For the fans wanting to put down a wager or two at this week’s Open Championship starting at Royal Troon in Scotland on Thursday, look no further than Bryson DeChambeau.
Though it’s no mean feat to win two majors in a row, DeChambeau has been given the nod according to the latest technology.
DeChambeau has been given a 12.2% chance of winning The Open by the Grosvenor Sport SuperComputer. It means, the 30-year-old is the outright favourite.
The two-time US Open champion has double the chance of winning compared to his closest competitor. Ludvig Aberg is the second favourite at 6.1%, with world number one Scottie Scheffler third with 4%.
Rory tipped for strong run
Despite his heartbreak at the US Open as he missed two short putts in his closing three holes, Rory McIlroy has been tipped for a strong bounce back. McIlroy has a 3.9% chance, while England’s Tommy Fleetwood has returned a 3% chance of lifting the Claret Jug.
Data experts specifically created a SuperComputer model with a uniquely curated code which was capable of running simulations of the tournament. The results can be seen below, courtesy of Grosvenor Sport.
Though there are eight South Africans teeing it up this week, led by two-time Open champion Ernie Els, none feature prominently in the predictions.
Els, 54, has played in the last three Open Championships but has not made the weekend since 2019.
This week however, he will be taking some good form into the tournament he has won twice — in 2002 and 2012. ‘The Big Easy’ won his first senior major at the Kaulig Companies Championship on the US Champions Tour over the weekend, and could well be a dark horse this week.
Els is always an excellent bet as an outside bet, like he was in 2012 when he was a shock winner at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s when Australian Adam Scott faltered on the final nine holes to open the door for the South African.