Darts And Golf Take Centre Stage With The British Open And World Matchplay

The Copa America and the Euros are now over, the Olympics are a little over a week away, but crammed into that short space of time are two of the biggest summer sporting events in the UK. On Thursday, the British Open golf championship gets underway at Royal St Georges, and at the weekend, darts fans can enjoy the start of the World Matchplay tournament from Blackpool.

So while some parts of the summer of sport may be over, there’s still plenty to look forward to over the coming weeks and months and that’s without even mentioning the start of the football season, the Ryder Cup and the new NFL season in the pipeline.

Given that we have two massive sports events in the UK taking place at the same time it is going to be a big week for the bookmakers with plenty of bets on both events set to be made. As such, if you are someone that wants to have a bet on either of these big events, then check out the latest odds on the many different markets available at bet365 Sport.

Remember too, you can also enjoy Live In Play betting on the site when the games are in action.

If you are residing in the United States and want to enjoy a wager on the golf or darts, then BetRivers PA is a great option. Not only does it offer Pennsylvanian customers some fantastic sports betting and casino gaming, but the site is also available across other states with the same great markets, offers and bonuses available for them to enjoy too.

Let’s now take a look at both these big sporting events taking place this week across the UK, starting with the British Open, which gets underway on Thursday morning.

The British Open

Shane Lowry will get to defend the famous Claret Jug trophy that he won back in 2019, albeit a year later than planned. The Irishman will be one of over 150 top golfers competing at The Open Championship on the famous links of Royal St Georges in Sandwich, Kent from Thursday.

A stellar field that will include all of the world’s top 15 golfers, not to mention two of the three winners of this year’s Majors will compete to become the next name etched on the famous trophy.

As is always the case with links course golf, the weather conditions will play a huge role in deciding the outcome of the event and how tough the course plays. The good news for many players is that the forecast is for warm, sunny, dry and relatively calm conditions throughout the tournament, which does suggest a low score may be on the cards.

• Royal St Georges – History

Royal St Georges was the first course outside of Scotland to host the Open Championship and it has done so on 14 previous occasions, most recently when popular Irishman Darren Clarke won the title back in 2011.

Previous Open winners to have landed the Claret Jug at St Georges include Ben Curtis, Greg Norman, Sandy Lyle and Bill Rodgers.

The most famous hole on the course is probably the 4^th and that is thanks to what is believed to be the deepest bunker in professional golf. Although just 25 feet wide, the bunker is 40 feet deep and is protected on three sides by railway sleepers.

A par 70 course, it boasts just two par fives although it is more than possible to shoot a low score here, especially if weather conditions are somewhat benign.

• British Open Contenders And Tips

Bet365 rates the current US Open Champion Jon Rahm as the clear favourite to follow up his win at Torrey Pines last month with another in Kent at the weekend. The Spaniard is the 8/1 favourite after his US Open win and the good form he has shown since.

Outside of Rahm, the odds drop off to 18/1 for a number of players that includes several top American players, like Justin Thomas, Justin Spieth, Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele, as well as Irish ace Rory McIlroy. World Number 1 Dustin Johnson is a 20/1 shot.

There are plenty good options too outside this top group of players including the likes of Bryson DeChambeau, Louis Oosthuizen, Adam Scott, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tyrrell Hatton, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Cantlay and Patrick Reed.

Bet365 are paying on the top eight and tied finishers at the event in the each way market and I think this makes this a very appealing bet especially with the likes of Tommy Fleetwood a 40/1 chance, while Ian Poulter at 75/1 is an especially tasty option, after his great finish at the Scottish Open last weekend.

The calmer and drier conditions though mean that I feel American players stand a good chance of success here and from that group of players, Brooks Koepka at 18/1 is the player I’d back if I wanted to place a straight win bet on the tournament’s outright winner market.

Let’s now focus on the big darts event that kicks off this weekend on the 17^th July.

World Matchplay Darts 2021

The top 16 ranked players in the world, plus 16 players that earned their spot through qualifying performances on the tour will take part in the World Matchplay tournament at the famous Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

The famous tournament, second only in prestige to the World Championship, is played over a different format to most darts tournaments as it is based on legs alone, rather than set play. This means it is a race for the first player to win 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 legs throughout the tournament, which changes the dynamic of the games a great deal.

For example, in set play, a player can win a game by winning three sets 3-2, but losing two sets 3-0. However, in Matchplay, the same player would be 12-9 behind in that game.

• World Matchplay History

Phil Taylor’s name is engraved on the famous trophy 16 times and he is by far and away the most successful player in its history, ahead of Rod Harrington and Michael van Gerwen who have two wins apiece.

James Wade has appeared in six finals, the second most after Taylor, but has won just the one of those finals and the only other players in the field this week to win the tournament are van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Rob Cross and last year’s champion Dimitri Van den Bergh.

Gerwyn Price is the top seed in this year’s event with the favourite to win the title, Michael van Gerwen a third seed. James Wade, who has strong form in the tournament is the fourth seed with Peter Wrigh seeded second.

• World Matchplay Tips

So who are the players to watch out for in this tournament? Gerwyn Price will be itching to prove he is a worthy World Champion with a strong showing here and I think the Welshman will do well. Van Gerwen and Wade are two that I feel can go to the semis too and I also feel that Nathan Aspinall is due another good tournament.

From that four, I’d back the outside Nathan Aspinall at 28/1 to land the win.