150th Open Championship betting: St Andrews guide
How to approach markets for The Open at St Andrews
Tournament overview and current market snapshot
150th Open Championship betting
With the final major of the year beginning on Thursday, the world of golf has assembled on the East coast of Scotland in Fife as St. Andrews hosts the 150th Open Championship.
In its anniversary edition, the Old Course welcomes the Open for the 30th time when it was last won in 2015 by Zach Johnson. As the last seven majors have seen a different winner and given the unpredictable nature of links golf, the 2022 chapter may be no different.
As we seek out the best value in the markets, once again SkyBet is offering the most places of all bookies, this year at a full 14 places – albeit at a slightly shortened price – with Betfair, PaddyPower and Betway holding 12 places at a fifth.
So who might claim the Claret Jug on Sunday evening at the Home of Golf?
*bets with SkyBet at 14 places unless stated
The overwhelming favourite on the eve of the tournament is one Rory McIlroy. Still without a major since 2014, it was in that same year eight year ago the Northern Irishman won The Open at Hoylake. With top eight finishes at Augusta, Southern Hills and Brookline in majors this season, McIlroy has returned to his best form this term and with the Canadian Open still in his possession, having also finished third in his only previous Open appearance here, has the Briton timed his return to St. Andrews to perfection? An 8/1 shot, McIlroywould be a popular winner at home.
His main rival could come in the shape of the red-hot Xander Schauffele. A winner of the Genesis Scottish Open at Renaissance last week, the Californian has now won three PGA Tour events since April and his win at the Travelers was composed. With a first links win under his belt, a player who finished runner up in 2018, Schauffele is the pick for many at St. Andrews and though short in price, 12/1 still could be worth a decent lay.
The charge from his fellow Americans will of course be strong. Scottie Scheffler remains world number one but after his missing the cut in North Berwick, the Masters champion’s 14/1 does not appear attractive. Conversely, the same price as Schauffele, Jordan Spieth looks primed for an assault on the Claret Jug after his win at Royal Birkdale five years ago. Runner-up at Royal St. George’s last year, the Texan should be a big player this weekend. The man who beat him at Sandwich 12 months ago, Collin Morikawa, will be in no mood to relinquish his hold on the trophy and at 22/1 may yet look a long price come Sunday.
Justin Thomas also should be assessed at a pretty lofty 16/1for this year’s PGA champion and two other US players who are seeing interest are the three-time winner on Tour this season in Sam Burns and Tony Finau, the latter who has finished T9 or better in two of his last three Opens. Both men are available at 30/1.
Jon Rahm is set to again front the European drive and is also at 12s for a player who looks tailor made to win an Open. Australian Cam Smith’s form has dipped alarmingly as the season has rolled on but has the game to challenge the Fife links this week at 18/1 – having shortened from 20s on Wednesday. Chile’s Joaquin Niemann will likely front the South American threat meanwhile, and the winner at Genesis back in February is also worthy of consideration at 33s.
In a season that has seen a number of new names emerge, the battle for the Silver Medal and Leading Amateur this year will be hotly contested. Currently, Irishman Seamus Power is the pick at 9/1 with QuinnBet, however, US duo Cameron Youngand Jordan Smith have impressed on the PGA Tour of late and the latter is holding firm for 12/1 with BoyleSports and Bet365.
Finally, we like our specials here at BestofBets and taking a glance of the boosts around the markets, SkyBet are currently running Fitzpatrick to win at 16/1 for 14 places, with McIlroy to lead after Round 1 at 22/1 – McIlroy carded a 63 to lead after 18 holes in 2010.
PaddyPower meanwhile, have either Schauffele or Spieth to win at 13/2, whilst for a potentially labouring Woods to make the cut, Bet365’s even punt could be a toss-up but looks decent.
Course characteristics and links golf considerations
The Old Course at St Andrews is a unique test with wide fairways but penal rough and subtle, large greens that reward excellent putting and course management. Links golf often magnifies the effect of wind and weather, so value can shift quickly when conditions change.
Evaluating favourites, value bets and outrights
When assessing favourites and longer-priced outrights, consider recent form, links experience and tee-to-green statistics rather than only recent wins. The market leaders often attract heavy liability so value may lie in slightly longer prices if course fit and recent ball-striking metrics align.
How bookmaker place terms affect golf betting choices
Different bookmakers pay differing numbers of places and use different fractions for place terms, which directly affects value for each selection. Comparing place terms is essential when backing players outside the immediate favourites, particularly in deep fields where payout bands vary.
Comparing top bookmakers and place market depth
SkyBet, Betfair, PaddyPower and Betway typically offer extended place terms for majors, but always check whether a specified number of places applies to each selection and if extra places have differing stake-return rules. A small difference in place terms can change whether a 20/1 pick is sensible value compared with other offers.
How weather and wind influence scoring on links
Wind direction and strength can alter hole strategies radically, making scoring swings larger than in parkland events and stressing the importance of course management and shot selection. Stay aware of forecasts and morning pin positions since these factors commonly create market movement before tee-off.
