2019 British Open Championship Preview, Predictions & Betting Tips
The 2019 British Open, otherwise known as the Open Championship, will be the 148th Open Championship. It an annual golf tournament conducted by The R&A (The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews).
The Open Championship is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. The British Open was traditionally the third major of the year played in mid-July, but beginning in 2019 the tournament will be the final major of the golf season.
Latest British Open Championship News
Open Championship History
The Open was first played in 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. The Open has always been held in the United Kingdom and is the only major played outside the United States.
A common feature of The Open is links golf courses. Links courses are usually near the coast with sand dunes, pot bunkers, few water hazards and a lack of trees. Many links courses are frequently windy and offer golfers a different challenge than other types of courses.
Often described as "The toughest test in golf" due to the testing weather conditions, The Open Championship is often won by the player that handles the wet and windy environment.
The Open is usually played in Scotland, northwest England and southeast England. The Old Course at St Andrews hosts The Open Championship every five years with the remaining courses hosting the tournament roughly every 10 years.
It is the only major played outside the United States and has been held in the United Kingdom since 1860. Players from the United States have won The Open 44 times with Scottish players winning on 41 occasions, English players next best with 22 tournaments won.
The British Open has featured very low scoring in recent years, with an average winning score of 16 under par over the past four tournaments.
The Open Championship, known as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest of the four major golf championships. It is the only major played outside the United States and has been held in the United Kingdom since 1860.
Who has won the most Open Championship titles?
Harry Vardon won six Open Championships throughout his illustrious career. The most in recent history belongs to Tiger Woods with three. Irish golfer Padraig Harrington won back-to-back titles in 2007-2008.
There hasn't been a home winner since 1999 when Paul Lawrie won in front of his home fans at Carnoustie in Scotland.
Players from the United States have won The Open 44 times with Scottish players winning on 41 occasions, with English players next best with 22 tournaments won.
Where is the 2019 British Open Championship being held?
The 2019 Open Championship will be held at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland. It was held at Royal Portrush in 1951, the only occasion that it has not been held in Scotland or England.
The Par 72 course is a lengthy 7,337 yards and will test the best golfers in the world. "Calamity Corner" is a Par 3 which measures 230 yards and will surely provide the golfers a stiff test when they arrive at the 16th.
| Hole | Name | Par |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hughie's | 4 |
| 2 | Giant's Grave | 5 |
| 3 | Islay | 3 |
| 4 | Fred Daly's | 4 |
| 5 | White Rocks | 4 |
| 6 | Harry Colt's | 3 |
| 7 | Curran Point | 5 |
| 8 | Dunluce | 4 |
| 9 | P.G. Stevenson's | 4 |
| 10 | Himalayas | 4 |
| 11 | Tavern | 5/4 |
| 12 | Dhu Varren | 5 |
| 13 | Feather Bed | 3 |
| 14 | Causeway | 4 |
| 15 | Skerries | 4 |
| 16 | Calamity Corner | 3 |
| 17 | Purgatory | 4 |
| 18 | Babington's | 4 |
To show how much the game of golf has changed since The Open Championship was last played at Royal Portrush, the distance in 1951 was 6,802 yards and it has since increased over 1100 yards since then.
When is the 2019 British Open Championship?
The 2019 Open Championship is scheduled for 18–21 July.
What players will contest the 2019 British Open Championship?
Boasting one of the biggest fields in world golf, the Open Championship features the best players in the world, amateur golfers and also local pros who have qualified regonally to get into the field of 156.
There are many qualifying tournaments held throughout the year, including the likes of the Australian Open where the first three finishers make it into the field.
- Open Champions aged 60 or less.
- Open Champions from 2009-2018.
- First 10 places in 2018 Open Championship.
- First 50 players in Official World Golf Ranking.
- BMW PGA Championship winners from 2017-2019.
- Masters winners from 2015-2019.
British Open Championship Champions
| Year | Winner | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ||
| 2018 | Francesco Molinari | Italy |
| 2017 | Jordan Spieth | United States |
| 2016 | Henrik Stenson | Sweden |
| 2015 | Zach Johnson | United States |
| 2014 | Rory McIlroy | Northern Ireland |
| 2013 | Phil Mickelson | United States |
| 2012 | Ernie Els | South Africa |
| 2011 | Darren Clarke | Northern Ireland |
| 2010 | Louis Oosthuizen | South Africa |
| 2009 | Stewart Cink | United States |
| 2008 | Padraig Harrington | Ireland |
What happened in the 2018 Open Championship?
The 2018 Open Championship was played at Carnoustie Golf Links in Angus, Scotland and was won by Italian Francesco Molinari - the first Italian-born player to win The Open Championship. Unusual playing conditions were encountered due to a heatwave in Scotland which produced dry and hard fairways. Molinari's winning score of -8 was the lowest since Phil Mickelson won in 2013.
Molinari held off a strong charge from the likes of Kevin Kisner, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose and Xander Schauffele, who all finished in a tie for second at -6. His scored of -8 was one better than achieved by Padraig Harrington when the Irishman won in 2007, before he repeated as Open Champion in 2008.
Francesco Molinari posted a bogey-free final round of 69 to win his first major golf championship with a score of 276. It was made even more impressive by the conditions played in, which included a heat wave, dry fairways and greens.
Who are the favourites to win the 2019 Open Championship?
Rory McIlroy often plays well in Europe and bookmakers have installed the Northern Irishman as the 11.00 favourite in the early markets. Tiger Woods is always going to be well-favoured and he's firm in the betting. Americans Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and two-time US Open winner Brooks Koepka all remain solid with bookmakers.
What are the 2019 Open Championship Betting Odds?
Bookmakers often set a loose market for the Open Championship due to the high number of players. Below are the top 10 players in the winner betting market:
- Rory McIlroy (10.00)
- Brooks Koepka (11.00)
- Dustin Johnson (17.00)
- Jon Rahm (17.00)
- Tiger Woods (21.00)
- Justin Rose (21.00)
- Francesco Molinari (26.00)
- Xander Schaufele (29.00)
- Henrik Stenson (31.00)
- Tommy Fleetwood (31.00)
2019 Open Championship Betting Tips
Here at FreeTips.com we provide expert British Open Championship golf predictions and betting tips with all the major markets covered including outright betting, top 5, top 10, each-way and make/miss the cut tips.
