Back for another week of Underdog Fantasy. The year’s final major is here, and we are ready to cash an Underdog Fantasy Pick’em Slip in round one of the Open Championship. After walking this course for three straight days, I have a pretty nice feel for how I believe it will play. Below, we will closely examine the Open Championship Underdogs Fantasy Pick’em board for round one.
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Open Championship Underdog Fantasy Pick’em Plays – July 18th, 2024
Russ Henley Lower Than 35.5 Holes 1-9 Strokes
The front nine of Royal Troon is a fairly gentle major championship test if you are hitting your spots off the tee. There are plenty of club down opportunities that will lead to wedges as well as two par 5s. The best part about it all is that these holes will play downwind!
Both par 5s are gettable for most of the field, and laying up in position for the wedges should be no issue. Russ Henley is an animal on a positional course, and he will surely be able to take advantage of this front side.
Xander Schauffele Higher Than 35 Back Nine Strokes
35 is even par on this back nine of Troon, and Xander is one of the best golfers in this field. That is how difficult I expect this backside to be. These holes will be playing into the wind and are tough, to say the very least. There is no clubbing down for position here.
Step up, hit shot after shot, and don’t look back. No matter who you are, shooting under par on this backside will be a tall ask. Xander Schauffele would sign for a 36 coming in right now, and that is why we will fade him in our Underog Pick’em Slip.