The Price is Wrong: Kuchar at 50/1 to win British Open

Considering Matt Kuchar was 33/1 to win the Masters and 20/1 to triumph at the US Open earlier this year, it is somewhat surprising to see him lingering further down the betting at 50/1 to claim a maiden major at the Open Championship.

After all, looking at the last 18 years, US golfers have a greater win percentage at this major than any of the two to have previously taken place on the annual calendar, despite the general perception that this is the one that they most struggle.

It is a struggle to find anyone as consistent as Kuchar when it comes to major pedigree, as although he is yet to taste victory, he has been inside the top 10 in half of the last six, including when finishing in a share of ninth at the Open Championship last year.

Some may point to the fact that he missed the cut in six of his seven Open appearances prior to this, but that should not make too much difference as Louis Oosthuizen was victorious in 2010 having done the same in his three prior attempts.

Kuchar’s consistency has also carried onto the PGA Tour as a whole, as he is yet to miss a cut in 15 starts this season, has secured top-10 finishes on six occasions and is the only player aside from Tiger Woods to have more than one victory on his resume in 2013.

Throw in that 14 of the last 17 major winners have been doing so for the first time and there is every chance that Kuchar will be next.

For those unexcited by his price of 50/1 to win the Open Championship, with Ladbrokes offering the top industry price, they must agree that 4/1 is a fair price that he is inside the top 10 at Muirfield.

Kuchar will certainly be in one of the headline groups for the opening round of the Open, as he begins alongside this year’s Masters champion Adam Scott and leading English contender Luke Donald.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.