Three dark horses who can win the British Open

Underdogs don't typically fare well in major championships, but they have the best chance to compete at the British Open because of the shorter golf courses and volatile weather.

Look no further than Brian Harman, who won the British Open last year as a 150-to-1 long shot.

There are a number of intriguing dark horses in the field this year at Royal Troon Golf Club, so let's take a closer look at three who could contend for the Claret Jug.

Louis Oosthuizen

Welcome back, old friend.

Oosthuizen is back in a major championship for the first time since last year's British Open, and he heads to Royal Troon in great form.

The South African has five top-eight finishes on LIV Golf this year, and he's coming off an impressive T4 at Real Club Valderrama last week. He also won back-to-back tournaments on the DP World Tour in December.

Oosthuizen has always been a brilliant links player. He won the British Open in 2010, and he has finished T28 or better in four of his past five Open starts.

Dean Burmester

Sticking with the South African LIV theme here, Burmester is also having a great season on the rival golf tour. The bomber won in Miami and notched two other top-three finishes early in the year. He, like Oosthuizen, won back-to-back events on the DP World Tour in the winter. Sensing a theme?

Burmester's best major championship finish came at the 2022 British Open with a T11. Royal Troon isn't the same test as St. Andrews, but Burmester has a wealth of experience on European links courses. If he can keep his driver out of trouble, he'll be a factor this week.

Matthieu Pavon

Pavon continues to prove he belongs on the PGA Tour. The Frenchman won the Farmers Insurance Open, finished solo third at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and finished solo fifth at the U.S. Open in June. He's now finished T12 or better in two of the three majors this season, yet he still doesn't get enough respect as a contender.

Pavon played on the DP World Tour for seven years before jumping to the PGA Tour in 2024, and he has a great track record at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He'll feel right at home at Royal Troon.