British Open
July 19th – 22nd, 2018
Carnoustie Golf Links
Carnoustie, Scotland
Par: 71 / Yardage: 7,402
Purse: $10.5 million
with $1,890,000 to the winner
Defending Champion:
Jordan Spieth

This week’s field includes:
The field includes 88 of the top 100 and 78 of the top 78 in the latest Official World Rankings. Of those between 79 and 100, that not in the field are #79 Adrian Otagegui, #83 J.B. Holmes, #85 Aaron Wise, #86 Bernd Wiesberger, #88 Joost Luiten, #91 James Hahn, #92 Ted Potter, Jr., #95 Jamie Lovemark, #96 Jamie Lovemark, #96 Mikko Korhonen, #97 Seungsu Hen, #98 Billy Horschel and #99 Shugo Imahira.
The field includes 24 of the top 25 on the FedEx point standings for 2018. Those players not in the field are #25 Aaron Wise.
The field includes 15 past Open champions: Jordan Spieth (2017), Henrik Stenson (2016), Zach Johnson (2015), Rory McIlroy (2014), Phil Mickelson (2013), Ernie Els (2012 & ’02), Darren Clarke (2011),Louis Oosthuizen (2010), Stewart Cink (2009), Padraig Harrington (2007 & ’08), Tiger Woods (2000, ’05 & ’06) Todd Hamilton (2004), David Duval (2001), Tom Lehman (1996) and Sandy Lyle (1985).
A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the British Open field is our performance chart listed by the average finish. Another way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at the British Open in the last five years or check out our sortable 8-year glance at the British Open.
A good cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmakers in England.
Another cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmaker in Las Vegas.
Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:
Who’s Hot in the field for the British Open
Player | John Deere | Scottish Open | Greenbrier | Irish Open | Quicken Loans | French Open | Travelers | BMW Inter. | U.S. Open | FedEx St. Jude | Memorial | BMW PGA | Fort Worth |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Francesco Molinari (331.33 pts) |
T2 (100) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | Win (132) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T25 (33.33) |
DNP | DNP | Win (66) |
DNP |
Russell Knox (303.67 pts) |
DNP | T49 (1) |
DNP | Win (132) |
DNP | T2 (100) |
T38 (8) |
DNP | T12 (50.67) |
DNP | T44 (2) |
DNP | T20 (10) |
Brooks Koepka (243.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T19 (20.67) |
DNP | Win (176) |
T30 (13.33) |
DNP | DNP | 2 (33.33) |
Dustin Johnson (224.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 3 (120) |
Win (88) |
T8 (16.67) |
DNP | DNP |
Alex Noren (210.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | Win (132) |
DNP | DNP | T25 (33.33) |
DNP | DNP | T3 (45) |
DNP |
Ryan Fox (181.5 pts) |
DNP | T6 (60) |
DNP | 2 (100) |
DNP | T44 (6) |
DNP | DNP | T41 (12) |
DNP | DNP | T43 (3.5) |
DNP |
Bronson Burgoon (166.67 pts) |
T2 (100) |
DNP | T30 (20) |
DNP | T6 (60) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Rickie Fowler (166.67 pts) |
DNP | T6 (60) |
DNP | DNP | 12 (38) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T20 (40) |
DNP | T8 (16.67) |
DNP | T14 (12) |
Jorge Campillo (164.33 pts) |
DNP | T32 (18) |
DNP | 3 (90) |
DNP | T8 (50) |
DNP | T33 (11.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-5) |
DNP |
Justin Rose (162.33 pts) |
DNP | T9 (45) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T10 (53.33) |
DNP | T6 (20) |
DNP | Win (44) |
Jon Rahm (160 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T4 (80) |
DNP | T5 (70) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-13.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T5 (23.33) |
Kevin Na (155.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | Win (132) |
DNP | T64 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | 4 (26.67) |
Tyrrell Hatton (154 pts) |
DNP | T9 (45) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T16 (34) |
DNP | DNP | T6 (80) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-5) |
DNP |
Ryan Armour (150 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T21 (29) |
DNP | 2 (100) |
DNP | T56 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T23 (9) |
DNP | T14 (12) |
Chris Wood (148.83 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | T14 (36) |
DNP | T2 (100) |
DNP | T33 (11.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T27 (11.5) |
DNP |
Stewart Cink (143.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T23 (27) |
DNP | T2 (66.67) |
DNP | DNP | T4 (53.33) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | T58 (0) |
Alexander Bjork (139.83 pts) |
DNP | T19 (31) |
DNP | T14 (36) |
DNP | T8 (50) |
DNP | T33 (11.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T27 (11.5) |
DNP |
Tommy Fleetwood (138.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | T59 (0) |
2 (133.33) |
DNP | DNP | T20 (15) |
DNP |
Patrick Reed (134 pts) |
DNP | T23 (27) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | 4 (106.67) |
