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What are the odds? Despite collapse Rory McIlroy is just behind Scottie Scheffler for Troon
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- What are the odds? Despite collapse Rory McIlroy is just behind Scottie Scheffler for Troon
Rory McIlroy may have frittered away his chance to win the U.S. Open on Sunday at Pinehurst but that hasn't stopped British bookmaking agency William Hill from establishing him as the favorite to win the Open Championship July 18-21 at Royal Troon.
William Hill has established early odds for McIlroy to win at 7-1, just behind favorite Scottie Scheffler at 9-2. Bryson DeChambeau, who beat McIlroy by one shot at Pinehurst with a daring 55-yard bunker shot at the last to set up a winning par putt, is 14-1, along with PGA champion Xander Schauffele.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after finishing the 18th hole during the final round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 16 in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Viktor Hovlan and Ludvig Aberg are 18-1 to win their first major championship and two-time major champion Jon Rahm is 20-1.
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DeChambeau's Open odds by William Hill dropped from 66-1 earlier this season to 25-1 a week ago.
Rory McIlroy had an "almighty collapse"
William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps said in a statement that McIlroy is one player who can overcome such a crushing loss.
"Not many would be able to recover from such an almighty collapse, but McIlroy is better than most," Phelps said. "Bryson DeChambeau was the man to take advantage of this slip-up and the big-hitting American has been a contender at every Major this year, leading to us slashing his odds."
McIlroy has played in one Open at Troon in his career, tying for fifth in 2016. But his 4-under 280 was still a hefty 16 shots behind winner Henrik Stenson and 13 behind runner-up Phil Mickelson.
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Scottie Scheffler favored despite "chinks in the armor"
Phelps said Scheffler's tie for 41st– after making the cut on the 5-over number – showed "chinks in his armor."
But that didn't stop William Hill from assigning Scheffler the shortest odds in the field with a month to go before the final major of the season at Troon.
Scottie Scheffler hits his tee shot from No. 8 at Pinehurst No. 2 during the final round of the U.S. Open on June 16.
Scheffler's finish at Pinehurst broke a streak of 11 consecutive top-10 finishes, five of them victories. He has won the Masters, The Players Championship, The Memorial, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the RBC Heritage.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Scottie Scheffler early favorite for British Open, with Rory McIroy next
