The Open 2023 – Event Overview
As the 151st Open Championship at the historic Royal Liverpool Golf Club draws near, the world of golf is abuzz with anticipation. Who will rise to the challenge, navigate the course’s unique obstacles, and emerge as the “Champion Golfer of the Year”? Will it be a familiar face, or will a new star rise to the occasion?
The Royal Liverpool Golf Club, known for its demanding seaside links course, is set to test the mettle of the world’s best golfers. The unpredictable weather, the course’s unique layout, and the added length and difficulty since the last Open Championship held here make for a thrilling spectacle. The wind off the Irish Sea, the narrow fairways, and the unforgiving rough are all part of the challenge that awaits.
Rising stars like Min Woo Lee and Max Homa, or dark horses like Ryan Fox and Lucas Herbert, are all names to watch out for. Min Woo Lee, the young Australian golfer, has shown great promise, and Max Homa, the American professional golfer, has been making waves on the PGA Tour. Ryan Fox, the New Zealand professional golfer known for his long drives, and Lucas Herbert, another talented Australian golfer, are both capable of causing an upset.
As we approach the 151st Open Championship, the question on everyone’s mind is, “Who will lift the Claret Jug this year?” Will it be a rising star like Min Woo Lee, a dark horse like Ryan Fox or Lucas Herbert, or a seasoned pro with a proven track record at The Open like Rory or Jordan Speith? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: the Royal Liverpool Golf Club is set to provide a spectacular backdrop to what promises to be a thrilling display of golf.
Here at Gingerbets, we have broken down all the key stats to save you time and make you more informed when placing your bets this week
The Open 2023 – Event & Course Details
| Course: | Royal Liverpool, Hoylake |
| Location: | North West England – Hoylake |
| Date: | 20th – 23rd July 2023 |
| Par: | 71 |
| Yardage: | 7,390 |
| Purse: | $10 Million / Winner $2.1 |
| Fairways/Rough: | Fescue |
| Greens: | Fescue/Bentgrass/Poa |
| Defending Champion: | Cam Smith 2022 |
Key Skill Sets Required
01. Current Form/Open Form
Looking back at results, since 2013 the winner of this event has had a top-ten finish in one of their last five events. Five of the last nine winners arrived with a win under their belt in their last five starts. Arriving at The Open in good form is a necessity if you wish to lift the Claret Jug. 9 of the last 12 Open Champions had all previously secured at least a top-10 in this event in their careers – the exception to that rule being Louis in 2010 & Collin and Cam in the last few years so perhaps Open form is less vital than in years gone by, nevertheless, current form is a must.
02. SG Off The Tee
Tiger Wood Famous won here in 2006 and only hit driver on 1 occasion through the 72 holes, however, Rory ranked 1st in Driving Distance on route to victory in 2014. Royal Liverpool certainly favours players who are long and accurate off the tee box. Most Majors now place a huge emphasis on length, this week tho do consider your more accurate players as missing the fairway bunker will give players a considerable edge over the field. Tiger hit 85% of fairways in 2006 ranking 1st and Rory also ranked in the top 20 for accuracy of the tee en route to victory in 2014. The winner this week will most definitely gain strokes off the tee. A combination of length and missing the fairways in the right play will be required.
03. Par 5 Scoring
Tiger played them 14 under par in 2006 and I expect the winner in 2023 will have to play the double digits under par. They have been lengthened since the last time players teed it up here but still expect the winner to dominate the par 5 scoring this week.
04. SG Approach Play
Winning a Major Championship demands elite-level iron play throughout the bag. With winning scores of 18 under par, and 17 under par winning in 2006 and 2014. A winning score greater than 10 under par is expected. Players will be required to hit their 2nd shots close to the pins that are there to attack and create plenty of birdie looks.
05. SG Scrambling
Taking down a major championship requires elite-level T2G performance on the week, but that alone isn’t always enough to get the job done. The stats suggest that gaining strokes scrambling over the course of the week will significantly enhance your chance as demonstrated by Cam Smith last year who got up and down 75% of the time throughout the week. I want players onside who have a proven ability or are underrated in this area, ones like Bryson.
06. SG Putting
This week the players encounter some of the slowest they face all year round. A final tick point is to look for those who putt well on the slow greens across the PGA tour or in fact previous Open Championships. Last year’s winner ranked 1st in SG putting across the week.
Best Outsider to consider
01. Wyndham Clarke 50/1 Each Way
- Arrives off a solid showing at the Scottish Open. His finishing position undervalued the quality of his game where he ranked in the top 5 for Ball Striking on the week, ranked in the top 10 for GIR gained and Approach play.
- He is a 2-time winner already this year including winning the US Open.
