2022 Open Championship: Expert Picks and Predictions For St. Andrews
The celebration that is the 150th Open Championship is just hours away now as the world’s best players tee it up at the home of golf for the final Major of the year.
As the legend, Jack Nicklaus once put it: “If you’re going to be a player people will remember, you have to win the Open at St. Andrews.” This is the one they all want to win, winning an Open Championship is special in its own right, winning The Open at St. Andrews, that is remarkable.
Come Sunday evening one player will be able to call himself ‘The Champion Golfer of the Year’ at the home of golf.
They will join legends of the game like Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Sam Snead, and Bobby Jones, to have won The Open on the hallowed grounds of the Old Course.
It is all set up to be an enthralling and historical week at St. Andrews, so without further ado, here is who our staff are picking to become the 150th ‘Champion Golf of the Year’.
Expert Picks and Predictions for The 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews.
Cameron Smith
The 2022 Players Champion is a popular pick amongst our experts to claim his first Major this week at the 150th Open Championship.
Bill Felber: “I feel bad for St. Andrews. It is a historic site, but out of date with the realities of the modern game. If the weather doesn’t rise up — I hope it does — the pros will treat it like Kapalua. Nos. 3, 5, 9, 10, 12, and 14 all will yield eagles.
Strangely, that means the tournament will be decided by the best-putting week. Although any of these guys can get hot with the putter, the three best bets in that respect are Justin Thomas, Cameron Smith, and Cameron Young. I will play a hunch and take Cam Smith.”
Matt Hupfer: “His driver might be his only weakness. St. Andrews has wide-open fairways so Smith won’t be able to get into too much trouble off the tee. The Old Course puts a premium on around the green, bunker play, putting, and approach. Those are Smith’s strengths and I expect him to at the very least be in the mix on the weekend.”
Will Zalatoris
Zalatoris has come up agonizingly short in back-to-back Majors now. Is it finally his time at the home of golf this week?. A couple of our experts believe Will finally gets over the line.
Jake Klausner: “You have to think he will be getting a major soon enough, and there is no reason to think he won’t get it this week. Despite a missed cut in last week’s Scottish Open, I still have a feeling that this week could be Zalatoris’ week, given his record in majors in the last couple of years.”
Mack Gordon: “I’m going to continue picking him until he gives me a reason not to. He’s been spectacular at the majors and I don’t expect him to stop here. Let’s see if he can finally grab his first major victory at the home of golf.”
Jon Rahm
Sean McCann: “There are only a few golfers that can withstand the extreme conditions that will be on display this week, and Rahm is one of them. The Spaniard has the most complete game on Tour and a flare for the dramatics on the main stage. Look for an international winner this weekend, with Rahm at the top of my list.”
Rory McIlroy
Josh Chandler: “‘Everything has led to this’ those words describe the 150th Open Championship, yet they could so easily apply to Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman last won in a Major back at the 2014 PGA Championship.
Signs have been promising, however, that the breakthrough is right around the corner after two top 5s and three top 10s in each of 2022’s first three Major Championships. McIlroy missed out on the Open Championship at St. Andrews last time. He will take full advantage at the home of golf this time around and end his Major drought.”
Xander Schauffele
Mike Randleman: “Xander Schauffele is hot at the right time. He took down a field featuring 14 of the top 15 ranked players in the world at last week’s Genesis Scottish Open and looked in control throughout much of the final round. You can’t ignore the run Schauffele’s been on the past few weeks.”
Patrick Cantlay
Hans Geevers: “The 2021 FedEx Cup champion arrives at this week’s major championship in outstanding form.”
Next. Crossing Swilcan Bridge at The Home Of Golf. dark
Jordan Spieth
Kathlene Bissell believes the 2017 Open Championship winner will get things figured out on the greens this week and claim the Claret Jug.