Managing stakes and responsible punting techniques
Set a staking plan before placing bets and avoid increasing stakes after losses in an attempt to recover, as this risks chasing behaviour. Bet only with discretionary entertainment money, and if you choose to use bookmaker offers compare them objectively without pressure.
In-play strategies and following daily form updates
Watching weather, tee times and first-round pairings can present in-play edge opportunities if a player has favourable tees or wind for a given day. Live betting should be used sparingly and only as part of a pre-defined strategy to avoid emotion-driven decisions.
Practical tips for tracking players and leaderboard shifts
Use official scoring, trusted live trackers and experienced commentary to assess momentum and whether a player’s putting or wind-handling is holding up under pressure. Avoid overreacting to a single bad hole; instead, look for sustained indicators of form across rounds.
Special markets, boosts and bookmaker offers explained
Specials such as round leaders, top-10 finishes and head-to-head matchups can offer alternative routes to value, but they tend to carry higher variance than outrights and require different staking logic. Always check terms on enhanced odds or boosts as exclusions and void rules can differ markedly between firms.
How golf market strategies compare with football and racing
Golf betting differs from football and horse racing in that events span multiple rounds and are heavily affected by evolving weather and course setup, requiring a more patient approach to in-running adjustments. As a UK sports betting publisher, we recommend applying sport-specific data: use head-to-head and form trends for football, and runner profiles and draw/ground stats for horse racing, while prioritising ball-striking and links experience in majors.
Bankroll protection and avoiding common betting mistakes
Preserve your bankroll by committing only a small percentage to any single outright and applying lower stakes to long-shot specials; protect against losing streaks by allocating separate pools for outrights and daily markets. Be wary of gambler’s fallacies and sample-size bias when projecting a player’s expected performance from a short run of results.
Betting tools and market comparison practices
Use comparison tools to find the best place terms and check the number of places offered, as these are often decisive in majors where top-20 returns matter. Our bookmaker comparison pages list up-to-date offers and place terms to help you identify marginal edges without needing to visit each site individually.
Responsible gambling guidance and legal reminders
Gambling is permitted only for persons aged 18 and over in the UK; ensure you are of legal age before using any betting service. If you choose to bet, do so responsibly, set limits, and seek help if gambling stops being enjoyable or becomes a problem.
Explore bookmaker comparisons to check up-to-date place terms and free bet offers before you stake, using our tools to make informed choices without pressure. You can explore current bookmaker offers through our comparison tools if you choose to bet responsibly and are 18+.
For help controlling gambling you can visit BeGambleAware.org or use bookmaker account tools to set deposit limits, time-outs and reality checks.
Find our recommended bookmakers and current free bet offers to compare terms and promotions from multiple firms in one place. See casino bonus offers and terms for our affiliated sites if you are interested in casino promotions, remembering that casino play carries a different risk profile.
Common questions on betting The Open at St Andrews
Q: How should I compare place terms for The Open?
A: Check how many places each bookmaker pays and the fraction used for places; more places often make a marginal selection more attractive while fewer places favour top-tier favourites. Always verify the T&Cs for the specific major as rules can change for anniversary events.
Q: Is it better to back a favourite or seek long-shot value?
A: There is no guaranteed approach; favourites offer higher win probability but lower returns, while outsiders offer bigger payouts but lower probability and higher variance. Balance your portfolio according to your bankroll and risk tolerance, and avoid chasing losses.
Q: How important is links experience when betting?
A: Links experience is a significant factor as it affects wind handling, creativity around pot bunkers and putting on large greens; it should be a key consideration alongside current form. Prioritise players with proven links records for St Andrews-type setups.
Q: Can weather forecasts change betting value during the week?
A: Yes, wind and rain forecasts commonly shift market pricing; bookmakers adjust odds to reflect expected scoring conditions and tee-time vulnerabilities. Monitor weather changes closely and consider hedging or waiting for better information before committing large stakes.
Q: Are bookmaker boosts and specials worth using?
A: Boosts can offer extra value but always read the fine print for restrictions, void rules and stake limits which can erode value. Use boosts selectively within a clear staking plan and don’t increase stakes purely because of enhanced odds.
Q: Where can I find reliable in-play scoring and updates?
A: Use official tournament scoring, trusted sports broadcasters and bookmaker live trackers to follow the leaderboard and shot-by-shot updates. Rely on multiple sources for confirmation and avoid making impulsive decisions on incomplete information.
Q: What responsible gambling steps should I take before betting?
A: Set deposit and loss limits, decide stakes in advance, and never bet with money you cannot afford to lose; seek help if gambling becomes a concern. Remember that betting should be entertainment-only and is for people aged 18+.
Q: How do I avoid getting misled by “specials” that seem too good?
A: Check the full terms of specials and compare them across bookmakers to ensure the apparent value is not offset by exclusions or by a reduced effective stake return. If an offer sounds like a certainty or guarantees profit, treat it with scepticism, as there are no guaranteed wins.
