Top 10: Why each favorite will or won't win the Open Championship
The 146th Open Championship begins Thursday at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, with 156 players vying for the Claret Jug and title of "Champion Golfer of the Year."
Here's a breakdown of the 10 favorites at the Open:
Adam Scott
Odds: 25-1
Best result: Runner-up in 2012
Why he'll win: The Aussie has posted four top 10s in the last five years at the British Open - including a devastating solo second in 2012.
Why he won't win: Birkdale demands precision off the tee, and Scott is ranked 131st on tour this season in driving accuracy.
Tommy Fleetwood
Odds: 22-1
Best result: Missed cut in all three appearances
Why he'll win: Fleetwood recently won the French Open, and has finished in the top 10 in his last four tournaments.
Why he won't win: The local hero has never played the weekend at The Open in his career.
Hideki Matsuyama
Odds: 20-1
Best result: T-6 in 2013
Why he'll win: The world No. 2 has played well in the majors this season, finishing in a tie for 11th at The Masters, and grabbed a T-2 placing at Erin Hills.
Why he won't win: He's 181st in strokes gained with the putter this season.
Justin Rose
Odds: 20-1
Best result: T-4 in 1998 as an amateur
Why he'll win: Rose lost in a playoff at The Masters, and jump-started his career at Birkdale as a 17-year-old, holing an amazing shot at the 72nd hole to finish in a tie for fourth.
Why he won't win: T-65 is his best result since Augusta.
Rory McIlroy
Odds: 20-1
Best result: Won in 2014
Why he'll win: McIlroy has said he's close to putting the whole game together, and has too much talent to keep struggling.
Why he won't win: His putter and short game have been terrible since making an equipment switch in May. The four-time major winner has only made one cut in his last four starts.
Sergio Garcia
Odds: 18-1
Best result: Lost playoff in 2007, T-2 in 2014
Why he'll win: The reigning Masters champion has 10 top-10 results in the last 16 years at The Open.
Why he won't win: Garcia has never player well at Royal Birkdale, registering a T-29 result in 1998, and a T-51 showing in 2008.
Jon Rahm
Odds: 16-1
Best result: T-59 in 2016
Why he'll win: The Spaniard showed he can play links golf in Northern Ireland, lapping the field at the Irish Open.
Why he won't win: The British Open is all about handling your emotions, and Rahm wasn't able to manage them at THE PLAYERS or the U.S. Open.
Dustin Johnson
Odds: 16-1
Best result: T-2 in 2011
Why he'll win: He's world No. 1, thanks to three straight victories early in the season, and has made seven straight cuts in the British Open.
Why he won't win: DJ has missed the cut in his last two starts.
Rickie Fowler
Odds: 14-1
Best result: T-2 in 2014
Why he'll win: Fowler showed his solid links game at the Scottish Open, snagging a T-9 result in Troon last week. The 28-year-old American has been solid all season on tour with seven top-10 finishes in 14 starts.
Why he won't win: The title of "Best Player Never to Win a Major" is a difficult label to shed. Just ask Sergio.
Jordan Spieth
Odds: 14-1
Best result: T-4 in 2015
Why he'll win: He's got two wins this year, despite being in a "so-called" slump, and won in his last event played at the Travelers Championship.
Why he won't win: With the exception of 2015, Spieth has recorded finishes of T-44, T-36, and T-30.
(Odds courtesy: Bodog)
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)