The Open First Round Leader

The final major of the year gets underway on Thursday at Royal Troon as Rory McIlroy bids to avoid a decade without winning one of golf’s biggest four events.

Niall Lyons has three tips in the first round leader market for the Open 2024 to go with the outright preview published on Monday lunchtime, headlined by Shane Lowry.

Open First Round Leader Tips

 

Hideki Matsuyama @ 66/1 (Five Places)

I was looking for a way to get Hideki Matsuyama on board this week and although there was no room in the Outright preview for me, he did hit most of the trends and I'm happy to include him for the opening 18 holes. 

He tees off around 230pm and from lunchtime onwards looks like the perfect draw weather wise. The group behind is Tiger, Schauffele and Cantlay, whilst Hideki is paired alongside Wyndham Clark and Brooks Koepka. 

I would not be surprised should the round leader come from these six given it'll be a carnival atmosphere with these groups in the afternoon. Matsuyama is well equipped for Open Championships being the perfect age, combined with a top 10 finish back in 2013 and a further three top 20s. 

Troon for me is a ball strikers golf course and Hideki is still one of the most consistent in that department. With a short game to die for these days also he is a huge threat to lift the Claret Jug this week, and given he has a nice time slot for day one he could threaten this market also.

0.75pt each-way H.Matsuyama First Round Leader  66/1  (1/4 5) BetVictor

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Sami Valimaki @ 200/1 (Six Places)

One who looks capable of making a run from the late starters is Sami Valimaki. In his last 43 events the Finn has landed three first round leaders and has had a further two runner up finishes. The latest of those 2nd place finishes after the first 18 came just two weeks ago with an opening 61 at the John Deere Classic. 

His two rounds of 70-68 at the Renaissance last week to miss the cut on the number suggest he isn't too far off and he looks to have a great draw with some of the wind and rain settling down from 1 o clock onwards. 

Valimaki has shown on numerous occasions he handles the wind well finishing 7th in a very blustery Vic Open in 2020 before winning by the coast a few weeks later in Oman. 

Now a winner in Qatar, a venue well linked with Open Championship winners and contenders, Valimaki is a dak horse this week and could get off to a fast start.

0.5pt each-way S.Valimaki First Round Leader  200/1  (1/5 6) Sky Bet, William Hill

Dean Burmester @ 100/1 (Six Places)

Branden Grace has the lowest round ever shot in an Open Championship and together with Oosthuizen and Els winning three of these since the turn of the century South African's have a love affair with this event and it can continue with Dean Burmester this week. 

Together with a pair of victories on the DPWT at the end of 2023 and a LIV victory in Miami, Burmester has elevated himself onto the big stage. He went well for a long way in the PGA Championship at Valhalla and last time out at Valderrama despite finishing 17th, he led after 18 holes on that tough layout. 

He has a nice draw alongside a former Open Champion in Darren Clarke and anything of 80/1 looks worth taking considering he ranks 6th on the LIV rankings this year. 

0.5pt each-way Burmester First Round Leader  100/1  (1/5 6) Sky Bet