As of final Sunday morning, Aaron Rai wasn’t on this week’s Open Championship subject. Now, the Englishman now could be the most well-liked sleeper to raise the claret jug at Royal Troon.
“I’ve good emotions for subsequent week,” Rai mentioned Sunday night on the Renaissance Membership, the place his T-4 end within the Genesis Scottish Open earned him one of many closing three spots into this Open.
Rai has now completed inside the highest 20 in 5 straight begins – and T-7 or higher in his final three. Consequently, he’s climbed to a career-best forty fifth on the earth rankings. He was T-19 final trip at a significant, on the U.S. Open final month at Pinehurst. He has a T-19 at an Open, too, in 2021 at Royal St. George’s.
Statistically, Rai is above common in each strokes-gained side, and he’s one of the vital correct drivers of the golf ball on the earth. If there’s a weak point, it’s that he’s not notably lengthy.
In GolfChannel.com’s rating of all 158 gamers within the subject at Royal Troon, Rai slots in at No. 29.
Listed below are 5 different sleepers to keep watch over:
Tom McKibbin
GolfChannel.com rank: 32
Why he’ll contend: I nearly put McKibbin, the 21-year-old from Holywood larger, as he’s fourth on the DPWT in strokes gained off the tee, almost prime 10 in driving accuracy and prime 30 in strokes gained method. He was T-41 in his main debut eventually month’s U.S. Open.
Victor Perez
GolfChannel.com rank: 35
Why he’ll contend: Perez upset on the U.S. Open after a 3rd in Canada and T-12 at Memorial, however the T-10 on the Scottish was promising. Driver hasn’t been the problem, and he’s fifth on Tour in three-putt avoidance from exterior 25 ft.
Austin Eckroat
GolfChannel.com rank: 46
Why he’ll contend: Perhaps a kind of guys who needs to be ranked larger, Eckroat is prime 20 in whole driving and strokes gained method. He did miss the Scottish reduce in his first style of hyperlinks(ish) as a professional.
Maverick McNealy
GolfChannel.com rank: 47
Why he’ll contend: McNealy’s Deere missed reduce halted some good momentum that included a T-7 in Canada. However he’s prime 40 in whole driving, hits it low off the tee and is an effective lag putter.
Jordan Smith
GolfChannel.com rank: 56
Why he’ll contend: Smith might be low Jordan, particularly his he retains driving it nicely (prime 10 in strokes gained off the tee on the DPWT).
