Open Championship 2026 sleeper picks include 100/1 outsider, former champion and Ryder Cup duo

Superstar names have dominated The Open in recent years but every now and then, an unlikely name climbs the leaderboard to claim the Claret Jug.

Brian Harman upset the odds at Royal Liverpool in 2023, being head and shoulders above the field to clinch glory.

He has been the most unlikely winner in years with Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele winning the last two editions.

This year’s Open at Royal Birkdale has a star-studded field yet again and there are plenty of big names in contention further down the bookies’ list.

Here’s talkSPORT.com’s sleeper picks for the 154th Open.

Tyrrell Hatton 30/1

England’s Hatton won LIV Golf Andalucia last month to underline his recent good form.

The 34-year-old has nine major top tens in his career so far and four have come over the last few years.

He was T7 at last month’s US Open and third at the Masters in April and will now hope to contend at Birkdale.

Hatton also loves links golf.

He has claimed glory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship a record three times so clearly knows how to deal with the intricacies of this unique form of the game.

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Viktor Hovland 33/1

Hovland has been something of a golfing enigma in recent years.

He beat Scottie Scheffler in a play-off to win the Travelers Championship recently and won the Valspar Championship last year.

Both wins came amid no real form to speak of and Hovland has missed the cut at the last two majors.

But the Norwegian, the 2023 FedEx Cup champion, remains one of the very best in golf when he is on.

Hovland has tinkered with his game in recent years and that has seen his results fluctuate massively.

But many still believe he is a major winner in waiting and that could come to pass if he can bring his best to Birkdale.

Brooks Koepka 50/1

Koepka had been in impressive form before he was forced to withdraw from the Canadian Open last month and then went on to miss the cut at the US Open.

But the five-time major champion has looked good since confirming his exit from LIV Golf and returning to the PGA Tour.

He will now be eager to prove his decision was correct with another deep run at one of golf’s elite events.

And while his major titles have all come on classic American courses, his love of links golf is well known.

The 36-year-old has four top tens in 11 Opens and ranks St Andrews as his favourite course.

He was T6 when the Open was last held at Birkdale and will be looking to impress again.

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Cameron Smith 80/1

The last player to claim a second Open title was Ernie Els back in 2012 and the list of multiple Open winners has not been added to much over the last few decades.

Smith will be hoping to change that this week amid his overdue return to form.

The Australian claimed a stunning victory at the Old Course in 2022, shooting six birdies on his back nine to leapfrog Rory McIlroy and claim glory.

Since joining LIV, Smith has largely disappeared from the major scene but roared back with a T7 at the PGA Championship in May.

The 32-year-old has the perfect game to excel on links and he’ll be looking to conjure memories of 2022 at Birkdale.

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Rickie Fowler 100/1

Fowler has been out of major contention for several years but he is back inside the world’s top 50 and has been rewarded with qualification to Birkdale.

Fowler came second at the Truist Championship in May and has performed well at the Arnold Palmer, RBC Heritage and Cadillac Championship this year, all Signature Events.

He is also a former Scottish Open champion, winning on the links at Gullane to prove he has what it takes to deal with The Open’s style of golf.

Fowler has not had a major top five since the 2023 US Open but don’t be surprised to see his name up the leaderboard at Birkdale.