THE 145th Open Championship gets underway at Royal Troon this morning and it promises to be a year to back the outsider.

The world’s best players have descended on the west coast of Scotland and Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth will all fancy their chances.

But looking beyond that particular quartet – and even McIlroy and Spieth are available in double figure odds – it is easy to get some fantastic value with the bookmakers. Golf writer Paul Fraser picks out his picks for the Claret Jug.

THE FAVOURITE

Dustin Johnson

This could and should be his year. He is in the form of his life and full of confidence ahead of his visit to Troon. The 32-year-old has come close twice – in 2011 and then again at St Andrew’s last year when Zach Johnson took the honours – but he is playing even better this time around.

He hits the ball an unbelievably long way, but is also accurate with it which makes his game perfect for the links and he goes into this tournament on the back of finishing third, fifth and then first twice in his last four outings. He also has the major monkey off his back after winning the US Open.

Odds: 9/1

A CONTENDER

Henrik Stenson

The Swede is another with the game to suit the Scottish links, highlighted by his top three finishes at the Open on three occasions. He came close at Muirfield in 2013 and he will be looking for that big driver of his to really make a mark to clinch his first major.

Stenson is 40 so knows he is not getting any younger in his bid to claim a one of the biggest prizes in golf, but he is accurate and with his long iron play he can certainly shine at Royal Troon over the coming days

Odds: 28/1

A DECENT BET

BRANDEN GRACE

Having climbed into the world’s top ten this year, the South African is ready to really make his mark in a major after threatening to. He has become a regular feature on major leaderboards by finishing fourth and third at the US Open and PGA in 2015.

For those who think his game is only suited to the PGA Tour where he spends most of the year, it is worth remembering that one of his European Tour successes arrived in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championships so playing by the sea on Scottish grass will certainly not strike fear into him – particularly as he carded a 12 under 60 in his opening round there.

Odds: 30/1

THE LONG SHOT

TYRELL HATTON

Just days after finishing runner-up at the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart, the Englishman is heading over from Inverness to Troon looking to further enhance his rapidly rising reputation.

He is only 24 years of age and his performance last week was no fluke. He has missed out on only one top 20 finish since February and was also fourth at the Irish Open in May.

Inexperience could lead to him falling down the leaderboard but he is more than capable of turning in a performance to cause a shock in the early rounds, then it will be about seeing if he can stay there.

Odds: 125/1