Corey Conners vs. Akshay Bhatia

Bhatia has built his season around exactly the conditions he's about to face. His two biggest wins this year both came in high winds at the Arnold Palmer and the Valero, and he's improved his approach game to the point where shorter, less-than-driver setups now play to his strengths rather than exposing him. He's also trending in the right direction at this specific tournament, with a career-best finish in 2025. Conners has a fine Open track record of his own, but his overall form has cooled after a missed cut north of the border, and this is a coin-flip price on the player who's shown he raises his game specifically when the wind starts blowing at Birkdale. Back Bhatia.