Biggest odds in years on Rory

The Open begins at Royal Birkdale on Thursday, but for the first time in years – Rory McIlroy is not one of the leading fancies.

In what is being described by Bookmakers as one of the most ‘open Open’s’ in living memory, it is America’s Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler leading the way in the betting markets.

OddsMonkey spokesman Peter Watton said: “You would have to go back to 2011, off the back of his brilliant US Open win to find a price you can currently get on McIlroy – with most firms offering him at 20/1 although BlackType and SportingBet are marking him up at 22/1.

“McIlroy can blitz any course in the world and if he gets off to a good start on Thursday, the Bookmakers will be butchering those odds in quick time – indeed it seems the Bookmakers are trying to tempt punters in with his prices.

“Indeed the fact that some Bookmakers were 16/1 the field on Wednesday – really does highlight that they believe the Claret Jug could go to anyone in teeing it up on Thursday.”