The Open: Smith, Young and Scheffler pose biggest threats to favourite McIlroy

Rory McIlroy believes he's over his Major Championship blues and has the game and the calm to end his eight-year drought after firing a six-under 66 to lie just two shots behind leader Cameron Young in The Open.

McIlroy showing composure

The four-time Major champion believes he's shaken off the fear factor that's dogged him in the opening rounds of Majors since 2014 and is now the favourite at 4.4 to claim that elusive fifth Major title.

"Look, I just have to go out and play the same golf that I've played today, the same golf that I've played over the last few weeks," he said of his mindset and the temptation to get ahead of himself.

"I've been playing well. I've been swinging the club well. And I think it's better if I don't think about it that much and I just go out and play golf and try to shoot some good scores on one of my favourite golf courses in the world."

He's now opened with rounds of 65, 67 and 66 in his last three Majors and reckons it's because he's simply found form again.

"I think I've played with a little more freedom because I can, because I'm in more control of my swing and my game," he said. "I have confidence and I can go out and play free and not be maybe as timid and tight starting off.

"And as I said, three majors in a row now where I feel like that, which is a really nice feeling considering how I have felt previously at times."

Scottie Scheffler in the mix at St Andrews going into Friday

Smith and Scheffler showing promise

McIlroy wants to back up Thursday's first round with another decent score to take more players out of the equation but we believe Australia's Cameron Smith (9.8) and world number one Scottie Scheffler (10) are his biggest threats going forward.

The Old Course is a fiery beast and it is only going to get trickier as the days go on, making Smith, whose short game and putting are top class, a major factor now.

Leader Cameron Young is looking to become the first man to win in his Open debut at St Andrews since was Tony Lema in 1964 and after coming close in the US PGA, finishing third, he looks a great bet at 10 to pull it off.

With the morning wave outscoring the afternoon starters by near 1.5 shots, we're looking at one of the early starters today to jump up the leaderboard and that man could be Californian Sahith Theegala, whose 69 was one of only nine sub-70 scores in the second half of the draw.

While every Open champion at St Andrews since 1939 was within three of the lead after the first round, Theegala looks to have the imagination and fearlessness to make his first Tour win a Major.

Watch out too for Pádraig Harrington (100), who shot 69 late in the day despite a bad knee. At 50, he will not be afraid to win a third Claret Jug should he manage to hang in for the next two days.

Recommended bets

Cameron Smith @ 9.8

Scottie Scheffler @ 10

Cameron Young @ 10

Sahith Theegala @ 85

Pádraig Harrington @ 100