What oddsmakers are saying about the Open at Birkdale

1 Who is the best value to win the Open?

Dave Bass bet365 There is lots of value to be had this week but I would love to see Sergio Garcia adding the Claret Jug to his Green Jacket.

Ray Donnellan BetBright Brandt Snedeker has some decent Open finishes and looks a great each-way bet.

Simon Cox Betfair Alexander Noren has been consistent lately and reports from Birkdale sound good. He was in contention in Birkdale in 2008.

Shaun Gorman Betfred Dustin Johnson seems to have been written off after two missed cuts in a row but he looks good value to challenge for the Claret Jug.

Alan Alger Betway Jordan Spieth arrives after a win and his ball-striking has been outstanding all season. At the prices he looks a very good bet.

Niall Lyons BoyleSports Zach Johnson is an Open specialist and having posted a top five in the States last week he is value at three- figure prices.

Tim Linch Coral Henrik Stenson. With windy conditions forecast you need to back great ball-strikers. He was third at Birkdale in 2008 and shook off the rust last week.

Mark Adshead William Hill It’s a very open tournament this year but Hideki Matsuyama should go well.

Brad Barry Ladbrokes Hideki Matsuyama is my pick to join the growing list of first-time Major winners. Putting will be the key to his chance

Paddy Power Paddy Power Matt Kuchar offers good value. A model of consistency, Kuch has managed a string of good finishes and can go well.

Tom Breese Sky Bet Sergio Garcia has the perfect game for links golf and should be well suited to Birkdale.

Tai Beck 188 Bet Justin Rose at any bigger than 20-1. His form at Royal Birkdale is as strong as anybody in this field and his game looks in great shape.

Jack Hunter Sporting Index Phil Mickelson. He has really good form at the Open, finishing second twice and winning once in the last six years.

2 Which players could go well at big prices?

DBWith their exceptional short games I’m sweet on the chances of Steve Stricker and Zach Johnson at tasty triple-figure prices.

RD Kyle Stanley and Kevin Chappell are both winners this season and can get into the mix at three-figure prices.

SC Zach Johnson is a proven winner on the big stage with a favourable course that is set up to suit his attributes.

SG Brian Harman, who was second in the US Open and won earlier in the season at the Wells Fargo Championship, should go well at three-figure odds.

AA In his best season on the European Tour, Peter Uihlein can seek inspiration from his best pal Brooks Koepka’s win at the US Open.

NL Marc Leishman plays this event well and has the talent to win it. Ryan Fox has posted two top-fives on links courses recently.

TL Taking advantage of the generous place terms on offer I’d back Zach Johnson, Matthieu Pavon and Paul Waring.

MA Daniel Berger. He didn’t do well at St Andrews in 2015, but he’s a far better player now and in good form. Tony Finau also ticks the boxes.

BB Steve Stricker continues to perform well in the big events. The enhanced place terms mean you don’t have to find the winner to secure a profit.

PP Daniel Berger has hit a spell of form, with three top-five finishes in his last four outings. Also Wesley Bryan at much bigger odds.

TBr Soren Kjeldsen has fared well in majors recently. Kjeldsen’s accuracy could be essential around a tight Birkdale.

TBe Ian Poulter, runner-up in a previous Birkdale Open, and Zach Johnson a former Open champion, are both worth a look.

JH Steve Stricker. The Open always throws in a good performance from a senior and Stricker is playing well on the Champions and PGA tours.

3 Who have your punters been backing?

DB Rickie Fowler, John Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood, while Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els have also had their supporters.

RD Rickie Fowler and Tommy Fleetwood were popular ante-post while Jordan Spieth has been all the rage this week.

SC Jon Rahm after his heroics in Port Stewart and strong showings throughout the year.

SGWe have been laying a wide range of players but the biggest liability so far is Tommy Fleetwood.

AA Recent winners and young upstarts Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood have been backed at much bigger prices than they are now.

NL Padraig Harrington is as popular as ever and LEE Westwood has also attracted some cash.

TL Ryan Fox after his great recent performances and Rafa Cabrera Bello after his win, plus Tommy Fleetwood and Dustin Johnson.

MA They have been backing Fowler, Rose, Fleetwood, Rahm, Garcia, Poulter and Harrington.

BB Ian Poulter has been popular following a return to form and Tommy Fleetwood has attracted continued support over the last couple of months.

PP Tommy Fleetwood. The local is playing the best golf of his life and has been backed in from over 100-1 earlier in the year to 25-1.

TBr Tommy Fleetwood has been very popular following his recent good form.

TBe Those we have deliberately been stand-out best price about. Sergio Garcia, Jon Rahm and Jason Day.

JHJon Rahm is one of the most talked-about golfers in the world. He has a serious amount of potential but is way too short for me.

4 Which of the big guns could struggle?

DB There are negatives against Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jason Day.

RD Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy appear to be struggling and it’s hard to see them involved.

SC Rory McIlroy looks like he might struggle. His recent form has been poor, and customers are swerving him.

SG Rory McIlroy could struggle after missing both recent cuts and he has looked poor since his return from injury.

AA Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson have suffered injury-hit seasons. It will be a big ask for them to recapture their best form.

NL Rory McIlroy has missed cuts in Ireland and Scotland while Dustin Johnson hasn’t played a lot of golf so I’d expect them to struggle.

TL Rory McIlroy has been out of sorts and Dustin Johnson has failed to rediscover his pre Masters form. John Rahm is still unproven on true links.

MA Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy are the ones at the front who seem to be struggling.

BB Rory McIlroy looks to have a mountain to climb to find his game and I’m not convinced Henrik Stenson is in the form to defend the Jug.

PP Rory McIlroy could easily struggle. Coming off a string of missed cuts and nursing a rib injury it is easy to oppose the four-time Major winner.

TBr Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy. Both players have struggled with form since returning from injury.

TBe Jon Rahm if his temperament overtakes the required patience and Sergio Garcia if his putting problems resurface.

JHRory McIlroy is coming off two missed cuts and the pressure is well and truly on him to bounce back.

5 What’s your best bet in any market?

DBRichie Ramsay in the top Scotsman market.

RD Brandt Snedeker each-way

SC Darren Clarke for top Irish player.

SG Brian Harman to finish in the Top 20.

AA Marc Leishman, has scored a win and two top-five finishes. He’s a good bet for top Australian with Jason Day and Adam Scott off the pace lately.

NL Old-timers look set to go well so I’d expect Steve Stricker to threaten a top-ten finish after tying for seventh in 2008.

TL Henrik Stenson each-way.

MA Lee Westwood for his customary Top-20 finish.

BB Ryan Fox to finish in the top 20.

PP Soren Kjeldsen to be Top Danish player. The word from the course is that he is in top shape and Thorbjorn Olesen may not be so happy.

TBrSteve Stricker each-way.

TBe I’d keep it simple – Justin Rose to win.

JH Ross Fisher in the top GB and Ireland market. In his last ten events he has had six top-ten finishes.