Todd Hamilton in 2004 after his Open Championship win.
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Todd Hamilton says folks wager on him to win the Open Championship 20 years in the past. He says he even is aware of the quantity.
5.
The anecdote comes courtesy of a GOLF.com article printed in 2016, the final time Royal Troon hosted an Open earlier than this week, and the oldsters who did again Hamilton have been rewarded. He received, in a playoff over Ernie Els. However why hadn’t others jumped on board? Like perhaps six folks?
One other article printed in 2016, this one written by Golfweek’s Jim McCabe, spells it out nicely. Hamilton, McCabe wrote:
— Had 500-1 odds
— Was taking part in “horrible,” in response to his caddie, Ron “Bambi” Levin. (McCabe wrote that one other caddie had advised Levin that they’d additionally wager on Hamilton — to complete final.)
— Arrived Tuesday and performed Troon solely on Wednesday
Earlier than that week, Hamilton had additionally received just one time on the PGA Tour, the victory coming in mid-March of that 12 months, on the Honda Traditional. However then he shot rounds of 71, 67, 67 and 67 and made 4 pars within the playoff, and Hamilton was a significant winner.
And 5 folks cashed.
Others may this 12 months, too, whereas betting on underdogs when the Open’s newest version begins Thursday. There are, in fact, quite a few gamers with 500-1 odds or increased.
Together with Hamilton.
With that, members of our workers have every picked a protracted shot. The hope is, in fact, we aid you with your personal weekly picks, whether or not these are for a low-stakes workplace fantasy league, or (authorized!) big-bucks bets with a sportsbook.
On to our picks.
2024 Open Championship sleeper picks to observe
Ryan Barath
Sleeper choose: Nick Taylor, +35,000. I notice that my colleagues are going to name this a easy pro-Canadian choose, however his stats align nicely for hyperlinks golf. He strikes his irons nicely and is optimistic strokes gained round and on the greens. It’s a recipe for hyperlinks golf success, and with that in thoughts, I’m comfortable to name him my sleeper.
James Colgan
Sleeper choose: Sahith Theegala, +6,600: Unusual {that a} man who’s been proper within the combine at a couple of majors over the previous 12 months can be thus far down the betting playing cards. Positive, his recreation will get just a little topsy-turvy, which usually doesn’t jive with the Open, however he performed top-of-the-line rounds of his 12 months on Friday at Hoylake final 12 months, and he performed rather well on the Scottish. I like him rather a lot.
Dylan Dethier
Sleeper choose: Matthew Jordan, +25,000. His T10 end at Royal Liverpool final 12 months was noteworthy as a result of he was the hometown child. However he’s additionally bought a recreation constructed and maintained on the seaside hyperlinks. If he putts moderately nicely, he may end within the prime 20 or higher.
Nick Dimengo
Sleeper choose: Jason Day, +10,000. The previous No. 1 participant on the earth has had a reasonably good 12 months, discovering himself within the T10 on 4 events. With a runner-up end finally 12 months’s Open Championship (together with a T22 at Royal Troon in 2016), one thing’s simply telling me that Day may discover himself hoisting the Claret Jug on the finish of this factor.
Connor Federico
Sleeper choose: Keegan Bradley, +17,500. The newly named U.S. Ryder Cup captain advised us this week he needs to make the 2025 group as a participant, however wouldn’t choose himself. Meaning he’d must qualify for the group on factors, and there’s no higher place to earn these than at main championships. Can Bradley parlay the joy from his announcement into a giant win at Royal Troon? He’s nonetheless a Prime 20 participant on the earth, and there aren’t many execs higher at utilizing emotion to gas on-course success.
Jack Hirsh
Sleeper choose: Sahith Theegala, +6,600. I feel he’s been my sleeper in all 4 majors. The one actual deficiency in his recreation is his play across the greens, however I feel hyperlinks golf can kind of neutralize that given how totally different the brief recreation is within the UK. In any other case, his creativity and shot making make a wonderful match for hyperlinks golf.
How typically favorites win tournaments (and when to wager on them)
Zephyr Melton
Sleeper choose: Mathieu Pavon, +10,000. It’s been a breakout 12 months for the Frenchman, as he’s earned his first profession Tour victory and contended on the U.S. Open. Again on European soil, he might have just a little extra magic in him.
Nick Piastowski
Sleeper choose: Tom Hoge, +20,000. He’s second this 12 months on the PGA Tour is Strokes Gained: Method. I like that.
Josh Sens
Sleeper choose: Tom Hoge, +20,000. I like Nick’s considering. Iron play might be key.
Jonathan Wall
Sleeper choose: Justin Rose, +10,000. From a Strokes Gained standpoint, nobody has putted higher than Rose within the majors going again to 2019. His current monitor file on golf’s greatest stage — 4 missed cuts in 5 main begins — makes him a questionable choice. However I like the truth that he certified for this 12 months’s Open and has a robust monitor file on links-style setups.
