Tom Jacobs said Daniel Hillier is his favorite long-shot to simply make the weekend and potentially crack the top-30. The Kiwi grew up on wind-swept New Zealand coastlines, owns a top-20 in last year’s Open, and finished runner-up to Tyrrell Hatton at the Bios Desit Classic in a field that also featured Rory, Fleetwood, and MacIntyre. Hillier has additional top-20s at the Alfred Dunhill Links and the BMW PGA at Wentworth, confirming he can hang in strong European fields. Although he missed the cut at the Scottish Open, Jacobs views that as noise given his prior links pedigree. With triple-digit odds and near-minimum DFS pricing, Jacobs recommended Hillier for cut-maker parlays, top-40 wagers, and salary relief in DraftKings lineups.

Niall Lyons said Daniel Hillier remains worth a flutter at triple-digit odds despite spotty form. Lyons conceded Hillier’s around-the-green numbers have been “suspect at times” and that his approach play was dreadful in Germany, but argued Royal Portrush can be a great equaliser. Hillier grew up on firm, wind-whipped tracks, embraces difficult weather rather than complaining about it, and already owns big-stage proof points—a runner-up behind Tyrrell Hatton in Dubai plus a T-20 in last year’s Open. Lyons expects the Kiwi’s comfort in links surroundings and willingness to fly shots onto elevated greens to mask recent weaknesses, giving him live top-20 and each-way upside at 250-1 ranges.

Pat Mayo admitted Daniel Hillier’s stat sheet looks ugly right now but still views the Kiwi as a buy-low dice-roll at Portrush. Hillier finished T-20 in last year’s Open, was runner-up to Tyrrell Hatton at the Dubai Desert Classic in a field that included Rory McIlroy, and holds top-20s at both Wentworth and the Alfred Dunhill Links. Mayo likes that Hillier grew up on firm, windy tracks in Australia and New Zealand and occasionally flashes elite ball-striking—‘when it’s on he hits it to two feet all day.’ While the putter and short game remain volatile, Mayo argues slower Open greens and tightly-mown run-offs can equalize weaknesses. At 250-1 with eight-place each-ways, he is willing to overlook recent missed cuts and take Hillier for small outright and top-20 tickets, hoping the ceiling version shows up.