The power rankings for the 148th Open Championship – the season’s fourth and final major – offers no huge surprises, other than maybe the exclusion of world No. 9 Justin Thomas – the only top-10 ranked player not listed.
Four-time major winner, and world No. 1, Brooks Koepka, is at the top of the list, with perennial superstars Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, and Rory McIlroy firmly entrenched in the top half of the rankings.
Bernd Wiesberger, at No. 40, is the lowest ranked player on the list. The Austrian is joined by South African Louis Oosthuizen (22) and Englishman Matt Wallace (23) as the only players ranked outside the world top-20.
1. Brooks Koepka
The world No. 1 is a no-brainer as the top dog on this list. Koepka has two runner-ups and a victory in his three major starts on the season. This scores  out to an average finish of 1.67 in the season’s biggest events. In those three events, his world-ranking points haul was 100 (PGA), 60 (U.S. Open), and 43.3 (Masters)… The big-game hunter can become the first player in history to finish first or second in all four of the season’s majors.
Odds: 9-1
World Rank: 1
FedExCup: 2
2019 Majors: 2, 1, 2
2. Xander Schauffele
Schauffele has cooled off somewhat after a red-hot start to the season (two wins in first five starts). He is another player who seems to perform much better on the bigger stages. In his last six major starts, he has four finishes inside the top-6 (6, 2, 35, 2, 16, 3), including a T3 at the U.S. Open.
Odds: 25-1
World Rank: 11
FedExCup: 4
2019 Majors: 3, 16, 2
3. Adam Scott
After a lengthy slump, which persisted for much of 2018, Scott entered the final major last season ranked No. 76 in the world. Less than a year later, he’ll enter this year’s fourth major with a ranking of 16 – an improvement of some 60 positions, and without a win… The former world No. 1 enters Royal Portrush off three straight top 10s, and five consecutive top 20s – all in elite-field events, including three majors.
Odds: 28-1
World Rank: 16
FedExCup: 17
2019 Majors: 7, 8, 18
4. Patrick Cantlay
The former all-world amateur is now an all-world professional. Cantlay enters the season’s final major off five top-15s in his last six starts, including a win at the season’s top regular tour stop – the Memorial Tournament. In three major starts, Cantlay owns two top 10s (T9, T3) and a T21. A win by Cantlay would surprise nobody.
Odds: 25-1
World Rank: 10
FedExCup: 6
2019 Majors: 21, 3, 9
5. Rory McIlroy
The home hero is the home favorite according to the bookmakers. McIlroy, now 30-years old, owns two wins on the season and a bunch of top-10 finishes, but if he were to come up empty in the majors, once again, his season would undoubtedly be considered a disappointment… He has two top-10s in three major starts this year.
Odds: 9-1
World Rank: 3
FedExCup: 3
2019 Majors: 9, 8, 21
6. Tiger Woods
With just nine starts this season, the 15-time major winner has not played a heck of a lot in 2019, but a win at the Masters has already made Woods’ season a major success… His last four starts have included three majors.
Odds: 16-1
World Rank: 5
FedExCup: 23
2019 Majors: 21, MC, 1
7. Dustin Johnson
The world No. 2 has enjoyed another terrific season with two worldwide wins and several top-5s, highlighted by two runner-ups at the majors… For the longest time DJ was the best player not to win a major; he’s now (by far) the best player in history with just a single major title to his name. He needs another one (or two) soon.
Odds: 16-1
World Rank: 2
FedExCup: 7
2019 Majors: 35, 2, 2
8. Louis Oosthuizen
We are not sure how the South African, who is ranked No. 22 in the world, found his way onto this list. It’s not like he’s No. 22 but in top form. In fact, he will enter Royal Portrush in very poor form (T46, T36, T7, T57, T60, T29). This snarky take all but guarantees Oosthuizen a top finish.
Odds: 50-1
World Rank: 22
FedExCup: 54
2019 Majors: 7, 60, 29
9. Bryson DeChambeau
The enigmatic American star seems to have returned to form after a mid-season slump. DeChambeau finished T35 at the U.S. Open but then strung together a T8 (Travelers) and T2 (3M Open) – his best consecutive starts (by far) of the 2019 PGA Tour season. He’s the highest ranked player (No. 6) without a major.
Odds: 40-1
World Rank: 6
FedExCup: 15
2019 Majors: 35, MC, 29
10. Matt Kuchar
Kuchar has enjoyed another stellar season with two wins and several top-10s, including a pair of runner-ups. The 40-year old is still searching for his maiden major title… He enters off a T20 at the Scottish Open, and T16 at the U.S. Open.
Odds: 33-1
World Rank: 13
FedExCup: 1
2019 Majors: 16, 8, 12
11. Francesco Molinari
The 35-year old Italian enters the defense of his 2018 major title in poor form (T57, T16, T53, T48, MC)… He does have a win on the season (Bay Hill) and hopes to break out of his mini slump by becoming the first back-to-back Open winner since Padraig Harrington (2007-08).
Odds: 25-1
World Rank: 7
FedExCup: 24
2019 Majors: 16, 48, 5
12. Jon Rahm
The 24-year old Spaniard is in top form entering Northern Ireland… After two straight missed cuts, Rahm has strung together three straight top-3s, highlighted by a win at the Irish Open… Along with Rickie Fowler, he’s probably the most talented player without a major.
Odds: 16-1
World Rank: 8
FedExCup: 11
2019 Majors: 3, MC, 9
13. Justin Rose
The 38-year old Englishman has enjoyed another superb season with a win (Torrey Pines) and four top-10s… Like DJ, Rose is another one that seems way too good to have only one major title. A Claret Jug would look awfully nice alongside his U.S. Open trophy and Olympic Gold Medal.
Odds: 20-1
World Rank: 4
FedExCup: 9
2019 Majors: 3, 29, MC
14. Matt Wallace
Like Tommy Fleetwood in 2017, Wallace has become the Englishman on the rise this season. Following a breakout three-win European Tour campaign in 2018, Wallace has continued his upward trajectory with impressive performances on the bigger stages, highlighted by a T3 at the PGA Championship.
Odds: 40-1
World Rank: 23
FedExCup: N/A
2019 Majors: 12, 3, MC
15. Bernd Wiesberger
The Austrian is probably the least familiar name on the list, but Wiesberger has been on a tear as of late, highlighted by a pair of wins (Scottish Open and Made in Denmark) and two additional top-10s in his six most recent starts… In this time period he’s moved from No. 378 in the world to No. 40.
Odds: 66-1
World Rank: 40
FedExCup: N/A
2019 Majors: 76, DNP, DNP
The power rankings are via Joel Cook’s Starter column.
