The Open 2024 Odds & Tips: Back Finau to end Major duck

Royal Troon Golf Club, Scotland is the venue for the 152nd Open Championship this week and it promises to be another enthralling battle for the famous Claret Jug. Find our best bets and betting preview below. 

World number one Scottie Scheffler has won no less than six titles this year, including the Masters in April, and he is the 5/1 favourite to lift this trophy for the first time.

Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Ludvig Aberg, Collin Morikawa and a number of the other world's leading players will be hoping for a successful week at Royal Troon, which last hosted this Major in 2016 when Henrik Stenson prevailed.

Finau to break Major duck

At the age of 34, Tony Finau has fallen into the category of being one of the best golfers yet to win a Major, but that could all change in South Ayrshire this week and he is the headline selection.

The American made his Open debut at Royal Troon in 2016, finishing tied-18th that year, and his six appearances in this Major since have produced efforts of T27-T9-3-T15-T28-CUT.

Barring last year's blip, Finau has shown an affection for links golf and he arrives in Scotland in solid form, having recorded results of T8 and T5 either side of a third-place effort at the US Open.

Such a steady player from tee to green, the biggest positive to come out of his recent performances has been the improvement in his putter, an area that has stopped him from winning more in his career, and a solid week with the flat stick will put him in contention.

Clark to add Claret Jug to collection

Unlike Finau, Wyndham Clark has already tasted Major success after his 2023 US Open success and he looks to have a strong chance of improving his average Open record.

The 30-year-old American's form has picked up over the last two starts, with top-10 finishes recording at the Travelers Championship and last week's Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club.

Clark finished the Scottish event in sublime form, carding a bogey-free eight-under-par round of 62 on Sunday, and he can use that as a springboard heading over to Royal Troon.

Bhatia to shine on Open debut

This may be Akshay Bhatia's Open debut, but given everything he has shown over the last couple of years, there is a strong belief that he can make a big splash in his quest for the Claret Jug.

The 22-year-old American clinched his second PGA Tour title in April at the Texas Open and he secured his best Major finish at last month's US Open at Pinehurst, ending up in a share of 16th position.

Bhatia's tee-to-green game has been fantastic on the US circuit this season, while his strokes gained putting ranking of 27th also shows the flat stick is working well, and he looks capable of getting in the mix.