The final major of the 2026 season arrives Thursday when The Open Championship returns to Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler headlines a field that includes every one of the top 30 in the FedExCup standings and all of the top 50 in the world ranking.
The venue stages golf’s oldest major for the 11th time, trailing only St. Andrews on the current rota. Our featured pick sits at the top of the board with Scheffler, but the week also carries a powerful local storyline in Southport native Tommy Fleetwood. Below we break down the market and make our picks.
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 15, 2026
2026 The Open Championship — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England |
| When | Thursday, July 16 – First tee times 1:35 AM ET |
| TV | USA Network, NBC & Peacock |
Pre-Tournament Report
The 156-player field is as strong as any golf assembles all year. Every one of the top 30 in the FedExCup and all of the top 50 in the world ranking are entered, so there are no marquee absentees at the top of the board. Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Matt Fitzpatrick, Fleetwood, Jon Rahm, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark, Robert MacIntyre, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg and in-form Chris Gotterup all headline the entry list.
Royal Birkdale is one of the fairer tests on The Open rotation. Unlike some links, it rarely relies on blind shots or quirky bounces. Instead it places a premium on quality ball-striking, patient course management and control of ball flight in the wind. At a par 70 measuring 7,223 yards, accuracy and iron control matter more than raw distance. That profile has historically favored elite ball-strikers, which shapes the top of our board. For the full market breakdown, see our companion 2026 Open Championship odds preview.
The recent pattern is worth noting. Scheffler won last year at Royal Portrush by four strokes, and an American has claimed four of the last five Claret Jugs. The weekend field is trimmed to the low 70 and ties after 36 holes, so surviving Friday is the first task for every longer-priced pick.
2026 The Open Championship — Top Odds to Win
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | +850 |
| Rory McIlroy | +900 |
| Matt Fitzpatrick | +1600 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | +1600 |
| Jon Rahm | +2200 |
| Wyndham Clark | +2800 |
| Xander Schauffele | +2800 |
| Chris Gotterup | +3000 |
| Collin Morikawa | +3000 |
| Robert MacIntyre | +3000 |
Odds accurate as of Wednesday, July 15, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest Golf Odds – Props
Top Pick to Win — Scottie Scheffler
The Pick: Scottie Scheffler to win (+850)
Scheffler enters as the world No. 1, the FedExCup points leader and the defending Open champion. His game fits Royal Birkdale’s ball-striking demands about as well as any player in the field, and he arrives in strong form. He finished T4 at the U.S. Open and was runner-up at the Travelers Championship, losing a playoff to Viktor Hovland. On a course that rewards control and repeatability, the most complete ball-striker in the world is a logical starting point.
The case against is the price and the format. At +850, Scheffler carries an implied probability near 10.5 percent, a short number in a 156-man field where one stray afternoon in the wind can end a week. He has also been in contention lately without closing, most notably the missed short putt that cost him the Travelers playoff. Links golf adds variance that even the best player cannot fully control. Still, no one in the field pairs his tee-to-green quality with a fresh Open title, and he is the pick with the caveat that the reward is modest for the risk.
Value Play — Tommy Fleetwood
The Pick: Tommy Fleetwood to win (+1600)
Few storylines in golf are as compelling as Fleetwood chasing a Claret Jug in his hometown. He grew up near Royal Birkdale and is trying to win his first major at his home course. The form backs the narrative. Fleetwood has six top-10 finishes this season and arrives on a run of five straight top-15s, including a T11 at last month’s U.S. Open. He finally broke through for his first PGA Tour title at the 2025 Tour Championship, and his links pedigree is proven, with runner-up finishes at the 2018 U.S. Open and the 2019 Open Championship.
The counterpoint is real. Fleetwood is still seeking his first major after several near-misses, and a home Open brings enormous crowd pressure that can cut both ways. That record of contending without quite closing is why he sits at +1600 rather than alongside the top two. That price, however, is exactly the point. For a player with this links profile, this form and this motivation, +1600 offers far more margin than the chalk.
Tournament Outlook — Picks and Final Thoughts
The secondary markets offer two more angles. In the Top American Player market, Chris Gotterup (+1100) stands out as value. Gotterup has won three times on the PGA Tour this year, at the Sony Open, the WM Phoenix Open and the John Deere Classic, and he has climbed into the top 10 of the world ranking. He also finished T3 in his Open debut last year. The risk is that Scheffler (+350) is the class of the American contingent, but Gotterup’s price reflects real upside if the favorite has an ordinary week.
For a Thursday angle, Rory McIlroy as 1st Round Leader (+2200) is a defensible dart. McIlroy is a fast starter who won the 2014 Open wire-to-wire, and he opens at +900 to win the title. The caveat is obvious: first-round leader is high-variance in a 156-player field, so treat it as a small-stakes swing rather than a core position.
As for the golf itself, Royal Birkdale’s par 70 limits birdie chances relative to a typical Tour stop, so patience and bogey avoidance usually decide the Claret Jug. Firm, fast links turf and the wind will test iron control all week, and the low 70 and ties survive to the weekend. To recap our four picks: Scottie Scheffler to win (+850) as the top pick, Tommy Fleetwood to win (+1600) as the value play, Chris Gotterup as Top American Player (+1100), and Rory McIlroy as 1st Round Leader (+2200).
2026 Open Championship Betting FAQ
Who is the favorite to win the 2026 Open Championship?
Scottie Scheffler is the favorite at +850 odds to win. The world No. 1 and FedExCup leader is defending the title he won at Royal Portrush in 2025.
When does the 2026 Open Championship start?
Round 1 is Thursday, July 16, 2026, at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. The first tee times go off at 1:35 AM ET because of the time difference in England.
What channel is the 2026 Open Championship on?
USA Network and NBC carry the tournament in the United States, with Peacock providing streaming coverage. On Thursday, USA airs the event from 4 AM to 3:30 PM ET.
Who won the Open Championship last year?
Scottie Scheffler won the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, finishing 17 under par for a four-stroke victory over Harris English.
What is the par and yardage at Royal Birkdale?
Royal Birkdale is 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 offers a record purse of $17.75 million, with the winner earning roughly $3.2 million.