The Open Championship 2017

Royal Birkdale plays host to the 2017 edition of the Open - a course steeped in history having hosted this event nine times in it's 128 year history. It's a windswept Links course on the Southport coast and will provide a stern test of skill and guile for every competitor.

While the course might be traditional, the odds offered by bookmakers this year certainly aren't. Four firms have already offered eight places (more may follow) while Sky Bet have gone an astonishing 10 (yes TEN) places this year at 1/5 odds.

Links Golf often rewards the more experienced players, who can use thier judgement to plot their way through the weekend, and we'll be looking for a number of statistical trends to help point us towards a winner.

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The first of these that we are very keen on is a proven ability to play Links golf under the pressure that only a major event like this provides. On this school of thought, it's worth considering that nine of the past ten winners of the Open had previously scored a top six finish in an Open - and six of the last ten has improved that to be a former Top 3 finisher. We've got a long short list to go at with that stat of course, so let's bank it for now and move on.

Winning the Open requires real skill and experience, so it's probably no huge surprise to learn that eight of the last ten winners came from the worlds Top 50, and seven of those were in the Top 30. We're looking to open our account with a reasonably well known name then.

Recent form is also pretty important, with eight of the last ten winners having finised inside the Top 20 in one of their previous three starts. You don't come to the Open and win when you are playing badly. It's as simple as that. Plenty of recent winners have also been up to the Scottish Open to warm up in a similar event as well, so that's another factor worth bearing in mind.

So once we've considered all that history, who does it tell us might won on Sunday?

Well we tipped Adam Scott last week without success, but he might have been closer to the top of the leaderboard had it not been for a disappointing Saturday which saw him shoot 78. The Aussie certainly ticks the box for Open form - he's finished inside the Top 10 in four of the last five years. He was also 10th in the St Jude in June, 6th at Players in May and 9th at the Masters in April, so despite a relatively sparse schedule this year, comes up well when he does play.

1pt e/w Adam Scott at 28/1

Our next pick is Rickie Fowler, who loves links golf. He is currently ranked 10th in the world and has a great record in the Open, finishing 2nd in 2014 and 5th in 2011. In 14 outings this season, he's claimed an impressive six Top Five finishes, including winning the Honda Classic, 2nd at the Memorial and 3rd in both the Quicken Loans and the Shell Houston.

He's a man on a mission right now and his long-term record on Links courses matches up with the best in the world. He tied for ninth in the Scottish Open last week.

Few fit the bill for this weekend better than Fowler, and he's taken at 14/1 to come out on top.

1pt e/w Rickie Fowler at 14/1

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Another man with Open form is Sergio Garcia, and he could be ready to now he has the Major monkey off his back. He's finished 5th, 6th and 2nd in his last three Open Championships, and is having one heck of season after winning the Masters. He's also taken a 2nd in the BMW International, and should be back to earth now a few months on from that first Major title.

1pt e/w Sergio Garcia at 16/1

If those are our potential winners, who are the value long shots?

Well Marc Leishman is the first name that springs to mind at 50/1. He finished inside the Top Five in 2014 and 2015 at this event, and recently claimed a share of 5th in the Quicken Loans. He hasn't played a links event in preparation for this week, but has proven pedigree in the past at similar course, so looks worth investing in given the crazy place terms this week.

1pt e/w Marc Leishmann at 50/1

Now the real outsiders!

Ryan Fox enjoyed a brilliant 4th place at the Scottish Open at Dundonald last week, so comes here in cracking form. That was his 3rd Top Six finish on tour in succession, and sixth Top 30 in a row for good measure.

Fox has only come here once before - when he made the cut but finished well down the order - but he is well used to this sort of challenge and could surprise a few at odds of 150/1.

1pt e/w Ryan Fox at 150/1

Finally, Andy Sullivan - a three time European Tour Winner - could be set for a big weekend. He achieved a decent 9th place it Dundonald last time out and this is a track which really rewards his consistent driving - he's one of the most accurate off the tee on tour and that plays to his advantage on these wind swept courses.

Sullivan has already posted 30th and 12th places in his first two visits to the Open and with odds of 100/1 paying 20/1 about a Top 8 finish with Paddy Power, it's hard to ignore his chances if the cards fall nicely for him

1pt e/w Andy Sullivan at 100/1 (Paddy Power 8 places at 1/5 odds)

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