British Open Predictions: Day One Three-Ball Predictions & Picks
British Open Predictions: Day One Three-Ball Predictions & Picks
One of the very best ways to get involved in the British Open betting actions early on, without having to wait to Sunday to know if you’ve won, is by betting on opening round three-ball matchups.
You can find our traditional British Open predictions from Geoff Fienberg, Rick Gehman, Sam Eaton and Joe Idone here, but if you’re looking for British Open three-ball predictions for Day 1, you’ve come to the right place.
The opening round at the British Open at Royal St. George’s looks like it’s going to play extremely difficult. Thursday is set to be dry, sunny and windy on the course. We’re expecting gusts of wind upwards of 20 mph and a high of 74 degrees Fahrenheit. Golfers won’t have the advantage of soft, damp greens and calm winds on Thursday.
I don’t expect to see a ton of low scores on Thursday at Royal St. George’s but I like a few three-ball picks for the British Open.
British Open Three-Ball Predictions
Jordan Spieth to beat Bryson DeChambeau, Branden Grace @ +135
Jordan Spieth is an extremely trendy pick this week. He’s playing good golf and he’s won a British Open before. We know he can play links golf and we know a Major won’t be too big of a stage for him. It makes sense.
I’m not quite there when it comes to picking him outright, but I do love his chances in this matchup. Bryson DeChambeau has been on a roller coaster ride of late. Could he shoot the low score on Thursday and end up our first round leader? Yes, but he’s far too inconsistent right now to back.
As for Branden Grace, he’s 129th on Tour in first round scoring average at 71.24. I love Spieth here.
Patrick Reed to beat Rory McIlroy, Cam Smith @ +170
Despite what my first two plays may tell you, I don’t love picking Americans when it comes to links golf, especially at the British Open. But, I do love Spieth and Patrick Reed to get wins in their three-ball matchups.
Patrick Reed has the fourth lowest first round scoring average on Tour. He won’t get swallowed by the moment and he’s playing good golf. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy, the favorite in this group, averages a 71.87 in the first round this season, 174th on Tour.
We could get a seriously low round from Reed. I even like the prospects of him going low and finishing as first round leader come Thursday night.
Shane Lowry to beat Jon Rahm, Louis Oosthuizen @ +240
Is picking against the golfer playing the best golf in the world right now a smart tactic? No. Am I going to do it anyway? Yes.
I know, Jon Rahm is on a tear and the massive favorite for the 2021 British Open. But I just love Shane Lowry to come out on fire here, especially at his +240 price. Lowry is playing great golf right now. The Irishman has three top-10 finishes in his last five starts, including a T4 at the PGA Championship.
We know he can play links golf at a high level and we know he’s in form. Let’s roll the dice on the defending champ.
Alex Noren to beat JC Ritchie, Richard Mansell @ -125
If we’re in the circle of trust right now, I know next to nothing about JC Ritchie and Richard Mansell. Google tells me Mansell is the 357th ranked golfer in the world and Ritchie comes in ranked 233rd. Alex Noren is significantly better at golf than both these guys.
Has Alex Noren missed the cut two times in three weeks? Yes. But he’s also churned out two top-10 finishes, including a T4 at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Noren is far from the perfect pick, but this should be an easy matchup for him on Thursday.