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With three PGA Majors completed, it's time for the Open Championship, the final Major of the season. The tournament will be a four-day event from July 18 to 21. As the head-to-head battle takes place this week, the golf community is picking the popular names but some less popular golfers might also surprise.
The field of the Open Championship has 158 players in total. The top-tier players are Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Scottie Scheffler, Tiger Woods, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and more. Reigning champion Brian Harman will take the field to defend his title.
Apart from these famous names, others might surprise as well. Here's a list of the five sleeper picks for the Open Championship.
Five sleeper picks for the Open Championship
#1 Sungjae Im
The odds for Sungjae Im to win is +5500, as per CBS Sports. The golfer had nine top-20 finishes this year. The list includes signature events like the Sentry, where he landed at T5. Then, the list also has the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Memorial Tournament, where he finished at T18 and T8, respectively.
His last signature event was the Travelers Championship, where he clinched T3. His last performance at the Genesis Scottish Open was exceptional as it helped him secure T4. Sungjae Im is in good form and the Korean player might surprise the golf world.
#2 Akshay Bhatia
His odds to win are +10000 at the Open Championship. Akshay Bhatia has won only one tournament so far this season. He clinched the cup at the Valero Texas Open with 63-70-68-67. Apart from that, he had 10 top-20 finishes this season. The list includes a T16 position at the US Open, where Bryson DeChambeau won the title. The list also includes signature events like the Sentry, the RBC Heritage, and the Travelers Championship.
At the Sentry, he landed at T14, followed by a T18 at the RBC Heritage and T5 at the Travelers Championship.
#3 Keegan Bradley
The odds to win for Keegan Bradley are +17000. The golfer had runner-up finishes throughout the season. He finished T2 at the Sony Open in Hawaii and the Charles Schwab Challenge. Apart from that, his other remarkable performances were at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he landed at T11.
At the PGA Championship Bradley finished at T18. The American might be looking out for a trophy at Royal Troon.
#4 Justin Rose
The odds of Justin Rose clinching the Open title are +15000. His best finish was T6 at the PGA Championship. Apart from that, he enjoyed a T11 finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
#5 Matthieu Pavon
He has won one tournament so far this season. He triumphed at the Farmers Insurance Open and claimed the title. Other than that, he had six best 10 finishes, including the T5 at the US Open, where he played exceptionally well.
These golfers will be competing for a purse of $17 million at the Open Championship this year.
