It's not too hard to win the British Open. All you have to do is make 33 greens in regulation in a 36-hole stretch, blast out of the sand for eagle and figure out a way to beat back 80 or so of the top golfers to be found in the world.

Rory McIlroy did it before, in 2014. And now he is poised to do it again. Or at least that is the general consensus as the fourth and final round of the Open gets underway on Sunday.

McIlroy is tied for the lead with Norway's Viktor Hovland, after both of them shot 66 on Saturday. McIlroy has won four previous majors, while Hovland has never had a top ten finish in a major.

And that is probably one explanation as to why McIlroy is the favorite - over everybody, actually - going into the final round, according to a special proposition at BetOnline:

Rory McIlroy -120
The Field +100

This won't be any kind of miracle comeback for McIlroy, who was the pre-tournament favorite and has been close to the lead throughout. He's only missed three greens in regulation in the last 36 holes (two rounds), and he's been aided by, well, a little bit of luck along the way.

Everyone knows that these players have been able to drive the Par 4s this week because of the favorable conditions. McIlroy drove the ball into the bunker that was protecting the green on the 10th hole. But he hit the sand shot of a lifetime -admittedly without any obstruction - that went right into the hole. Eagle.

Hovland made a magical eagle of his own on a Par 4, as he chipped in from 139 yards. Many players have been using the "Texas Wedge," which is a putter outside of the green, and perhaps from considerable distances. But Hovland made his eagle out of the rough.

But if you thought that was slick, Shane Lowry did that one better. The 2019 Open champion made back-to-back eagles on the ninth and tenth holes on Saturday, and both of them are Par 4s.

Lowry's not in contention, but others are. Here are the odds to win the Open, as they are posted at BetOnline:

Rory McIlroy -120
Viktor Hovland +200
Cameron Smith +1200
Cameron Young +2200
Scottie Scheffler +2200
Si Woo Kim +4500
Dustin Johnson +5000
Matthew Fitzpatrick +10000
Tommy Fleetwood +12500
Adam Scott +20000
Jordan Spieth +20000

Dustin Johnson is a longshot at 50-1, and he is +150 to inch his way into the top five by tournament's end. Johnson is sitting at 10-under, and is in sole possession of seventh place. He's not likely to win, which is a relief to the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, which would have been stuck for an answer if a LIV Golf member would have prevailed.

If you recall, before the tournament started, McIlroy had softened his stance to some extent on the LIV situation, suggesting that the PGA Tour would have to "accept and change."

But we wonder whether there was a subliminal message in his quote that came after the third round was over, as he was asked about his approach on Sunday.

“Nothing’s given to you, and I have to go out there and earn it, just like I’ve earned everything else in my career."

Perhaps a bit of a dig at the LIV series, which features guaranteed money to all participants.

So it could be Rory's time to go back to being a little more brazen about the situation.

By end of business on Sunday, he may well have earned it.

There is still time to get in on some British Open wagering at BetOnline...... But we don't want you to forget that they have all the tours covered, every week of the year. So the action never stops.........And as far as action is concerned, you can get in on it by using your credit card, as well as just about every cryptocurrency known to man!