2024 Open Championship
Written By: Dimes Griffin
7/16/24
Summer is flying by and we are already at golf’s final major championship of the year. Which unfortunately means the last time we can play LIV guys in DFS lineups until next April… Let’s hope, from a fan’s standpoint, the PGA and LIV figure out a merger sooner rather than later because these fields are 10x better when they are together.
The Old Course at Royal Troon in Ayrshire, Scotland is host of this year’s Open Championship for just the second time in the last 20 years, which was previously held in 2016. This links-style course is placed along the western coast of Scotland, overlooking the Firth of Clyde and nestled in by railroad. Conditions in this area are known for high winds and rain showers often. Royal Troon is a true ‘Battle of the Elements’ track and will provide chaotic entertainment all weekend.
Royal Troon (Old Course) – Troon, Ayrshire, Scotland
7,385 Yards – Par 71 – Greens: Fescue/Bent
Designed by: George Strath (1883), Willie Fernie (1888), James Braid (1923)
Water Hazards: Cliffside sea/ocean present on front 9
# of Bunkers: 98
Since 2016, the course has been stretched out a couple extra hundred yards. What’s unique about Royal Troon is that it features both the shortest and longest holes in The Open rotation, including a 123-yard par-3 that can play under 100 yards and a 623-yard par-5. Each hole is either along the sea or next to a railroad, and all are covered with pot bunkers that are guaranteed to be penalizing.
The fairways are generally open but can be tight in some areas due to bunkers and thick bushes. Accuracy off the tee and navigating the fast winds on the course will definitely be key this week at Royal Troon. The greens are small and require precise iron play as players will need to avoid more green-side pot bunkers and run-offs that can turn any round upside-down instantly.
Key Stats
- Driving Distance & Accuracy
- Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
- Greens in Regulation %
- Strokes Gained: Approach
- 3-Putt & Bogey Avoidance %
Field & Purse
The field consists of 158-players, including all top-20 players in the world as well as LIV guys. There is a standard cut implemented after 36 holes, which will allow the top-70 including ties to continue through the weekend. The purse for this major championship is set at $17 million, with the winner taking home a whopping $3.1 million as well as 750 FedEx Cup points.
Previous Winners
- 2023: Brian Harman -13 (Royal Liverpool)
- 2022: Cam Smith -20 (St. Andrews)
- 2021: Colin Morikawa -15 (Royal St. George)
- 2020: CANCELED
- 2019: Shane Lowry -15 (Royal Portrush)
- 2018: Francesco Molinari -8 (Carnoustie)
- 2017: Jordan Spieth -12 (Royal Birkdale)
- 2016: Henrik Stenson -20 (Royal Troon)
- 2015: Zach Johnson -15 (St. Andrews)
- 2014: Rory McIlroy -17 (Royal Liverpool)
Weather
As far as the weather goes, expect typical coastal Scotland conditions. Fast winds, wet, and cool just about all weekend. Players should expect wind gusts mostly ranging from 15-25 mph but could get up to 30 mph+. if that’s not enough, rain is also in the forecast for the weekend and is always in play for a scattered shower here and there in that region of Southwest Scotland. There has been more than usual rain in the area this year so expect thicker and longer rough as well. On top of it all, temps will likely only reach mid-60’s which some golfers may not be accustomed to around this time of the year.
Strategy
Our strategy this week will likely revolve around the weather forecast and specific tee times. In 2016, Henrik Stenson edged-out Phil Mickelson by 3 strokes to win, while the next player in 3rd place was 11 shots behind. Coincidentally, Henrik and Phil just so happened to be in the same pairing Thursday and Friday that year which indicates something about their tee time had a lot to do with getting lucky with weather and catching breaks to get that big of a lead.
You MUST check tee times and pairings accordingly and compare them with the weather report, specifically wind forecast. Something else to note about Royal Troon is that the front-9 is way easier than the back-9, as the back-9 typically plays into the wind. First look early in the week, the tee times that start Thursday afternoon & Friday morning seem to have the advantage.
Dimes’ Fanduel Picks
High Price Options
Ludvig Aberg – $11,500
We’ve been on the Aberg train for months now and we aren’t hopping off anytime soon. This kid is the real deal and has one of the purest swings on tour. His iron play and accuracy are unmatched and although he lacks distance, that sure didn’t hold him back on courses like Augusta and Pinehurst. They say experience is needed but when it comes to Ludvig, we disagree. The European grew up dreaming of one day playing in The Open Championship and now he’s here.
With precise irons and the straightest driver on tour, Aberg’s game couldn’t fit better here at Troon and just maybe he’ll get lucky with the wind to help with distance. Don’t worry about his knee issues either, if he could finish T12 at the US Open on it, he’s fine.
Colin Morikawa – $11,300
Colin comes to The Open in great form after finishing 4th last week at the Scottish Open and carding four top-5 finishes in his last six starts. Morikawa has gained strokes on approach shots in the last six events, while also ranking 2nd in driving accuracy this season, making him a perfect match for Royal Troon. When Henrik Stenson won the 2016 Open here at Troon, he finished 5th in driving accuracy and 1st in GIR %, very similar to Colin’s current form.
