1983.

All eyes will be on golf’s new statesman, Rory McIlroy, who has been on the front line of the war between the PGA and LIV Tours, speaking out against the LIV Tour. McIlroy hasn’t won a major championship in nine years, ironically, his last win was the 2014 Open Championship.

That makes him one of the favorites entering the event plus he is coming off a dramatic win at the Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday.

McIlroy, who has four majors to his credit, still has the game to make him one of the contenders but hasn’t been able come through with any Sunday magic on tour this season in the majors. McIlroy missed the cut at the Masters, was second at the U.S. Open and tied for seventh at the PGA Championships, but he will have a huge gallery following him at Royal Liverpool.

BetMGM sportsbook PA has a big list of markets for the Open Championships, with McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler each at +750 to win the Claret Jug. BetMGM also has wagers open on the top American and top European finisher.

DraftKings Sportsbook has Scheffler as the slight favorite at +700, followed by McIlroy (+800) and Jon Rahm (+1300). DraftKings also has markets open on Top 20 finishers, match-ups and who will miss/make the cut.

It’s all McIlroy at Caesars Sportsbook. They have McIlroy listed as the favorite at +575, with Scheffler behind at +650. Caesars also has bets available on 3-ball, over/under round scores and head-to-head match-ups.

Another name to keep an eye on at the Open Championship is Brooks Koepka. The hard-hitting Koepka has five major titles, and is having a wonderful year, finishing second at The Masters, winning the PGA Championship and was tied for 17 th at the U.S. Open.

Current Masters champion Jon Rahm has four victories on the PGA Tour this season and was tenth at the U.S. Open. 29-year-old Wyndham Clark.

won the U.S. Open but was never a factor in any major tournament before that.