Golf best bets: 3 outright bets to target for the Open Championship

We've made it to the final major championship of the year, and there's no shortage of storylines heading into this week's Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. Rory McIlroy, who won the Scottish Open last week and won his only Open Championship at Royal Liverpool nine years ago, is the betting favorite at +700 odds. Scottie Scheffler (+800), Jon Rahm (+1300), reigning champion Cameron Smith (+1600), and Brooks Koepka (+2000) round out the top of the odds board.

With the Open just a few days away, let's go through my three favorite outright bets for the fourth and final major of the season.

Scottie Scheffler (+800 BetMGM)

I normally stay away from the top of the odds board, but Scottie Scheffler is impossible to ignore this week. The World No. 1 has finished inside the top five in seven straight starts, and he hasn't finished worse than T12 since October. This week is going to be all about driving the ball long and straight, and no one does that better than Scheffler.

Scheffler ranks first on the PGA Tour this season in strokes gained: off the tee, and he ranks third in total driving. Coming off a week in which he finished second in the field to McIlroy in SG: tee to green in windy conditions, this is the perfect spot for Scheffler to cap off this dominant ball-striking stretch with a second major victory.

Talor Gooch (+8000 FanDuel)

Since we're rolling with Scheffler at the top of the odds board, we have to target some longer shots to even out our betting card. That brings us to Talor Gooch at 80/1 odds.

All the talk about LIV Golf's chances this week has focused on Smith and Koepka, but Gooch has played better than both golfers this season. In nine starts for LIV Golf dating back to February, Gooch has three wins and three more top-15 finishes. He also has a decent Open Championship record with two top-35 finishes in two starts. Gooch is worth a sprinkle at this price.

Corey Conners (+10000 FD)

This is a perfect Open Championship venue for Corey Conners. Royal Liverpool demands accuracy off the tee and precise ball striking approaching these greens, and that's where Conners thrives. The Canadian has gained strokes off the tee in 11 straight starts despite being a shorter hitter, and he ranks 11th on Tour in SG: approach this year. 

Conners will get himself into contention by peppering fairways and greens, and if the putter shows up at Hoylake, he'll have a great chance to win.