- He is dominating with Iron in hand over the past 3 months where he ranks as one of the best ball strikers in the world.
- 5 top 5 finishes in his last 10 events.
- Has the ability to go low if the wind stays down, and if the wind picks up can hit low penetrating ball flights.
- He lacks links experience he did make the cut last year on debut. Driving distance will be important this week and given the shape of his overall game and confidence levels right now it wouldn’t surprise me if he was missed by the market because it’s an Open, a hot start should see him right up that leaderboard. Links form has been less of a requirement over recent renewal – Cam Smith and Collin didn’t have any of note, nor did last year’s runner-up Cam Young, he fits a similar mold to Young with PGA Tour wins and Mojr wins to his name.
02. Bryson DeChampbeau 66/1 Each Way
- Best placed 8th at The Open last year, meeting the criteria of having had a top 10 previously at the Open, only 2 of the last 13 winners have won and not had a top 10 previously.
- 6 Top 20 finishes in a row leading into the event.
- He arrives injury free for the first time in many months, he has also improved in one key area of his game, Driving Accuracy, since he has slimmed down and got back to playing proper golf he has been using his driver to find fairways with regulatory.
- He has the temperament and mentality to take down a Major as he proved at the US Open a few years back.
- A player who excels on Par 5’s, they will be key in determining the winner this week.
- One of the world’s best putters from inside 10ft, holding out from inside 10ft is of paramount importance if you want to be named “Champion Golfer Of The Year”.
03. Jordan Smith 350/1 Each Way
- He arrives in solid form after a solid showing at the Scottish Open finishing in the Top 20.
- He ranked in the Top 10 for Ball Striking on the week, this will give him real comfort as he heads into the major that will suit him most.
- He ranked 3rd in GIR gained last week a top 10 in that category this week will see him having a much bigger chance than his odds suggest of a place payout.
- Dominates par 5 scoring, 3rd on the European tour over the last 12 months.
- He will have to start hot to contend, he is also a confident top-20 play in my portfolio.
Top 20
- Dustin Johnson
- Tyrell Hatton
- Jordan Smith
Scottish Open 2023 – Best Outright Picks
01. Scottie Scheffler 9/1 Win Only
- World’s number one and most consistent golfer on the planet.
- Arrives here on the back of 7 top 5 finishes in a row, with tiger-like consistency.
- The best T2G player on the Planet, The best iron player on the planet, a superb short game, stacks up well for any event.
- The temperament to match the skill set.
- 12th here on his first visit to the track, proven on the links layout. Coped well with conditions last week in Scotland where the wind blew.
- Top 10 at The Open Championship in 2021 and 21st in 2022, shows he can handle these conditions.
- He can control his ball flight off the tee and with iron in hand and shapes the ball both ways with comfort.
- Will the FLATSTICK work?? The one to beat!
02. Collin Morikawa 33/1 Each Way
- A Open Championship to his name already.
- 2 top 20’s in Majors this season despite being slightly out of form.
- Back doing Collin things of late. Gained strokes with his approach play in 19 of his last 20 events, gaining over 1.5strokes per round in his last 4 events.
- One the of the most accurate drivers of the ball in the field, which sets up well around Royal Liverpool.
- Putting often his achilles heel, well he has gained strokes vs the field average in each of his last 4 events.
- A major champ with a major mentality and the game to match. If Collin can bring his A game this event is well with reach at very attractive odds.
03. Dustin Johnson 33/1 Each Way
- Best Placed finish of 2nd at The Open in 2011, he has 5 other Top 10 finishes to his name showing his game fits perfectly well with Links conditions.
- Arrives off the back of 3 top-10 finishes in a row across LIV Golf and the US Open, the game is “Trending”.
- A long straight driver of the ball who consistently gains strokes off the tee box, a key factor to success here at Hoylake.
- He has the mentality I like for Open Championships, if the wind blows or the sun is shining DJ’s mindset remains consistent. His attitude sets up well for the uncertainty of Open Championships conditions.
04. Tyrell Hatton 28/1 Each Way
- A best of 5th at The Open in 2016, 6th in 2019, and 11th last year.
- 6 top 20 finishes in his last 7 events worldwide.
- Arrives off the back of a top 6 finish at the Scottish Open last week.
- A super straight ball shape off the tee and with iron in hand, I believe that holds him back on some major venues like Augusta, however here I believe it’s a massive strength. This course is there to see off the tee and requires little shaping of the ball. Hatton is one of if not the straightest players on tour when it comes to ball manipulation.
- Putting exceptionally well of late gaining strokes over the field in 9 of his last 10 events a stroke per round on the field, if he continues to putt well this week he has an outstanding chance of claiming his first major championship.
