10 dark horses who could win the Open Championship

We know who the favorites are for this year's Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

But what about the golfers who are a little off the radar or facing some long odds? These are names that might not be familiar to the weekend golf fan — that's who we'll look at. 

Here are 10 dark horse contenders who are perhaps capable of claiming the iconic Claret Jug as champion of the most historic tournament in all of golf.

Rafa Cabrera-Bello

He's not the most famous Spaniard in the field, but he is one who is worth keeping an eye on. Cabrera-Bello tied for fourth at the 2017 Open Championship when it was staged at Royal Birkdale. He has not been a factor at the majors so far in 2019 (his best finish was a tie for 36th at the Masters), but he placed within the top 10 at last weekend's Scottish Open, which included bookend rounds of 66.

Matthew Fitzpatrick

Ranked among the top 30 golfers in the world, England's Fitzpatrick is one the brightest young stars on the European Tour. He won't turn 25 until September, but he has already won five times on the European Tour, including twice at the European Masters. Fitzpatrick, the 2013 U.S. Amateur champ, was the low am at the Open the same year but missed the cut in two of his next three starts at the event. Still, after finishing tied for 12th at the U.S. Open each of the last two years, he's worth a look.

Zach Johnson

The Open Championship has always been near and dear to Johnson's heart. He won it in 2015 on the Old Course at St. Andrews, and since 2012 Johnson has placed inside the top 20 at the tournament seven times in eight seasons. That includes two other top 10s in addition to his improbable victory. It seems even when Johnson is struggling, the Open and links golf bring out the best in the Iowa native.

Graeme McDowell

Rory McIlroy is getting plenty of love because he's a native of Northern Ireland, grew up not too far from Portrush, where he once shot a 61, and is among the best players in the world. However, the true sentimental local favorite this weekend is McDowell, who hails from Portrush and practically grew up on this course. What makes him an even more intriguing option this weekend is his solid T16 at the U.S. Open last month.

Eddie Pepperell

A tie for sixth place at Carnoustie in 2018 is reason to feel Pepperell has the game to make a little noise at the Open Championship for a second consecutive season. The Englishman is ranked among the top 35 on the planet, according to the World Golf Ranking, and was in the 60s all four rounds at the recent Scottish Open.

Andrew Putnam

OK, we are going out on quite a limb here. That's because the Tacoma, Washington, native will be playing in his first Open Championship this week. But he has three top-10 finishes, made more than $2 million on the PGA Tour during the 2018-19 campaign and is ranked among the top 50 in the world. Putnam also tied for fourth at the Scottish Open, which makes him somewhat relevant as a sleeper this week.

Jordan Spieth

It's been two years since Spieth won his last tournament. Of course, that came when the Open Championship was played at Royal Birkdale. He's somewhat of a sexy sleeper pick this week because there have been signs in 2019 that Spieth might be ready to end that victory drought. At this point though, Spieth's mental game is just as questionable as the physical one. Still, a lot of eyes will be fixed on the three-time major champion.

Henrik Stenson

Now Stenson should not be considered a long shot, but it's more like he's being overshadowed by some of the bigger names of the game. Stenson has finished inside the top 10 in each of his last two starts on the PGA Tour, which included a T9 at the U.S. Open. The 2016 winner of the Open at Royal Troon, Stenson also carded a pair of 65s en route to a tie for fourth at last weekend's Scottish Open.

Matt Wallace

Another one of the talented young stars on the European Tour, Wallace has won four times there since 2017. While the Englishman missed the cut at his first Open Championship in 2018, he turned heads in America by tying for third at the PGA Championship in May and was a T12 at the U.S. Open. We have a feeling that trend of success at the 2019 majors will continue this weekend.

Gary Woodland

The reigning U.S. Open champ is not really on anybody's radar to become the seventh golfer all time to win both America's national championship and the Open Championship in the same season. However, it's important to know that Woodland has never missed a cut in his seven starts at the Open and did have a T12 at the 2016 installment. That's his best finish at the tournament. There was no pressure on him at Pebble Beach, and it's the same at Portrush.