DNP | T29 (7) |
DNP | DNP |
Beau Hossler (128.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T6 (60) |
DNP | T2 (66.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T44 (2) |
DNP | T64 (0) |
Brandt Snedeker (128.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T3 (90) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | T48 (2.67) |
T6 (40) |
DNP | DNP | T42 (2.67) |
Tony Finau (128 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T21 (29) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | 5 (93.33) |
CUT (-6.67) |
T13 (12.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Paul Casey (127 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T2 (66.67) |
DNP | T16 (45.33) |
DNP | DNP | T20 (15) |
DNP |
Michael Kim (126.67 pts) |
Win (132) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | T18 (21.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP |
Matthew Fitzpatrick (124.67 pts) |
DNP | T14 (36) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | T27 (23) |
DNP | DNP | T12 (50.67) |
DNP | DNP | T8 (25) |
DNP |
Julian Suri (123.5 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | 27 (23) |
DNP | T2 (100) |
DNP | T51 (0) |
DNP | DNP | T29 (7) |
T43 (3.5) |
DNP |
Russell Henley (120.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | 10 (40) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T6 (40) |
DNP | T25 (33.33) |
DNP | T29 (7) |
DNP | T58 (0) |
Andy Sullivan (116.5 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | T6 (60) |
DNP | T21 (29) |
DNP | T9 (30) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T35 (7.5) |
DNP |
Brandon Stone (115.33 pts) |
DNP | Win (132) |
DNP | T69 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T60 (0) |
DNP |
Bubba Watson (113.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | T13 (37) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | Win (88) |
DNP | CUT (-13.33) |
DNP | T44 (2) |
DNP | DNP |
Austin Cook (112.67 pts) |
T34 (16) |
DNP | T5 (70) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | T6 (40) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Henrik Stenson (108.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T6 (80) |
T26 (16) |
T13 (12.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Zach Johnson (105.33 pts) |
T16 (34) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T19 (20.67) |
DNP | T12 (50.67) |
DNP | T40 (3.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
Thomas Pieters (105.33 pts) |
DNP | T6 (60) |
DNP | T40 (10) |
DNP | T31 (19) |
DNP | T18 (21.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-5) |
DNP |
Bryson DeChambeau (105 pts) |
WD (-5) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T9 (30) |
DNP | T25 (33.33) |
DNP | Win (44) |
DNP | T42 (2.67) |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who’s Not Hot in the field for the British Open
Player | John Deere | Scottish Open | Greenbrier | Irish Open | Quicken Loans | French Open | Travelers | BMW Inter. | U.S. Open | FedEx St. Jude | Memorial | BMW PGA | Fort Worth |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ernie Els (-38.33 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-13.33) |
DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
CUT (-5) |
DNP |
Jonas Blixt (-30 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
CUT (-10) |
DNP | T53 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Brett Rumford (-25 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | T61 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-5) |
DNP |
Padraig Harrington (-25 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | 74 (0) |
DNP | DNP | T56 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-5) |
DNP |
Alexander Levy (-23.33 pts) |
DNP | T55 (0) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | 65 (0) |
DNP | DNP | CUT (-13.33) |
DNP | DNP | T52 (0) |
DNP |
Darren Clarke (-20 pts) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | CUT (-10) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Lucas Herbert (-20 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-6.67) |
CUT (-13.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Charl Schwartzel (-16.67 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-13.33) |
72 (0) |
CUT (-3.33) |
DNP | DNP |
Shota Akiyoshi (-13.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-13.33) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP |
Kevin Kisner (-13.33 pts) |
DNP | DNP | 55 (0) |
DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT (-13.33) |
DNP | T74 (0) |
DNP | T52 (0) |
How Player Rankings are Computed
Who to watch for at the British Open
Best Bets:
Dustin Johnson
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T54 | T9 | T49 | T12 | T32 | T9 | T2 | T14 | CUT |
Again he is the best player on planet golf right now and should win if he can putt.
