Justin Thomas given 14-1 odds to win 150th Open Championship
Two months after winning his second career major, former Alabama golfer Justin Thomas has been given better odds to win the British Open than the event's defending champion.
According to Caesars Sportsbook, Thomas's odds of winning his second major of 2022 are 14-1. The 2021 Open Championship winner, Collin Morikawa, has been given 18-1 odds. Thomas had a tough go of the U.S. Open in June, but beat Will Zalatoris in a playoff to take the PGA Championship in May. Morikawa tied for fifth at the U.S. Open. Thomas wound up at 7-over for a T37 finish.
The first major win of his career came in 2017, also at the PGA Championship. The best Open finish of Thomas's career was T11 in 2019.
The betting favorite for the British Open is Rory McIlroy, at 9-1 odds. McIlroy has not won a major since the 2014 Open. The other golfers ahead of Thomas are Jon Rahm and world number one Scottie Scheffler. Thomas remains entrenched at five in the Official World Golf Ranking. McIlroy and Rahm are second and third, respectively.
Tiger Woods will also make his return at the Open after withdrawing from the PGA Tour and missing the U.S. Open. He managed to make the cut at the Masters in April and seeks a fourth career Open victory, and the third at St Andrews.
The Open Championship is set to begin on Thursday, July 14, at Scotland's The Old Course at St Andrews. By day's end on July 17, the winner will hoist the Claret Jug. If Thomas can do it, he'll join an elite group of golf pros to win two majors in one calendar year.