Rounding out the list, Myers likes Hatton at 25/1. The Englishman pushed the lead to the penultimate hole at Oakmont and finished T-6 at Portrush in 2019, signaling both form and course comfort. Myers did note Hatton’s combustible temperament, recounting a tense exchange with a reporter over ‘bad luck,’ but thinks that edge can fuel another Open run at a fair mid-tier price.

Myers slotted Hovland at 30/1, citing four top-four finishes in the past four major seasons, including a solo third at Oakmont. He admitted Hovland’s chipping remains a concern but argued that Open venues allow players to putt from tight fringes, mitigating the weakness. Given Hovland’s elite ball-striking, Myers believes the Norwegian is undervalued relative to his major track record.

Justin Rose cracked Myers’ top-10 because 60/1 feels long for a player who finished runner-up in last year’s Open and owns a major title. Myers warned that Rose has followed those back-to-back runner-up finishes with back-to-back missed cuts, underscoring the volatility. Still, at triple-digit implied odds, Myers thinks Rose offers high ceiling at a basement price.

Myers could not ignore a five-time major champion at a 45/1 price. Koepka’s best Open finish—T-4—came at Portrush in 2019, proving he can handle the layout. The ugly part: Koepka has zero top-10s in nine starts since hoisting the 2023 PGA, so backing him requires blind faith that the major mojo flicks back on. Myers believes the reward outweighs the risk.

Myers slotted Ludvig Aberg eighth at 28/1, arguing the 24-year-old Swede is destined to snag a major sooner rather than later. He likes Aberg’s power-driven profile for Portrush and the tidy number under 30/1. Myers did flag significant risk: Aberg missed the cut in his Open debut last year and in the two most recent majors this season, so bettors are banking on ceiling over proven pedigree.

At 25/1, Myers called Morikawa a classic buy-low. The two-time major winner already owns a claret jug and ranks among the game’s best iron players. Myers’ issue: Morikawa is outside the top-100 in strokes-gained putting, repeatedly squandering birdie looks. Two caddie changes in one year further hint at underlying frustration. Myers believes a neutral week on the greens could make 25/1 look silly, but the flatstick risk is real.

Lowry sits sixth on Myers’ card at 25/1 because he lifted the claret jug by six shots the last time the championship visited Portrush. Myers believes that level of course comfort is hard to price correctly. The downside: Lowry is mired in a mini-slump—missed cuts at both the U.S. Open and PGA Championship following a T-42 Masters. Myers cautions that backers must decide whether local vibes override current form.

Myers slotted Tommy Fleetwood fifth at 25/1, emphasizing his runner-up finish the last time Portrush hosted (2019) and his reputation for showing up every tournament without imploding. He believes the ‘golf gods’ owe Fleetwood after a heartbreaking loss at the Travelers. The knock is that Fleetwood simply does not win—zero PGA TOUR victories—leaving bettors to decide if course history and steadiness outweigh career closing issues.

Myers reminded bettors they seldom see Scottie Scheffler at 4.5/1 anywhere, let alone a major. He framed the world No. 1’s other-worldly tee-to-green consistency as worth swallowing such short odds. The caution flag: The Open is statistically Scheffler’s weakest major, a trend that partially explains the longer-than-usual number. Myers still prefers paying the premium rather than fading Scheffler outright.

Schauffele climbed to Myers’ third slot because his number moved from 20/1 to 25/1 after a winless spring. Myers reminded readers that Xander is the defending Champion Golfer of the Year and owns an excellent Open record. The red flag: Schauffele sits outside the top-100 in three of the four strokes-gained categories this season, a sign the slump is real. Still, Myers thinks a proven links resume combined with the longer price offsets those statistical concerns.

Myers recommended Rory McIlroy at 7/1, noting the Northern Irishman returns to his home country carrying three 2025 victories, including the season-opening Masters that completed his career Grand Slam. Myers views that résumé plus intimate Portrush knowledge as worth the short price. He did warn bettors that Rory has not lifted a trophy since Augusta and will shoulder massive hometown pressure, recalling the OB opening tee shot that triggered a missed cut here in 2019. Even so, Myers believes current form and narrative make him a justifiable favorite.

Alex Myers tabbed Jon Rahm as his No. 1 outright wager at Royal Portrush, pointing out that Rahm led the field tee-to-green during a T-7 finish at the U.S. Open but squandered chances with a frigid putter. Myers argued that elite ball-striking paired with negative putting variance is the classic buy signal, especially at DraftKings’ 14/1 price that is longer than fellow elites Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. He conceded Rahm’s Oakmont putting woes but framed them as a short-term blip, adding that the Spaniard is “over-due” for a fifth major.

Alex Myers considered Rory McIlroy the best bet to finally capture a Masters—and complete his career Grand Slam—given his ideal form entering Augusta. Myers specifically pointed to McIlroy's hot start in 2025, with notable victories already at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship, drawing a potential parallel to Scottie Scheffler's strong run prior to winning the 2024 Masters. Myers saw these successes and overall positive vibes around McIlroy providing him the best opportunity yet to break through his personal Augusta struggles in previous years.