2023 Open Championship

It looks like we'll get all four seasons throughout the four days of the 2023 Open Championship and day one isn't much different. Temperatures look like remaining constant throughout Thursday which is unusual whilst the wind if anything looks set to increase slightly for the later starters.

Overall I favour the early starters, but it's certainly not a foregone conclusion and it'd be foolish to rule out half the field here in the first round leader market.

Click here to read my outright tournament preview.

2023 Open Championship First Round Leader Tips & Special Bets

LIV golfers have performed well in majors this year with Koepka, Mickelson and Reed kick starting things at Augusta in April. Since then Dechambeau and Smith have managed top four finishes whilst Koepka got over the line.

It remains to be seen whether any other characters other than the unflappable likes of Koepka or DJ will manage a victory without some recent intense pressure, but I'm happy to be proven wrong there eventually. I certainly expect a few more to get into contention in future majors and whilst the market has a handle on Koepka and almost definitely Smith, some others require attention.

Louis Oosthuizen First Round Leader at 100/1 (Seven Places)

First up the 2010 Champion Louis Oosthuizen who appears to have turned things round lately. A withdrawal from the Masters was a low ebb but has returned some solid results on the LIV tour since including two top six finishes in his last three events. His credentials here are better than most with a further two top three finishes as well as his victory here 13 years ago.

Louis has the grand slam of runner up finishes in Majors and looks to be underestimated in most markets this week. Whether he will be able to stay on for a victory is a tall order, but this links specialist is certainly capable of going well early doors. With three places on offer and a top price of 16/5 he looks worthy of support in the top South African market also.

1.5pts each-way L.Oosthuizen Top South African  16/5  (1/5 3)  Paddy Power, Betfair
0.75pt each-way L.Oosthuizen First Round Leader  100/1  (1/5 7) Unibet

Louis Oosthuizen top South African - 1.5pts e/w @ 16/5
Louis Oosthuizen first round leader - 0.75pts e/w @ 100/1

Bryson Dechambeau First Round Leader at 66/1 (Six Places)

Bryson Dechambeau is another who may be ahead of the handicapper and although he is more than capable of winning this week I believe he is more likely to have the lowest round on any of the four days. This is simply down to his approach on any given day and the advantage it can give to him.

He can fly bunkers and lines here better than anyone and although there is probably too much trouble to avoid with the long game this week for him not to have a calamity at some stage, he could easily out stay the field on Thursday.

He sat on top of the leaderboard after day one at Oak Hill in May and with a morning tee time he could take advantage with the market not quite yet getting a hold of him as much as the other top golfers on his tour. 

0.75pt each-way B.Dechambeau First Round Leader 66/1  (1/5 6) Paddy Power, Betfair

Bryson Dechambeau first rounder leader - 0.75pts e/w @ 66/1

Cameron Young First Round Leader at 60/1 (Six places)

Cameron Young is another of the early starters who looks worthy of support having landed the first round lead last year at St Andrews with an opening 64. With some indifferent form of late it can be easily forgotten that Young has three top 7 finishes in his last six majors.

Following a 7th placed finish at the Masters in April where he was 4th after round one he has struggled with the putter. That turned around last time out at the John Deere ranking 20th on the greens that week on route to finishing 6th.

His iron play will need to improve to contend here over four days but he finished runner up on debut at this event last year and this major specialist could easily move up the gears on the biggest week of the year.

0.75pt each-way C.Young First Round Leader 60/1  (1/5 6) Skybet

Cameron Young first round leader - 0.75pts e/w @ 60/1

Open Championship Odds | Make The Cut Betting Odds

It's difficult to find a whole pile of value in the side markets this week but I do believe there is a big hitter worth taking on and backing him to miss the cut does look the best option.

Cameron Smith to Miss the Cut at 7/2

When Cameron Smith won in London a couple of weeks ago, it is fair to say that his long game was all over the place.

His delectable short game can only save him so often and his erratic long game could come under severe pressure with the internal OB's around Hoylake as well as the strategic fairway bunkering.

He looks extremely short in the market for my money and he looks the most likely candidate amongst the front runners to run up some big numbers.

2pts C.Smith to miss cut 7/2  Bet365

Cameron Smith to miss the cut - 2pts @ 7/2