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Who will emerge from a loaded group and etch their name in the history books for this week’s major?
William Hill Nevada currently has 2021 Open Championship futures posted for 137 golfers plus the field.
Yet, even with several of the top golfers in the world competing at Royal St. George’s Golf Course in England, many William Hill bettors have their attention on the two players with the lowest odds.
Jon Rahm is atop the board at 9/1 to win the 2021 Open Championship, followed by Brooks Koepka at 14/1. That’s the same order for total dollars wagered to finish in first at this event, with Rahm leading the way at 7% and Koepka close behind at 6%.
“Rahm has earned these odds,” said Nick Bogdanovich, Director of Trading for William Hill US. “I guess 9/1 to 14/1 is bigger than the gap usually is, but it’s nothing too crazy. His last two performances have been outstanding. Then with Koepka, he’s played so well in the majors that it’s hard to discount him. And he seems healthier than he’s been in a while.”
Two $1,000 wagers have come in at Rahm 12/1 and Rahm +900, whereas another $1,000 wager was placed on Koepka 14/1. The biggest bet taken thus far at William Hill for the 2021 Open Championship, though, is on the golfer with the eighth-lowest odds.
A Nevada bettor put down $5,000 on Viktor Hovland 30/1 for a total potential payout of $155,000. Hovland opened at 30/1, went down to 18/1 after that noteworthy wager was placed and has since settled at 22/1.
Hovland and Justin Thomas (20/1) have each collected 4% of the total dollars wagered, which trails Rahm and Koepka, as well as Louis Oosthuizen (20/1), Xander Schauffele (18/1), Jordan Spieth (18/1) and Rory McIlroy (16/1) who are all at 5%.
Oosthuizen also has drawn 5% of the total number of tickets, which is tops at William Hill. Rahm, Koepka, Schauffele and Spieth are also right behind at 4%.
Meanwhile, two big names that haven’t been receiving as much action are Dustin Johnson (12/1 opener to 25/1 currently) and Bryson DeChambeau (18/1 to 33/1).
“I just keep pushing them up to see if anyone will take them at some price,” Bogdanovich said. “Those are the two that bettors have been ignoring. Current form is such a big handicap in golf, and neither one is in real good form. That doesn’t mean that they won’t find it this week, but one week they eventually will. So current form is holding those two down.”
A couple of notable bets have come in on some longshots as well: $500 on Byeong Hun An for a $250,500 total potential payout, $750 on Brian Harman 250/1 for a $188,250 total potential payout and $1,350 on Francesco Molinari 75/1 for a $102,600 total potential payout.
“This is the type of course where we’ve seen a Ben Curtis or Darren Clarke come out of nowhere, just monster flyers,” Bogdanovich said. “With all the quirkiness and how fast weather can change, if you end up in an ideal spot then you’re in a good position to win. I don’t blame anyone for taking bombers in this one.”
Check out William Hill’s latest trends for the 2021 Open Championship below.