Justin Rose
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T54 | T22 | T6 | T23 | CUT | CUT | T44 | CUT | T13 | T70 | T12 |
The guy has been the most consistent player on tour, he is due another major and would love to do it in Scotland.
Tommy Fleetwood
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T27 | CUT | CUT | CUT |
He is the best player on the European Tour and showed at Shinnecock that he can win, just needs a bit of luck.
Best of the rest:
Sergio Garcia
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T37 | T5 | T6 | T2 | T21 | CUT | T9 | T14 | T38 | T51 | 2 | T5 |
Forget his terrible play, if you look at his last two starts he is getting into shape.
Ricky Fowler
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time playing in this event |
More info:
We say this every time he plays, one day he will walk into a big win and that could be this week. He has had very little attention thrown upon him this week which should be good.
Francesco Molinari
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | T36 | T40 | T15 | T9 | T39 | CUT | CUT | T13 | CUT |
Look at what he has done in the last five weeks, this guy is on fire and that could include and spill over to this week.
Tiger Woods
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | 69 | T6 | T3 | T23 | CUT | T12 | Win |
Yes it’s his time to really shine, he feels that the British is the easiest of the majors for him to win and I think he will shine, (I hope).
Solid contenders
Marc Leishman
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T6 | T53 | T2 | T5 | CUT | CUT | T60 |
Guy is someone that will play well this week, he is very talked about and we should talk more about him.
Patrick Reed
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | T12 | T20 | CUT |
Goes under the radar screen again, this guy is good on any type of course.
Paul Casey
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T11 | CUT | T74 | T47 | CUT | T54 | T3 | T47 | T7 | T27 | 71 |
We have to talk about him, he is one of the best players that probably can’t win, but will try.
Tyrrell Hatton
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | T5 | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT |
Always seems to do well on links-style courses.
Alex Noren
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T6 | T46 | WD | T9 | CUT | CUT | T19 |
Another guy that doesn’t get the respect he deserves, look for a good week from him.
Long shots that could come through:
Ian Poulter
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T14 | CUT | CUT | T3 | T9 | CUT | T60 | CUT | 2 | T27 | CUT |
Yes watch out for him could be good.
Lee Westwood
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T27 | T22 | T49 | CUT | T3 | T45 | CUT | 2 | T3 | T67 | T35 | T31 |
Probably can’t win but could pull off a big top-ten finish
Alex Levy
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First time playing in this event |
More info:
This guy seems to give a good performance each week he plays.
Worst Bets:
Phil Mickelson
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CUT | 2 | T20 | T23 | Win | CUT | T2 | T48 | T19 | CUT | T22 |
Nobody cares anymore about him, his game is not sharp now.
Henrik Stenson
2018 | ’17 | ’16 | ’15 | ’14 | ’13 | ’12 | ’11 | ’10 | ’09 | ’08 | ’07 | ’06 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T11 | Win | T40 | T39 | 2 | 68 | T3 | T13 | T3 | CUT | T48 |
Sorry but too much hype is doing him in, won’t play well this week.
Jon Rahm!!
Sal- Loved your stories of the early days! Congrats on 41 “Opens” , I will miss our conversations this week…our own tradition of talking on radio ends after 16 + years! Enjoy!
Can’t believe that the KJRKO in Washington is so stupid to want to end a great sports show for country music. Sign of the times.
Great Carnoustie nostalgia Sal. Thanks for sharing.
Who by the way hasn’t spent the night in their car at a golf course.
Have a great week!