Steve Bamford

Steve Bamford's Open Championship Longshots 2022

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With the leading bookmakers all keen to get your business, the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews makes for an exciting punting proposition this week. With a record-breaking 12 places each way at 1/5 odds available for the first time ever with both Betfair Sportsbook and Paddy Power, finding a value outsider is a tactic that’s potentially packed full of profit this week.

Some players simply can’t handle links-style golf where the ability to grind in bad weather, or score in calm conditions, is paramount. In reality this is probably the most likely of all Majors to produce a long-priced, even 3-figure winner, as per Louis Oosthuizen in 2010, Darren Clarke here in 2011 and Zach Johnson in 2015. The last few years have produced the following outsiders, each of whom finished in the top 7:

  • 2021: Dylan Frittelli (275/1 5th); Mackenzie Hughes (350/1 6th).
  • 2019:  Tony Finau (80/1 3rd); Lee Westwood (110/1 4th); Tyrrell Hatton (90/1 6th); Robert MacIntyre (200/1 6th);  Danny Willett (125/1 6th).
  • 2018: Xander Schauffele (110/1 2nd); Kevin Kisner (300/1 2nd); Kevin Chappell (250/1, 6th); Eddie Pepperell (175/1 6th).
  • 2017: Hao-tong Li (300/1 3rd).
  • 2016: J.B. Holmes (200/1 3rd), Steve Stricker (250/1 4th), Tyrrell Hatton (175/1 5th)
  • 2015: Zach Johnson (110/1 Winner); Marc Leishman (250/1 2nd); Danny Willet (125/1 6th); Jordan Niebrugge (1000/1 6th).
  • 2014: Marc Leishman (150/1 5th); Edoardo Molinari (200/1 7th).
  • 2013: Hideki Matsuyama (250/1 6th).
  • 2012: Brandt Snedeker (175/1 3rd).
  • 2011: Darren Clarke (200/1 – Winner); Thomas Bjorn (200/1); Chad Campbell (250/1); Anthony Kim (175/1) – all finished 5th.
  • 2010: Louis Oosthuizen (250/1 – Winner); Henrik Stenson (100/1 3rd); Nick Watney (125/1) & Robert Rock (300/1) – both finished 7th.
  • 2009: Stewart Cink (175/1 – Winner); Tom Watson (750/1 2nd); Chris Wood (500/1 3rd).

betfair All-Time Record 12 Places Each-Way at 1/5 Odds Terms at the 2022 Open Championship with Betfair Sportsbook

Betfair Sportsbook at the 2022 Open Championship are offering an all-time record 12 places each-way at 1/5 odds. It’s a great time to join them as they have just launched a brand new, Bet £10, Get £30 of Free Bets Sign-Up Offer for new customers 18+, which is Bet €10, Get €30 of Free Bets for those in the Republic of Ireland.

✅ Bet £10 get £30 in free bets for new customers using code ZBGC01 and this qualifying link
✅ For further details read our Betfair sign up offer page
✅ Bet on Betfair fixed odds sportsbook or Betfair Exchange from a single account
✅ Offered 12 places each-way 1/5 odds at the 2022 Open Championship

Betfair New Customer Offer: Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly. #Ad

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boylesports 11 Places Each-Way at the 2022 Open Championship with Boylesports

Boylesports are leading the way in 2022 for additional golf each-way places across the PGA/DP World Tours combined, and this week at The Open are offering a huge 11 places each-way at 1/5 odds. They are now a must for golf punters who want maximum each-way return opportunities. If you haven’t already got a Boylesports account then new customers, both sides of the Irish Sea, can access their specific new customer offer using the links below:

✅ Bet £10 Get £10 for new mobile customers using this qualifying link
✅ For further details read our Boylesports sign up offer page
✅ Regularly extending full-field PGA Tour events to 8 places each-way in 2021
✅ Offered 10 places each-way 1/5 odds at the 2020 PGA Championship, US Open & Masters

Boylesports UK New Customer Offer: 18+. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. First bet only. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. UK customers (Excluding NI) only. One Free Bet offer per customer, household and IP Address only. T&Cs apply. #Ad

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✅ Bet €10 get €40 in bonuses for new Irish customers using this qualifying link
✅ Regularly extending full-field PGA Tour events on their Main Outright market to 8 places each-way
✅ ‘Pick Your Place’ promotion where you choose between 6, 10 or 12 places each way
✅ Offered up to 12 places each-way 1/5 odds at all 4 Majors in 2023

New Customer Offer. IRE/NI new customers only. €/£40 in FREE Bets (FB) as €/£30 in sports bets & a €/£10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit €/£10. Min stake €/£10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept €/£10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable €/£100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. T&Cs apply. #Ad

