MacLean labeled Cameron Young the lone American he will back regardless of forecast, targeting a top-20 and sprinkling the 70-1 outright. Young has teed it up in three Open Championships and already owns two top-10 finishes plus a T31 last year, showing he can handle both benign and brutal links conditions. MacLean likes that Young consistently gains strokes off the tee, giving him scoring chances even when irons cool, and believes his comfort on firm, running turf sets him apart from other U.S. power players who struggle to flight the ball down. If the weather turns nasty, MacLean still trusts Young’s Open pedigree to cash placement tickets.

At a triple-digit 110-to-1, Steve MacLean sees Matt Wallace as a classic English grinder who could thrive if Portrush plays tough. Wallace has already shown major mettle this season—T17 at the PGA Championship and T23 at the U.S. Open—despite both layouts favoring bombers. MacLean pointed to Wallace’s tidy driving accuracy, proven patience in wind and extensive links background as reasons the number is too long. He suggested betting an each-way or top-40 and expects Wallace’s price to tighten once sharper bettors notice the course fit.

MacLean highlighted Jordan Smith as a sleeper who could pop if his Scottish Open form holds. Smith has been quietly piling up top-20s on the DP World Tour and was runner-up at last week’s BMW International Open. The Englishman’s game is built on fairway-finding and precise irons—traits MacLean values more than raw distance at Portrush, especially in cross-winds. Because books still price Smith like a fringe qualifier, MacLean likes sprinkling an outright ticket and backing him in placement markets once odds post after the Scottish Open.

Steve MacLean urged listeners to avoid Justin Thomas in all major-championship markets. Despite two career majors, Thomas has missed the cut in seven of his last ten majors and failed to finish better than T36 in that span. In 2024 alone he missed the cut at both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open after a mediocre T36 at Augusta. MacLean said Thomas never seems to deliver when bettors back him and therefore has created a personal three-year no-bet rule on JT until he shows real form. With links unpredictability adding another layer of variance, MacLean sees Thomas as a bankroll liability at Royal Portrush.

Steve MacLean said he will bet Scottie Scheffler to win the Claret Jug if the Open week forecast shows minimal wind. He argued that calm conditions remove much of the randomness that typically levels the playing field at this major, turning the event into a pure ball-striking test—Scheffler’s wheelhouse given his season-long dominance in strokes-gained tee-to-green and relentless run of top-5 finishes. MacLean called the tournament "wide open" in good weather but concluded Scheffler’s underlying metrics make him the clear play even at a short price, provided the wind cooperates.

Steve MacLean advised bettors to steer clear of Bryson DeChambeau at Royal Portrush. He noted that DeChambeau’s irons "haven't been dialed in all season" and that the former U.S. Open champ relies on a bomb-and-gouge style ill-suited to classic links golf. MacLean stressed that the Open demands artistry, flight-control and patience in wind and rain—traits European grinders possess but DeChambeau generally lacks. With American power players historically struggling on firm, windy links setups, MacLean sees little value in Bryson’s odds and recommends fading him in outright, placement and DFS builds.

Steve MacLean suggested that anyone who has not yet burned their yearly Tommy Fleetwood ticket should fire it at the 2025 Open Championship. MacLean reminded listeners that Fleetwood finished solo 2nd the last time Royal Portrush hosted the Open—proof that he is comfortable on this specific course. He added that links golf rewards creativity and accuracy rather than raw distance, a profile that matches Fleetwood’s steady tee-to-green game and European-grinder pedigree. With many of the market’s marquee names carrying form or injury concerns, MacLean believes Fleetwood’s course history, links experience and top-20 friendly skill set make him a justifiable outright or placement wager despite his long winless streak.