The 153rd edition of The Open Championship is almost here, and all eyes will be on Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland for the final major of the 2025 season.
With the British Open odds consistently moving leading into the opening round, there’s late betting value to take advantage of.
So, here is a trio of golf picks and British Open predictions to add to your portfolio before the best of the best hit Royal Portrush for Round 1 on Thursday, July 17.
British Open picks and predictions
Pick: Dean Burmester to make the cut
-125 at bet365
With consecutive Top 20 finishes in The Open and a solid T40 in his 2021 debut alongside a solid resume of worldwide wins, Dean Burmester has developed a more well-rounded game in recent seasons, playing well at Royal Portrush this week.
This is also a numbers play. The 36-year-old bomber is priced at -190 to make the cut at DraftKings, which attaches a positive expected value of 18% to these -125 bet365 odds comparatively.
Pick: Viktor Hovland Top 20
+150 at DraftKings
Viktor Hovland profiles as a solid course fit this week at Royal Portrush.
He ranks sixth in this field in true strokes gained tee-to-green and third on approach dating back to his Valspar victory in March, and he’s gained true strokes on the greens during that stretch.
Hovland has three Top 5s in majors since the 2022 Open, and his ball-striking remains elite heading into a setup that rewards precision. The links layout should also help mask his short-game lapses and allow him to play to his strengths.
Best British Open bonuses
New Users
Bet $5, Get $300 Bonus Bets instantly!
Claim Now
See our DraftKings sportsbook review
New Users
Get a no-sweat first bet up to $1,500!
Claim Now with code CVRBONUS1500
See our BetMGM sportsbook review
New Users
Bet $5, Get $150 Bonus Bets, win or lose!
Claim with code COVERS
See our bet365 sportsbook review
Eligible USA locations only. Also, see our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2025.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Pick: Ludvig Aberg Top Swede + Hideki Matsuyama Top Japanese
+250 at DraftKings
Who doesn’t love a little parlay?
Ludvig Aberg and Hideki Matsuyama head to Royal Portrush in excellent form.
Aberg is coming off a T8 in the Genesis while carding 20 birdies and two eagles while ranking 13th in true strokes gained putting.
Similarly, Matsuyama led the way in true strokes gained on approach during his T13 finish in the Rocket Classic, and he’s also gained +1.54 true strokes on approaches per round to rank second in this field in the metric dating back to the U.S. Open.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.