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bet365 have also upped their game for the 2022 Open and as they have done for every Major Championship this year, they are offering standard  8 places each-way at 1/5 odds, plus some market-leading odds.

bet365 8 Places Each-Way at the 2022 Open Championship with bet365

bet365 are offering a superb balance this week at The 2022 Masters, with market-best odds on a whole host of leading players, plus extended 8 places each-way at 1/5 odds. Brand new customers, 18+, receive a fantastic Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets:

✅ Bet £10 get £50 in free bets for new customers
✅ Bonus code SPORT50 can be used, but does not change the offer amount in any way
✅ For further details read our bet365 new customer offer page
✅ Early odds available each week on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour
✅ ‘Each Way Extra’ promotion where you can choose between 3, 8, 10 or 12 places each way

bet365 New Customer Offer: New Customers only. Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5 and £10 to your account and bet365 will give you five times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration required. The bonus code SPORT50 can be used during registration, but does not change the offer amount in any way. #Ad

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Seamus Power 1pt EW 100/1 (12EW, 1/5) with Betfair Sportsbook

Paul Williams has given us his view of the outright Open Championship market in his preview here, and I know it’s cheeky but, like Paul, I cannot resist Seamus Power at triple-digits.

2022 has been a great year for the Waterford 35 year-old, who has solidified a place in the OWGR top 50. A Quarter Finalist at the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play, 27th on his debut at Augusta National, 9th at the PGA Championship and 12th at the U.S. Open have been his efforts at the biggest events in 2022. And now the World Number 37 makes his Open Championship debut at St Andrews, after finishing 30th at the Irish Open and 15th at the J.P. McManus Pro-AM.

Focussing his career in the United States since attending East Tennessee State University, Seamus has often shown a liking for coastal tests on the PGA Tour. 5th at Corales (2018), 6th at Harbour Town (2019), 4th at Sea Island (2021) 3rd at Waialae (2022) and 9th at Pebble Beach (2022), I’ll be fascinated to see how well he goes at St Andrews this week. RESULT: MC

✅ Bet £10 get £30 in free bets for new customers using code ZBGC01 and this qualifying link
✅ For further details read our Betfair sign up offer page
✅ Bet on Betfair fixed odds sportsbook or Betfair Exchange from a single account
✅ Offered 12 places each-way 1/5 odds at the 2022 Open Championship

Betfair New Customer Offer: Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly. #Ad

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Marc Leishman 1pt EW 110/1 (8EW, 1/5) with bet365

Let’s have a dabble on Marc Leishman.

Yes he’s had a poor 2022. Since he finished 10th at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in early January he’s finished no better than 14th, but that was at the Brookline-hosted U.S. Open last month. Major-wise he’s also finished 30th at The Masters and 34th at the PGA Championship, so tougher tests have suited him and we know he likes St Andrews.

With lead-in form of MC-39-MC he finished 2nd here in 2015, shooting 64-66 on the weekend to grab a play-off spot with Zach Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen – and that’s not his only lofty Open Championship finish. 5th at Hoylake (2014) and 6th at Royal Birkdale (2017), Leishman could do with Open success this week as he desperately looks to find form in his bid to qualify for Mark Immelman’s International President’s Cup team. RESULT: MC

✅ Bet £10 get £50 in free bets for new customers
✅ Bonus code SPORT50 can be used, but does not change the offer amount in any way
✅ For further details read our bet365 new customer offer page
✅ Early odds available each week on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour
✅ ‘Each Way Extra’ promotion where you can choose between 3, 8, 10 or 12 places each way

bet365 New Customer Offer: New Customers only. Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5 and £10 to your account and bet365 will give you five times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration required. The bonus code SPORT50 can be used during registration, but does not change the offer amount in any way. #Ad

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Gary Woodland 1pt EW 125/1 (8EW, 1/5) with bet365

The 2019 U.S. Open Champion Gary Woodland must arrive in St Andrews in good spirits. An opening day 64 at Renaissance had the upwardly-mobile World Number 90 in the hunt for the Scottish Open. Indeed he was 2nd heading into the weekend and still 9th on Sunday morning, before a disappointing 73 dropped him down to an eventual 30th spot.

As “below the radar” Major appearances go, last week was excellent for Woodland whose Strokes Gained Putting performance was his best on the PGA Tour since the Arnold Palmer Invitational in early March. Marry that together with a 10th place finish at the U.S. Open last month where he ranked 1st for Off the Tee and 6th for Tee to Green, and things look positive for the 38 year-old Major Champion.

