Golf Tips: The best bets for the 2023 Open Championship at Hoylake

• 8.88/1 McIlroy a rock solid favourite says Steve

• 28/129.00 Morikawa can challenge for a second Claret Jug

• 180.0179/1 chance Ryan Fox fancied to go well at big odds

• 40/141.00 Lowry can go low on day one

• Get the best tips and previews from our expert writers

Steve Rawlings: Rory a fresh bet alongside two LIV raiders

Steve says: "Given he isn't always at his best in blustery conditions, I couldn't have been any more impressed by Rory McIlroy's finish to the Scottish Open yesterday morning and as detailed in the De-brief, I'm quite surprised how well his Open price is holding up.

"Rory now heads to Hoylake full of confidence and there's plenty of reasons to think he's well worth at least a saver at 8.88/1 on the exchange.

"As highlighted above, Phil Mickelson followed up his win in the Scottish with victory in the Open ten years ago and when Rory won his last major championship - the 2014 US PGA Championship - he did so one week after winning the Bridgestone Invitational so he's already shown he can win a major immediately after bagging a big title.

"Having won multiple tournaments at Quail Hollow (the Wells Fargo Championship), TPC Boston (the Dell Technologies Championship), East Lake (the Tour Championship) and the Emirates (the Dubai Desert Classic), he has a strong record of winning at the same venues so as the only course winner in the field this week, he really is the man to beat."

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Dave Tindall: 10-year trends point to...

Dave says: "Justin Rose is currently World No.29, has a win this season (Pebble Beach) and is a past Major winner who has finished runner-up in this event. He's played the Scottish Open and ahead of that event has form of 4-MC-8.

"What nudges him to the top is age and hopefully the 42-year-old can turn that experience into victory and emulate other veteran Claret Jug winners such as Ernie Els (42), Phil Mickelson (43), Zach Johnson (39) and Henrik Stenson (40).

"Rose, who famously finished fourth on his Open debut as an amateur at nearby Royal Birkdale in 1998, is currently 55/156.00 on the Sportsbook and 70.069/1 on the exchange."

Matt Cooper: Profiles of the top 50 in the betting

On Rickie Fowler, Matt says: "It's been a season of rejuvenation for the popular Californian who took a couple of years of diminishing returns on the chin, dug deep and has been rewarded with 15 top 20s in his 21 seasonal starts.

"Moreover, four of the last half dozen appearances have been top 10s including a near-miss in the US Open and victory in the Rocket Mortgage Classic. He also likes links golf and is 10-for-11 at making the cut in the Open.

"He's something of a weekend mover in this championship. He's played 10 of them and has seven times carded a 68 or better in one of the rounds (six times a 67 or better)."

Dave Tindall's Each-Way Tips: Morikawa can be Hoylake hero

Dave says: "It's well known that, historically, Morikawa can putt well on any given week but often the shortstick can hold him back.

"But he's now recorded positive Strokes Gained: Putting numbers in his last four events while also gaining strokes on the greens in each of the three Majors this year.

"With a weather forecast suggesting nothing too extreme, Morikawa is capable of getting to the 15-under mark that won him the Claret Jug at Royal St George's and which could be the magic number again here.

"With 8, 10 and 12 each-way place terms, I'll take the 28s on the middle of those options."

Dave Tindall's First Round Leader Tips: Lowry can go low on day one

Dave says: "Shane Lowry will forever be associated with the Open Championship after his brilliant win in front of adoring fans at Royal Portrush.

"He paved the way for that victory in 2019 with a Thursday 67 that put him in second place after day one.

"But that wasn't the first time he'd made headlines on the opening day of an Open.

"Here at Hoylake in 2014, the Irishman carded a 4-under 68 to end the day in third place, two shots behind leader and eventual winner McIlroy.

"In the other modern-day Open at Hoylake in 2006, McIlroy's compatriot Graeme McDowell emerged as the first-round leader after a 66 so those from over the Irish sea have sme excellent FRL form at the Liverpool course.

"Links specialist Lowry was sixth after day one of this year's US Masters while in his last five starts he's ended Thursday in the top five at the Memorial Tournament and the Travelers Championship.

"A 12th place in last week's Scottish Open was his third straight top 20 so he looks in just the sort of form to make an early impression.

"I like his tee-time too: Lowry goes off at 10.09."

Steve Rawlings' Big Price Tips: Fantastic Fox fancied to contend

Steve says: "Now playing on the PGA Tour, Ryan Fox hasn't really looked like winning in 2023 and his Open form figures, reading 49-MC-39-16-67-MC, are nowhere near as good as they should be but I'm more than happy to chance him at 180.0179/1 given he's in search of a third win in 38 starts.

"Although he's not threatened to win this year, he's been playing some consistent golf and last week's tied 12^th in the Scottish Open is a perfect prep.

"As a winner at the exposed and links-like Al Hamra Golf Club in Ras Al Khaimah, a desperately unlucky runner-up in the Irish Open at Ballyliffin, and the reigning champion of the Alfred Dunhill Links, the 34-year-old is one of the finest links exponents in the field."

Place order to lay 10u @ 10.09/1 & 10u @ 2.01/1

Dave Tindall: Rory can help fuel 33/1 top finish Acca

Dave says: "It's very tempting to put Scottie Scheffler up in the Top 5 Finish market given that the American has reeled off an amazing run of seven straight worldwide top fives. But I'm just a little reluctant that he hasn't yet delivered one in the Open yet although, to be fair, the Texan has only played in two!

"But Rory McIlroy has been there and done that in this event and, of course, won here at Hoylake in 2014.

"That's one of six top fives in the Open Championship (more than he's managed in any other Major) while the World No. 3 arrives on a high after a stunning win in last week's Scottish Open."

Note: Dave suggests backing Rory to finish top five, Tommy Fleetwood to finish top 10, and Corey Conners to finish top 20 at combined odds of 33/134.00.

Andy Swales: Player form stats from the last 10 Majors

Andy says: "Defending champion Cameron Smith is in good shape. He tied-ninth at the PGA Championship in May, and was fourth at the US Open last month.

"Has competed this year on the LIV Tour, posting a trio of podium finishes that includes a victory just two weeks ago.

"His 27 LIV rounds this season have come at an average of 68.19, which is better than anyone else, including Brooks Koepka."

Andy Swales: Tournament and current form stats

Andy provides his tournament and course notes, stroke averages for the Open Championship, stroke averages for recent LIV Tour tournaments and the players with the most World Ranking points accumulated since 1 April.

He also provides the most recent 10 weeks of form for all players in this week's tournament as well as Open Championship form for the past 10 years.

Check out Andy's must-see form stats here.