Niall Lyons has two plays in the first round leader market for the Open Championship as well as one in the Top Rest of the World and one big name to miss the cut.
Open Championship 2025
Draw bias often renders bets beaten before they even start in the Open Championship and there's no doubt plenty of luck will be needed if we're to get close to one of my outright bets or a first round leader selection winning. Tomorrow there doesn't appear to be a lot of draw bias and with the weather on the coast unpredictable when it will arrive I'll choose one from each side.
Open First Round Leader Tips
First up is Justin Rose who heads out late afternoon and could benefit from a trend at the Open where the wind often calms in the evening. Rose has become a Major performer and he showed that once again this year by leading the masters after day 1 for the 5th time in his career back in April.
Following a 6th placed finish in Scotland he should be confident of another fast Major start. He has been inside the top 5 at the end of 7 of his last 15 Open Championship rounds. 66/1 looks a good enough punt for the first 18.
0.5pt each-way J.Rose first round leader 66/1 (1/5 7) Unibet
From the morning wave I'll opt for Sam Burns. I was hugely impressed by the way Burns handled his misfortune during the back nine at US Open Sunday and I believe that will experience will help him take that next step and contend more often in Majors. Whether it is this week is debateable as he's yet to post a top 30 finish in four tries.
It's worth noting though throughout a large part of last year's Open at Troon he was comfortably the best player. Having been 7 over through 11 holes on Thursday he managed to crawl his way back to be in 2nd spot with 18 holes to go.
He shot the 2nd best score on Friday and the best score on Saturday. He shot the joint lowest score on Sunday at St Andrews in 2022. With his recent close call in a Major Championship he was close to making my outright staking plan, but I'll stick to the lowest score on a given day which he has landed twice in his last seven efforts at this event.
0.5pt each-way S.Burns first round leader 70/1 (1/5 7) Unibet
Open Special Bets from Niall Lyons
Marc Leishman has three top 6 finishes in Open Championships and for my money he is a little bit big in the rest of the world market, many of which towards the tops of the market seem relatively weak. The Australian has been one of the most consistent performers on the LIV Tour with his irons all season.
There was a lull last week at Valderrama but that course would definitely not suit his game. With this golf course all being about what you do from your second shot onwards then I expect Leishman to have another good week in a year where he managed his first LIV victory in Miami.
Bryson DeChambeau's Open record reads CUT-60-8-33-CUT-51-CUT. It is not surprising that his 8th placed finish came at St Andrews, a flat track that can be somewhat bullied with the driver. Other Open layouts just don't suit his type of game and Portrush of all on the Open rota I'd suggest suits the least.
A lot has been made of his short game improvements in the last couple of years but I believe a test such as this around the greens is a step too far. Not only that but he should find himself in enough trouble off the tee also. He fell to a miserable 74-73 in 2019 and with some dodgy weather about I believe he could struggle again. 11/4 to miss the cut looks worthy of a few quid.