Not to mention Morikawa already has a Claret Jug in his trophy case and the experience to contend for another. Don’t pay attention to his missed cuts in The Open the last two years, he is playing some of the best golf in his career and finished in the top-5 in both The Masters and PGA Championship, as well as a 14th place finish in the US Open. Colin is a DAWG!
Jon Rahm – $11,000
Many have forgotten about Jon Rahm since he left for LIV and it’s a damn shame because this amigo still has game. He hasn’t contented much in the previous majors this year and a foot infection made him withdraw from the US Open, so we’re expecting his ownership to be low. Many have also forgotten Jon Rahm finishing in the top-3 in two of the last three Opens, so one can only wonder if a breakout win in Europe is due for the Spaniard.
Rahm has also been fantastic on coastal links courses throughout his career, so Royal Troon should fit him well. Rahm has finished in the top-10 in all but one of his LIV events and that one was because of injury. Now with the foot issue behind him, he ranked 1st in GIR and 4th in SG: Total in windy conditions which are both promising key stats to contend this week at Troon.
Other High-Priced Options: Scottie Scheffler $12,900. Rory McIlroy $12,200. Bryson DeChambeau $11,900.
Mid-Price Options
Tommy Fleetwood – $10,800
Tommy has been playing well for months, and now he’s in his happy place… Europe. Fleetwood’s Open history has been impeccable in recent years, finishing in the top-12 in four of his last five Open Championships. He’s made the cut in every major thus far this year finishing in the top-26 in all of them including a top-5 finish at The Masters. Tommy excels around the greens and ranks 5th in strokes gained per round on links courses. In addition, this season Fleetwood ranks 5th in driving accuracy this season and has made 11 straight cuts, with eight top-25 finished in that stretch. He’s a lock at Royal Troon.
Cam Smith – $10,500
If you know us by now, we are a little bias towards Cam Smith, but I mean come on… look at the guy, he’s a stud both on and off the course. Cam is definitely the guy we miss being able to watch every week on Tour so anytime a major comes around we have to throw him in some lineups. However, there’s stats behind our bias as well though, Smith has made all three cuts in majors this year, and was also Champion Golfer of the Year the last time the Open was held in Scotland. He was a perfect fit at St. Andrews which Royal Troon has some similarities to. If Cam can find fairways he’ll be in contention, no doubt.
Aaron Rai – $9,500
Aaron Rai is arguably playing the best golf of his career in recent weeks with a top-20 finish in five straight events now. In addition, Aaron ranks 7th in SG: Approach and 1st in driving accuracy compared to the field’s last 50 rounds. Rai’s game is the perfect fit for Royal Troon and we fully expect his streak to continue and be in contention come Sunday.
Other Mid-Priced Options: Brooks Koepka $10,900. Tyrell Hatton $10,700. Shane Lowry $10,600. Hideki Matsuyama $10,100. Sungjae Im $9,500. Tom Kim $10,200.
Low Price Options
Romain Langasque – $8,000
Would you like some romaine lettuce in your salad?!? Our boy Romain went off for us last week finishing a solo 3rd at the Scottish Open. The Frenchman now has four top-10 finishes in his last nine starts, and will be making his 5th Open start where he will be looking to improve on his T33 finish last year. In his recent play, Romain has gained 2.8 strokes on approach shots in the last two weeks. He’ll be good enough to make the cut and round out the end of your lineups.
Shubhankar Sharma – $7,600
If you’re looking for a guy low-low price and less than 1% ownership, this is your guy! Shubhankar is well worth considering after his 8th place finish at The Open last year. To add to his short resume, he has never missed a cut in his 3 major events and only has 1 missed cut in his 10-start career. Despite only 10 starts, the India native is a 2-time winner on the DP World Tour made the cut and finished T39 last week at the Scottish Open while impressively leading the entire field in SG: Approach… The SHARMANATOR!
Other Sleeper Options: Will Zalatoris $9,000. Yannik Paul $7,600. Matthew Jordan $7,900. Gordon Sargent $7,400.
Dollaboys Expert Pick Chart
| Dimes | Travis S. | Big D | B Schel | |
| Pick to Win not named Scottie | Jon Rahm | Colin Morikawa | Robert “Back to Back” Macintyre | Jon Rahm |
| Pick to Finish Top 10 | Colin Morikawa | Ludvig Aberg | Aaron Rai | Scottie Scheffler |
| Dark Horse | Aaron Rai (65-1) | Tom Kim (50-1) | Dean Burmester (120-1) | Jordan Spieth (60-1) |
| Most Likely to Disappoint | Xander Schauffele | Bryson DeChambeau | Rory McIlroy | Bryson DeChambeau |
| Best Bet | Hideki Matsuyama Top Japanese Player +100 | Jon Rahm Top Spanish Player -150 | Matteo Manassero to Finish Top 40 +200 | Matteo Manassero Top Italian Player +145 |