This week at OddsTrader, we’re spotlighting two of England’s top contenders for the Open Championship and uncovering the best value in their props at top-rated sportsbooks. Let’s break down where the smart money is heading at Royal Portrush.
Picks Summary:
- Dan Brown to be First Round Leader (+12500)
- Dan Brown to Finish Top 10 (+1200)
- Dan Brown to Finish Top 20 (+550)
- Lee Westwood to be First Round Leader (+12500)
Lee Westwood to Finish Top 20 (+700) - Lee Westwood to Finish Top 40 (+220)
*All odds from Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
The 2025 Open Championship
July 17 – July 20, 2025 at Royal Portrush Golf Club
What to expect from Portrush?
- Par 71, 7346 yards
- Designer – Harry Colt
- The classic challenges of links golf to be on full display, with clever approach play and a deft touch around the greens rewarded.
- The strategic layout and the ever-present threat of the rough put a premium on accuracy, while the subtle nuances of Colt’s design favors players with a sharp eye for detail. With these variables, it’s no wonder the computer models are zeroing in on certain names who thrive under these conditions and have proven form on similar layouts.
- The blend of historical context, course-specific experience, and current momentum forms the backbone of the picks for this year’s Open, as data-driven analysis highlights players poised to capitalize on both the layout’s intricacies and the forecasted benign weather.
You wouldn't find it in a Dan Brown novel
Two weeks ago, at the BMW Open in Germany, Dan Brown enhanced his burgeoning reputation on the DP World Tour with a second title in impressive style.
Brown came to the recognition worldwide of golf fans when on his major championship debut, he contended at last year’s Open Championship, eventually finishing a brave 10th after a poor final round undermined a strong week’s play.
That experience should hold the Englishman in good stead this week at a venue that holds fond memories for the thirty-year-old from North Allerton in North Yorkshire, when he was the clear stroke play winner of the 2014 Amateur Championship section at Royal Portrush with his two-round total of 133, winning by four strokes.
The combination of strong current form in Germany, that amateur experience here in 2016, and last year’s Open debut is irresistible.
The question is, what markets to back Dan Brown in this week?
That’s where OddsTrader best sportsbook Bet365 comes in to play perfectly with their extensive range of props markets, and the computer is suggesting a top 10, top 20 and first round leader markets for Dan Brown.
Golf Pick: Dan Brown to be First Round Leader (+12500) at Bet365
Golf Pick: Dan Brown to Finish Top 10 (+1200) at Bet365
Golf Pick: Dan Brown to Finish Top 20 (+220) at Bet365
Will there be a last hurrah for Westwood?
Lee Westwood is an interesting qualifier for this year’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush, having finished 4th here in 2019.
There has been plenty of water flowing under the Englishman’s bridge since with his defection to LIV Golf evoking huge criticism from the legacy golf media, which the previously popular golfer appeared to take to heart badly.
There can be little doubt it affected his game since as his results since his defection have been poor, but there has been a significant improvement and encouragement of late.
At fifty-two, Westwood’s decision to enter Open pre-qualifying shows he believes his game is improving, especially given his past success at Royal Portrush.
Don’t Count Him Out
Westwood has a remarkable Open record with numerous near misses, resulting in five top 5 finishes in the last twenty years, so at his age, he is easy to pass over in the outright market.
There are a couple of props markets worth a play because Westwood will want his last hurrah in front of his adoring fans at an event, with whom he has an amazing affinity.
At OddsTrader, we suggest betting Lee Westwood in first round leader because he still can go very low on occasion, combined with top 20 and top 40 finishes with our best sportsbook, Bet365.
Golf Pick: Lee Westwood to be First Round Leader (+12500) at Bet365
Golf Pick: Lee Westwood to Finish Top 40 (+300) at Bet365
Golf Pick: Lee Westwood to Finish Top 20 (+600) at Bet365
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*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
