Ryder Cup 2023 Top Points Scorer Odds: Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler lead the way

We are in store for three days drenched in drama, passion, and spine-tingling moments as the 24 players prepare for the 2023 Ryder Cup, which gets under way in Rome on Friday.

Jamie Broadhurst has already provided us with his three best bets in his comprehensive Ryder Cup Preview, now it's time to delve into some intriguing individual betting markets, starting with the Top Points Scorer.

Ryder Cup Top Points Scorers

While the Ryder Cup is a collaborative team effort, each of the 24 players will also be looking to sparkle individually in Rome over the course of the three days.

Captains Luke Donald (Europe) and Zach Johnson (USA) will be meticulously weighing up their options as they decide which players to utilise in the foursomes and fourball across each of the four sessions on Friday and Saturday, with the singles then taking centre stage on what promises to be an enthralling final day.

Each Ryder Cup match is worth one point: A point is awarded for the match win, while a tie results in a half-point.

When it comes to the Ryder Cup top points scorers, Dustin Johnson finished top of the pile in 2021 after he impressively accumulated a maximum five points from five matches, however, he will not be taking part this time around.

Prior to DJ's dominant display two years ago, it's Europe that have dominated, producing a top scorer in the nine consecutive editions before 2021, with the likes of Francesco Molinari (2018), Thomas Pieters (2016), and Justin Rose (2014) all victorious in recent times.

Now it's time to run through the main favorites in the betting for top individual honours in 2023, as well as a few selected others.

The Favourites

Rory McIlroy: 9/1

Rory Mcilroy absolutely loves the Ryder Cup. The passionate Northern Irishman has already competed in six editions, during which he's been involved in four winning teams. In total, he's accrued 14 points from 24 matches (12 wins, 4 halves, 9 defeats), however he will be looking to improve upon his last two performances, having won just three points from his last nine matches. Yet with 10 consecutive top-10 finishes on the board in 2023, including a win at the Scottish Open, he jets to Italy in fine fettle.

Scottie Scheffler: 9/1

It may not be too much of a surprise to see World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler positioned alongside McIlroy at the top of the betting market, after all he's used to heading into golf tournaments as the bookies' favourite. The enviably consistent American has remarkably finished in the top-12 in 20 of his last 22 tournaments, which includes wins at The Players Championship and WM Phoenix Open. He's only featured in one Ryder Cup, as a captain's pick last time out in 2021 where he bagged two points from three games, but fast-forward two years and he's hard to back against at 9/1.

John Rahm: 11/1

World No.3 John Rahm will no doubt play a prominent role for Europe as the continent looks to make it seven straight wins on home soil. The Spaniard bagged his second major in April - winning the Masters - which is one of four wins in a hugely successful 2023. Rahm has been involved in two Ryder Cups, scooping four wins and a total of 4-5 points from his eight matches. Dustin Johnson may have finished the last Ryder Cup as the top overall points scorer, but it was Rahm who top scored for Europe.

Patrick Cantlay: 11/1

What a Ryder Cup debut it proved to be for Patrick Cantlay, who won three of his four matches en route to propelling the US to a historic 19-9 win last time out in 2021. He won both his foursomes and his singles encounter, with his one and only defeat coming in the fourball. He's yet to win in 2023, but has seven top-5 finishes since February.

Viktor Hovland: 12/1

First of all, Viktor Hovland will be looking to record his first Ryder Cup win, having halved three games and lost twice in his sole appearance at Whistling Straights in 2021. Now playing a Ryder Cup on European soil for the first time, the Norwegian hasn't missed a cut this season. He's in stunning form, winning each of his last two tournaments - BMW Championship and the TOUR Championship - as well as June's Memorial Tournament.

Xander Schauffele: 12/1

Next in this group of the six favourites in the betting is Xander Schauffele at 12/1. When it comes to representing his country, the American not only boasts an Olympic gold medal from Tokyo but he's been involved in two Presidents Cup successes, and a Ryder Cup triump, with his unbeaten return of three wins and a half-point in the latter contributing significantly towards the record triumph two years ago.

Selected Others

Tommy Fleetwood: 14/1

Tommy Fleetwood can bank on an impressive Ryder Cup record, with five points accumulated from a possible eight in two appearances. An integral team player, the Englishman memorably won all four matches alongside Francesco Molinari on his Ryder Cup debut in 2018.

Brooks Koepka: 16/1

The American has enjoyed something of a revival in 2023, finishing 2nd in the Masters then winning the PGA Championship. He's won 6.5 points from 12 at the Ryder Cup and has never lost a singles contest.

Jordan Spieth: 25/1

Jordan Spieth is one to eye up at 25/1 given his experience at the Ryder Cup. Spieth, who has featured in four editions, has eight wins from 18 matches, including an impressive five wins from seven fourballs. It's also worth noting that he's won four of his six matches when paired alongside Justin Thomas.

Justin Thomas: 28/1

Speaking of whom, Thomas didn't earn a place because of his performances this year - which have been pretty poor - instead, captain Zach Johnson will hope that the Ryder Cup can bring out the player's best form, as it has done in the past. Thomas has tallied a superb six wins from nine matches and should he be trusted early on and subsequently repay his skipper with points, just watch his confidence grow.

Justin Rose: 33/1

Luke Donald will hope that the experience and pedigree of 2014 Top Points victor Justin Rose combine to produce a fruitful return. With five Ryder Cups under his belt, Rose heads to Italy with a bubbling sense of determination having been overlooked in 2021. He has a whopping 13 wins to his name, over half of which have come in foursomes competition: seven wins in 10.