Exclusive – Rafferty: ‘It will be a really open British Open’

Former European tour order of merit winner Ronan Rafferty has told talkSPORT he expects an ‘outsider’ to win this week’s Open.

Rory McIlroy leads the betting following his sensational US Open triumph last month, with the world's top two Luke Donald and Lee Westwood also being heavily backed.

But Rafferty believes the Royal St George's course will produce an unlikely champion once again come Sunday evening - eight years after unfancied American Ben Curtis lifted the Claret Jug at Sandwich.

“I know it’s dead easy to say great names like Westwood, McIlroy will win it but I really do think it will be an open Open,” said Rafferty, speaking to the Sports Breakfast.

“Angel Cabrera finished third [at the Scottish Open]. He's hitting the ball well, in the top ten of the driving stats on the PGA Tour and he's had a really good week - that’s the sort of player we've got to be looking at.

"Even people like Sergio Garcia, Nick Watney, somebody who is hitting the ball well, starting to play well going into a championship with a little bit of confidence [could win]."