As of final Sunday morning, Aaron Rai wasn’t on this week’s Open Championship area. Now, the Englishman now could be the preferred sleeper to carry the claret jug at Royal Troon.
“I’ve good emotions for subsequent week,” Rai stated 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. In consequence, 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 aspect, and he’s one of the vital correct drivers of the golf ball on the earth. If there’s a weak spot, it’s that he’s not significantly lengthy.
In GolfChannel.com’s rating of all 158 gamers within the area at Royal Troon, Rai slots in at No. 29.
Listed here are 5 different sleepers to keep watch over:
Tom McKibbin
GolfChannel.com rank: 32
Why he’ll contend: I virtually put McKibbin, the 21-year-old from Holywood greater, 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 on the sixteenth gap throughout day two of the Genesis Scottish Open 2024 at The Renaissance Membership, North Berwick. Image date: Friday July 12, 2024. (Photograph by Malcolm Mackenzie/PA Photographs by way of Getty Photographs)
PA Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
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 outdoors 25 toes.
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 15: Austin Eckroat of the USA performs a shot from a bunker throughout a observe spherical previous to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 15, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photograph by Stuart Franklin/R&A/R&A by way of Getty Photographs)
Austin Eckroat
GolfChannel.com rank: 46
Why he’ll contend: Perhaps a kind of guys who needs to be ranked greater, Eckroat is prime 20 in complete driving and strokes gained method. He did miss the Scottish lower in his first style of hyperlinks(ish) as a professional.
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 17: Maverick McNealy of the USA and his caddie look on throughout a observe spherical previous to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 17, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photograph by Harry How/Getty Photographs)
Maverick McNealy
GolfChannel.com rank: 47
Why he’ll contend: McNealy’s Deere missed lower halted some good momentum that included a T-7 in Canada. However he’s prime 40 in complete driving, hits it low off the tee and is an effective lag putter.
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 16: Jordan Smith of England tees off on the fifteenth gap throughout a observe spherical previous to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 16, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photograph by Harry How/Getty Photographs)
Jordan Smith
GolfChannel.com rank: 56
Why he’ll contend: Smith might be low Jordan, particularly his he retains driving it effectively (prime 10 in strokes gained off the tee on the DPWT).
