5 Sleepers to Watch at the 2018 Open Championship
By Michael Shamburger
With The Open Championship beginning on Thursday at Carnoustie, we gave you a look at nine of the favorites who could win. Now, we look at five sleepers who could pull off a victory.
Odds via BetDSI Sportsbook: +2800
Best Finish: T6 in 2017 at Royal Birkdale
Finish in 2007 at Carnoustie: DNP
Finish in 2017: T6
Alex Noren is probably one of the most under appreciated players on the PGA/European Tour. Ranked 11th in the world, Noren is currently ranked second in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai behind Patrick Reed, who has European Tour status this season. Noren has a win and two other top-five finishes on the European Tour this season, and also has three top-five finishes on the PGA Tour. He currently ranks ninth on the PGA Tour in strokes-gained putting, which could serve him well this week.
Odds via BetDSI Sportsbook: +3400
Best Finish: T2 in 2015 at St. Andrews
Finish in 2007 at Carnoustie: DNP
Finish in 2017: T6
Marc Leishman probably shouldn’t be considered a sleeper at the Open at this point, but the odds suggest he is. Leishman has finished T5, T2, T53, and T6 in his last four Open Championship appearances. He’s got three PGA Tour wins to his name and six top-10s this year in 18 appearances. Links golf fits his game and he thrives in windy conditions when many pros struggle.
Odds via BetDSI Sportsbook: +5000
Best Finish: T18 in 2016 at Royal Troon
Finish in 2007 at Carnoustie: DNP
Finish in 2017: T27
Tony Finau has had himself a great season in the majors. He vaulted up the Masters’ leaderboard after dislocating his ankle during the par-3 contest to finish T10, and then played in the final pairing with Daniel Berger at the U.S. Open. While he was unable to capitalize at Shinnecock, he did walk away with a solo fifth place finish. That is his best finish in a major to date, and his third top-10 in a major in the last four years.
Odds via BetDSI Sportsbook: +6500
Best Finish: 2nd in 2008 at Royal Birkdale
Finish in 2007 at Carnoustie: T27
Finish in 2017: T14
Ian Poulter, America’s favorite European Ryder Cup member, has found his form again this season. The 42-year-old won ahead of the Masters at the Houston Open and then played very well at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock last month after opening with a 69. Over the course of his career, Poulter has finished in the top 10 three times at the Open Championship.
In his last five Open Championship appearances, Poulter has two top-10 finishes, a T14, and two missed cuts. Poulter doesn’t demolish the ball off the tee, but that shouldn’t be a problem for him this week as his approach shots will be what matters most.
Odds via BetDSI Sportsbook: +7000
Best Finish: Win in 2015 at St. Andrews
Finish in 2007 at Carnoustie: T20
Finish in 2017: T14
Somehow, Zach Johnson has the worst odds of anyone on this list and he’s got an Open Championship win under his belt. Like Leishman, Johnson appears to have success when the weather isn’t that great, which doesn’t appear like it will be an issue this week. In his last two Open Championship appearances, Johnson has managed to finish T12 and T14. While Johnson hasn’t had that great of a PGA Tour season, managing 11 top-25s and only two top-10s, he’s just not someone you can easily overlook when it comes to this tournament.