The 2024 Open Championship begins on Thursday at 1:35 a.m. ET at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. Scottie Scheffler, who tees off at 10:10 a.m. ET, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau claimed the year's first three majors and are near the top of the 2024 Open Championship odds board. Scheffler is the 4-1 favorite, followed by 2014 British Open champion Rory McIlroy (8-1). Next in line is DeChambeau and Ludvig Aberg, both at 9-1. 

Before you consider any 2024 Open Championship picks, you NEED to check out the PGA Tour predictions and best bets from golf insider Patrick McDonald.

McDonald joined CBS Sports as a golf writer in 2022 after stops at NBC Sports and RyderCup.com. Covering the sport from a broader perspective, McDonald still likes to dip his toes into the betting pools on a weekly basis between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and more. Featured weekly on the Early Wedge, he has given out numerous winners already in 2024, including Jake Knapp (50-1) at the Mexico Open and Xander Schauffele at the PGA Championship! Anyone who has followed him is WAY UP!

Now, McDonald has been digging into the 2024 Open Championship field to find the best value and just locked in his best bets and favorites to avoid.

We can tell you McDonald is fading Collin Morikawa, who is priced too short to back in such a deep and talented field. On the other hand, McDonald loves the value on Brooks Koepka. "At both the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open, Koepka was sensational from tee to green, only to be let down by the putter. With his usual gamer back in the bag, the American should find some solace on the slower surfaces at Royal Troon," McDonald told SportsLine.

In addition, McDonald is jumping on a HUGE underdog who's priced at almost 100-1! McDonald says this golfer "continues to drive the ball as well as ever and has gained strokes in three straight tournaments for the first time all season!" You ABSOLUTELY need to see who it is before locking in any 2024 Open Championship picks of your own!

So which 2024 Open Championship players should you target or avoid, and which golfer could bring a MASSIVE payday of almost 100-1? ... Join SportsLine right now to see Patrick McDonald's top picks for the 2024 Open Championship, all from the expert who has given out numerous winners already this year, including Xander Schauffele at the PGA Championship!