The Open Final Round Tips: Who Closes It Out at Royal Birkdale?

The Open final round tips focus on a fascinating Sunday at Royal Birkdale after Moving Day delivered one of the lowest-scoring rounds in Open Championship history. Sam Burns, who was outside the top 100 after Thursday, takes a two-shot lead into the final 18 holes, but he's got serious company chasing him down. Here's the leaderboard heading into Sunday, the key storylines, and our best bets for who closes it out.

Leaderboard Entering the Final Round

The Key Storylines

• Sam Burns's remarkable climb: Burns sat outside the top 100 after an underwhelming Round 1, then produced back-to-back low rounds to grab the outright lead. Only Mark O'Meara has previously won The Open after sitting outside the top 50 following Round 1, history is working against him, even with the outright lead.
• Ryan Fox's record-breaking round: His 62 was one of the lowest single rounds ever recorded at a men's major, and puts him right in the mix with a genuine head of steam heading into Sunday.
• The Bryson DeChambeau penalty saga: DeChambeau was hit with a two-shot penalty for improving his lie during Friday's round, dropping him from solo second to a tie for fifth. Reports suggested he even considered withdrawing before returning to the range late into Saturday night to work through his frustration.
• Tommy Fleetwood's home bid: An Englishman chasing his first major title in front of a home crowd is always a compelling storyline, and Fleetwood has put himself right in the mix heading into the final round.
• Scheffler's near-miss with history: The defending champion bogeyed the 16th on Saturday and finished with a 70, denying him a shot at Ernie Els's record of seven consecutive sub-70 rounds at The Open. He remains firmly in contention regardless.

The Open Final Round Tips & Best Bets

A 54-hole lead built on a genuinely unusual route to the top, climbing from outside the top 100 rather than leading wire-to-wire, is a different betting proposition than a more conventional front-runner. History suggests holding a first-time major lead built this way is far from automatic.

• Best value pick: Ryan Fox. His Saturday round wasn't just low, it was one of the best rounds ever played in a men's major, and that kind of form and confidence heading into a final round is hard to ignore, even starting two shots back.
• Safer alternative: Scottie Scheffler. Proven major-championship composure and a defending champion's experience count for a lot in exactly this kind of tight final-round scenario.
• The case for Fleetwood: A home crowd roaring him on all day could be worth more than a shot or two around Royal Birkdale, especially if the occasion doesn't get to him.

Check current pricing on the golf outrights page at Sportsbet.io.

Weather for the Final Round

Sunday's forecast calls for partly sunny conditions with winds of 10-15mph and a high of around 21°C (70°F), playable by Open Championship standards, meaning low scores should remain very much in play for anyone with the nerve to go after the pins.

How to Bet on the Final Round

• Outright winner: Back a player to win the tournament outright on the golf outrights page.
• Top 5 / Top 10 finish: With this many players still genuinely in contention, a top-finish market can offer better value than trying to pick the exact winner.
• In-play betting: Follow the final round live and bet as the leaderboard develops via the golf in-play page.

Odds move quickly once the final round gets underway, so treat any figure in this article as a snapshot and check live pricing before you bet.

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FAQs: The Open Final Round Tips

Who is leading The Open heading into the final round?

Sam Burns holds a two-shot lead after a Saturday 65, having climbed from outside the top 100 following Round 1.

Can Sam Burns hold his lead at The Open?

It's a genuine question. Only Mark O'Meara has previously won The Open after being outside the top 50 following Round 1, meaning history isn't strongly on Burns's side despite his outright lead.

Why was Bryson DeChambeau penalised?

He was given a two-shot penalty for improving his lie during Friday's second round, which dropped him from solo second to a tie for fifth.

Can Tommy Fleetwood win his first major at The Open?

He's well-placed heading into the final round and would have a home English crowd firmly behind him at Royal Birkdale.

What is the weather forecast for the final round?

Partly sunny with winds of 10-15mph and a high of around 21°C (70°F), playable conditions that should keep low scoring in play.

Where can I bet on the final round of The Open?

You can check live odds and betting markets on the golf outrights page and the golf in-play page at Sportsbet.io.

It All Comes Down to Sunday

A remarkable 54-hole leader, a record-breaking round from his closest challenger, and a home favourite chasing history, Sunday at Royal Birkdale has all the makings of a classic finish. Check the latest odds on the golf outrights page, follow the action live on the golf in-play page, and see the current promotions available at Sportsbet.io.

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