Scottie Scheffler arrives at Royal Birkdale as the defending champion and the man to beat in the final major of the 2026 season. The world No. 1 opens the 154th Open Championship as the +800 betting favorite, even after a rare stumble one week ago.
Golf’s other three majors this year went to Rory McIlroy, Aaron Rai, and Wyndham Clark, so the claret jug is up for grabs in a field that feels genuinely open. Royal Birkdale also carries recent history. It is where Jordan Spieth won the 2017 Open Championship. Below is a full breakdown of the latest 2026 Open Championship odds, the favorites at the top of the board, mid-tier value, and longshots worth a look.
Last Updated: Tuesday, July 14, 2026
2026 Open Championship — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England |
| When | Thursday, July 16 – First tee 1:35 AM ET (coverage from 4:00 AM ET) |
| TV | USA Network & Peacock (NBC on the weekend) |
Scottie Scheffler Leads the 2026 Open Championship Odds
Scheffler enters as the world’s top-ranked player and the reigning Champion Golfer of the Year after his 2025 win at Royal Portrush. His profile fits a demanding links test. Royal Birkdale rewards control and precise ball-striking, and Scheffler has been the most consistent player in the game across 2026. He owns one victory this season, several runner-up finishes, and a playoff loss at the Travelers Championship. That resume is why the market keeps him on top.
The case against him is the price and the timing. At +800, Scheffler carries an implied probability of roughly 11 percent, which is short for a 156-player field. He also missed the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open last week, snapping a made-cut streak that had stretched nearly four years. His iron play, usually his biggest edge, wobbled at The Renaissance Club. Links golf adds its own variance through wind, bounce, and tee-time draws, and the depth of this field means little room for error.
Rory McIlroy sits second at +900 and arrives in better rhythm, having contended into Sunday at the Scottish Open. He already owns the Masters this year, so the motivation to add the claret jug is obvious. Still, if you are picking the single most likely winner, the lean is Scheffler. The market has him on top for defensible reasons, and no one in this field matches his week-to-week ceiling. The read turns wrong if last week’s iron issues were not a one-off, or if the in-form Europeans behind him, McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick among them, convert their sharper current form into a hot week.
2026 Open Championship — Top Odds to Win
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | +800 |
| Rory McIlroy | +900 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | +1600 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | +1600 |
| Jon Rahm | +2500 |
| Xander Schauffele | +2500 |
| Chris Gotterup | +2800 |
| Collin Morikawa | +2800 |
| Wyndham Clark | +2800 |
| Robert MacIntyre | +3000 |
Odds accurate as of Tuesday, July 14, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest Golf Odds – Props
Open Championship Mid-Tier Value at Royal Birkdale
The most defensible Open value usually sits below the four-man cluster at the top of the board. This week that band runs from roughly +3000 to +6000, where proven links players avoid the premium attached to Scheffler and McIlroy. Fitzpatrick and Fleetwood at +1600 are strong names, but they are too short to be called value.
Robert MacIntyre (+3000) is a Scottish left-hander raised on this style of golf. Wind and firm turf suit his shot-making, and his comfort on British links courses gives him a lower floor than most at this price. The counter is a thin recent stretch of top-tier finishes, so the form has to arrive at the right time.
Viktor Hovland (+3500) has the ball flight and iron quality to handle Birkdale when he is on. His week-to-week consistency has been the question, which is exactly why the price offers upside relative to his ceiling. If his putter cooperates, he can hang around all weekend.
Shane Lowry (+6000) is the 2019 Open champion and one of the better bad-weather players in the game. Links conditions flatten the gap between him and the favorites, and he clearly relishes this stage. The knock is that he needs the draw and the wind to break his way, but at this number that is a reasonable ask. McIlroy was the tune-up favorite alongside Scheffler at last week’s Genesis Scottish Open, and the same links-tested names carry over here.
Longshots and Storylines at Royal Birkdale
Past the mid-tier group, the long end of the board holds a few names with real course or major pedigree. Jordan Spieth (+7000) is the headline storyline. He won the 2017 Open at this exact venue, and he returns to Royal Birkdale chasing the form that made him a champion here. His overall game has been streaky, so this is a ceiling play rather than a steady bet, but the course history is genuine.
Brian Harman (+10000) is a former Open champion who thrives when accuracy matters more than distance. Aaron Rai (+7000) already broke through as a major winner this year at the PGA Championship, and the Englishman will have the home crowd behind him. Both are defensible deep plays at a long price.
The biggest non-favorite story belongs to Tommy Fleetwood. He is from Southport, the town that hosts Royal Birkdale, and he is chasing his first major on his hometown course. At +1600 he is priced as a genuine contender rather than a sentimental one, and a home Open would be one of the stories of the golf year.
2026 The Open Championship Odds FAQ
Who is the favorite to win the 2026 Open Championship?
Scottie Scheffler is the favorite at +800. The world No. 1 is the defending champion and enters Royal Birkdale as the shortest price on a 156-player board, just ahead of Rory McIlroy at +900.
Who do you like to win the 2026 Open Championship?
The lean is Scottie Scheffler. He is the most consistent player in the game and the deserving favorite, though the +800 price is short and last week’s missed cut is a fair reason for caution.
When does the 2026 Open Championship start?
Round 1 begins on Thursday, July 16, 2026, with the first tee time at 1:35 AM ET at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.
What channel is the 2026 Open Championship on?
Coverage airs on USA Network and Peacock, with NBC carrying weekend coverage. USA Network’s Round 1 broadcast begins at 4:00 AM ET on Thursday.
Who won the Open Championship last year?
Scottie Scheffler won the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush. He returns to Royal Birkdale this week as the defending champion.
What is the par and yardage at Royal Birkdale?
Royal Birkdale is set up as a par 70 measuring 7,223 yards for the 2026 Open Championship.
What is the purse for the 2026 Open Championship?
The 2026 Open Championship has a purse of $17.75 million, with the winner earning $3.2 million.