12th at Troon in 2016 and 6th after 36 holes at Royal Birkdale in 2017 highlighted a player who could be competitive at coastal Majors prior to his 2019 U.S. Open win at Pebble Beach. Has the low ball-flight stinger tools to go well this week. RESULT: MC

✅ Bet £10 get £50 in free bets for new customers
✅ Bonus code SPORT50 can be used, but does not change the offer amount in any way
✅ For further details read our bet365 new customer offer page
✅ Early odds available each week on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour
✅ ‘Each Way Extra’ promotion where you can choose between 3, 8, 10 or 12 places each way

bet365 New Customer Offer: New Customers only. Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5 and £10 to your account and bet365 will give you five times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration required. The bonus code SPORT50 can be used during registration, but does not change the offer amount in any way. #Ad

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Kevin Kisner 1pt EW 250/1 (8EW, 1/5) with bet365

I like Kevin Kisner as well for St Andrews. It’s not often you find a player ranked in the top 25 in the OWGR at 250/1, especially coming off a 6th place finish at the Travelers Championship, but that is the case with Kisner. With plenty of roll on the fairways this week, Zach Johnson proved here in 2015 that shorter hitters can get the job done and in reality the “British Open” as KK knows it has to be his best chance of a Major Championship victory, on the basis that his lack of length off the tee make United States-based Majors a nightmare for him.

This will be the 37 year-old’s 7th Open Championship appearance. Remember he was 2nd at 300/1 at the 2018 Carnoustie-hosted Open Championship when arriving off form of MC-MC-52-MC-MC-55. A real coastal expert, with great form across short/medium United States coastal tracks at Harbour Town (2nd 2015), Sea Island (1st 2015, 2nd 2021) and Waialae (3rd 2022, 4th 2017, 2020 – 5th, 2016). RESULT: T21

✅ Bet £10 get £50 in free bets for new customers
✅ Bonus code SPORT50 can be used, but does not change the offer amount in any way
✅ For further details read our bet365 new customer offer page
✅ Early odds available each week on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour
✅ ‘Each Way Extra’ promotion where you can choose between 3, 8, 10 or 12 places each way

bet365 New Customer Offer: New Customers only. Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5 and £10 to your account and bet365 will give you five times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration required. The bonus code SPORT50 can be used during registration, but does not change the offer amount in any way. #Ad

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Odds and bookmaker offers correct at 14:55BST 11.7.22 but are naturally subject to fluctuation.

Barracuda Championship Tips

Whilst the Open Championship takes place at St Andrews, another ‘second division’ alternate tournament on the PGA Tour takes place. The Barracuda Championship is played at the Old Greenwood Golf Course, in California. Played at altitude in the Sierra Nevada mountains, this event since 2012 this event has been played utilising the Modified Stableford scoring format.

Won by Richy Werenski (33/1) and Erik van Rooyen (66/1), the full 2-year PGA Tour exemption available to the winner is a huge carrot, as is the possibility of harvesting enough FedEx Cup points to grab a spot in the magical top 125 or even top 150 (partial status for 22/23).

I have 1 selection for this:

Matthias Schwab 1.5pts EW 33/1 (7Ew, 1/5) with Betfair Sportsbook

Matthias Schwab makes sense to me this week at the Barracuda. At 111th in the FedEx Cup standings he could do with a strong result to 100% guarantee his full PGA Tour status for next season and take the stress away from the final month of the regular season. In the top 30 for Greens in Regulation this season, he’s also had a great stretch with the putter, ranking 25th for Strokes Gained Putting – that’s important with the Modified Stableford scoring system, where eagles and birdies are the currency. Undoubtedly you need to get the ball in the hole! Schwab has finished 4th in a World Golf Championship – the 2019 HSBC Champions in Shanghai, and when he’s playing his best stuff, I think he’s a level or two above most in this week’s Barracuda field.

Schwab is also very comfortable with altitude golf. That makes sense for an Austrian who was born in Schladming. 8th at the 2019 Omega European Masters, 7th at the 2021 Kenya Savannah Classic and 7th at his home 2019 Austrian Open, all on the DP World Tour, highlight a liking for “thin air” golf. And let’s not forget that he finished 3rd here at Old Greenwood in 2020, winding-up just 2 points short of Richy Werenski. A 7th at this season’s Puerto Rico Open again shows a liking for low scores and that he takes this level of competition seriously. Shot 67-65 across the opening 36 holes last time out at the John Deere Classic, going into the weekend in 3rd spot, eventually finishing 16th. RESULT: MC

✅ Bet £10 get £30 in free bets for new customers using code ZBGC01 and this qualifying link
✅ For further details read our Betfair sign up offer page
✅ Bet on Betfair fixed odds sportsbook or Betfair Exchange from a single account
✅ Offered 12 places each-way 1/5 odds at the 2022 Open Championship

Betfair New Customer Offer: Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly. #Ad

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Barracuda odds correct at 12:15BST 12.7.22 but are naturally subject to fluctuation.