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The fourth and final major championship of the 2026 season takes the golf world to Royal Birkdale in England for the 2026 British Open from July 16-19.
Jordan Spieth hoisted the Claret Jug the last time The Open Championship came to Royal Birkdale in 2017, but it's defending champion Scottie Scheffler who leads the way in this year's British Open odds.
British Open odds (2026): Who'll win at Royal Birkdale?
Golfer
Scottie Scheffler
+400
Rory McIlroy
+700
Jon Rahm
+1400
Tommy Fleetwood
+1600
Xander Schauffele
+1600
Bryson DeChambeau
+1800
Cameron Young
+1800
Ludvig Aberg
+2200
Matt Fitzpatrick
+2500
Tyrrell Hatton
+2500
Collin Morikawa
+2800
Justin Rose
+2800
Robert MacIntyre
+2800
Viktor Hovland
+3300
Brooks Koepka
+4500
Justin Thomas
+4500
Chris Gotterup
+4500
Odds courtesy of BetMGM — one of our best golf betting sites — on May 18.
British Open favorites
Scottie Scheffler (+400)
The Open Championship seemed like it would be the toughest nut to crack of the four majors for Scottie Scheffler. That was before he dominated the field at Portrush last year to win by four.
While wins haven't come as often in 2026 as they have in recent years, the form is still strong enough to run away from the field like he did a year ago.
Rory McIlroy (+700)
Rory McIlroy's major championship season is off to a great start after winning his second straight Masters and finishing T7 at the PGA Championship despite a poor opening-round 74.
He finished T7 at Royal Portrush last year and finished T4 when The Open last came to Royal Birkdale in 2017.
Royal Birkdale Golf Club course info
Royal Birkdale is a 7,156-yard Par 70 located in Southport, England, that was designed by Frederick G. Hawtree and J.H. Taylor. It features flatter fairways than most links-style courses, but hilly rough areas make missed fairways incredibly penal. The wind will also provide some fight, as is usually the case at this tournament.
British Open opening odds
Golfer
Opening odds
Scottie Scheffler
+400
Rory McIlroy
+900
Jon Rahm
+1400
Bryson DeChambeau
+1800
Ludvig Åberg
+2000
Tommy Fleetwood
+2000
Xander Schauffele
+2000
Robert MacIntyre
+3000
Tyrrell Hatton
+3000
Collin Morikawa
+3500
Viktor Hovland
+3500
Opening odds courtesy of SportsOddsHistory.
British Open past winner odds
Let's take a look at some recent British Open winners and their closing odds to win:
Year
Golfer
Odds
2025
Scottie Scheffler
+600
2024
Xander Schauffele
+1400
2023
Brian Harman
+12500
2022
Cameron Smith
+2500
2021
Collin Morikawa
+3000
2020
No event: COVID-19 related.
N/A
2019
Shane Lowry
+8000
2018
Francesco Molinari
+2500
2017
Jordan Spieth
+1200
2016
Henrik Stenson
+2500
2015
Zach Johnson
+8000
Odds courtesy of SportsOddsHistory.
The Open Championship upcoming venues
Year
Course
Location
2027
Old Course at St. Andrews
St Andrews, Scotland
2028
Royal Lntham & St Annes
Lancashire, England
How to bet on The Open Championship
The British Open is one of the most bet golf events of the year, so naturally, many will be placing their first golf bets on the tournament. If that happens to be you, we've got you covered with our beginner's guide to how to bet on golf.
The most popular way to bet on golf is by simply picking the winner, which is referred to as an outright. There are plenty of other ways to wager on most golf betting sites, however, including top finishers, head-to-head matchups, and plenty of props.
The Open Championship odds FAQs
Who has the best odds to win the 2026 Open Championship?
Scottie Scheffler has the best odds to win the 2026 Open Championship at +400. That's an implied probability of 20%. Remember, odds are subject to change, so the favorite can shift as results and news move the market.
How often are 2026 Open Championship odds updated?
Books can adjust Open Championship futures at any time, especially after PGA Tour events, major news, or heavy betting action. On this page, the odds shown reflect the timestamp listed in the odds table. If you’re comparing prices, refresh the page and check the book’s current listing.
Do betting favorites usually win The Open Championship?
Not always. Open Championship outrights are a deep market, and even elite players win at a low rate in a single-event sample. Historically, many winners come from the short-to-mid range rather than the single shortest favorite. Use favorites as a starting point, then compare price to course fit, current form, and alternative markets like Top 10/Top 20.
What’s the best way to bet on The Open Championship besides outrights?
If you don’t want the volatility of an outright, consider Top 5/Top 10/Top 20 finisher bets or head-to-head matchups, which can better reflect form and course fit. Props can also offer angles without needing the winner.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
