The Open Championship betting preview: odds, predictions and tips

Jul 13, 2026 - 16:00

Royal Birkdale is all set for the best week of golf’s summer: the oldest and most prestigious major of them all – the Open.

The Open Championship 2026 odds

Scottie Scheffler 7/1
Rory McIlroy 8/1
Matt Fitzpatrick 14/1
Tommy Fleetwood 16/1
Jon Rahm 22/1
Xander Schauffele 22/1
Chris Gotterup 25/1
Collin Morikawa 28/1
Justin Rose 28/1
Robert MacIntyre 28/1

Odds with bet365 .

Quick tips for the Open Championship 2026

Robert MacIntyre Each Way – 30/1 with Betfred
Russell Henley Each Way – 40/1 with Paddy Power
Tom Kim Each Way – 50/1 with bet365
Alex Noren for Top 20 – 11/2 with Sky Bet

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The Open Championship 2026 betting preview

Be prepared because this is going to be a week of full memories.

European golf fans will cast their minds back 50 years to 1976 when a 19-year-old Spaniard called Severiano Ballesteros introduced himself to the world with an audacious performance that was bettered only by the eventual champion Johnny Miller.

That year, the Open was held at Royal Birkdale, and it was a long, hot summer.

Sound familiar? It should be because we’re back at Royal Birkdale, and we’re all baking again.

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Padraig Harrington, meanwhile, will be recalling the 2008 Open at Royal Birkdale, when his eyes were ablaze as he found the zone on the final day and became a back-to-back champion.

Jordan Spieth will be thinking of 2017, the last Open at Royal Birkdale, when he played a sensational final five holes of drama and comedy (he hit one shot over a massive dune onto the driving range) to defeat Matt Kuchar.

And Scottie Scheffler will be remembering this event last year, at Royal Portrush, when winning seemed so simple he even talked about it being unfulfilling.

Twelve months, on he keeps getting into contention, but has forgotten how to win. A more normal lack of fulfilment, you might say.

Who will add to the memory bank this week? Let’s find out.

The Open Championship 2026 betting tips

Here are some key betting tips and insights for the Open Championship 2026.

Robert MacIntyre each way

The Scot has good memories of Southport because he logged his first-ever DP World Tour top-three finish at Hillside in 2019 – a course that is right next door to Royal Birkdale.

That was a first hint of his skills by the seaside, and he has backed it up since with wins in the 2024 Scottish Open at Renaissance and last year’s Dunhill Links Championship.

He was also second in last year’s US Open and tied seventh in last year’s Open.

He carded two 65s in the Travelers Championship at the end of June and warmed up nicely last week on home soil.

Back Robert MacIntyre each way at 30/1 with Betfred

Russell Henley each way

The American has been getting to grips with challenging for the major championship glory in recent years, and this looks a great opportunity for him to grab a first win.

He’s got five top 10s in his last nine majors including third place in this year’s Masters and fifth in the Open at Royal Troon in 2024.

He also has experience of Royal Birkdale and, although he didn’t feature high on the leaderboard, he did hit more greens in regulation than anyone else in the field.

He’s now a much more accomplished performer and he can get involved late on Sunday.

Back Russell Henley each way at 40/1 with Paddy Power

Tom Kim each way

The Korean started to drop hints of improving form early in the summer following a prolonged spell in the doldrums.

He backed it up with a superb third place in last month’s US Open, and we should consider it a nudge worth noting.

Can he go back-to-back after winning last week’s Scottish Open? Why not? He said afterwards “I love links golf” and he’s proved it in the Open, too, when sharing second place at Royal Liverpool in 2023.

Ebullience and creativity are rewarded at Royal Birkdale – and that’s a description that fits Kim.

Back Tom Kim each way at 50/1 with bet365

Alex Noren Top 20

The Swede overcame long-term injury worries to win the British Masters and the BMW PGA Championship last year which was a reminder of his quality in Europe.

He’s yet to land a win on the PGA Tour, but top 10s in the Cadillac Championship and Memorial Tournament this summer indicated that his game remains in good shape.

And a return to the linksland will boost this winner of the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart.

Moreover, he has a wonderfully consistent Open record, registering six top 20 finishes in his 11 completed starts – and two of them were at Royal Birkdale.

Back Alex Noren in the Top 20 market at 11/2 with Sky Bet

How to watch the Open Championship 2026

Venue – Royal Birkdale GC, Southport
Date – Thursday 16th July – Sunday 19th July
Broadcast – Full coverage on Sky Sports Golf

About the author

Dave Tindall is a former golf editor at SkySports.com and Golf365.com and has been writing betting previews for the PGA Tour and European Tour since 1997. He has also written for a range of betting companies, including William Hill and Betfair, as well as being a regular columnist for Rotoworld, The Guardian, Sporting Life, and Planet Sport. His other area of specialty is football while he’s also covered cricket and tennis.

Follow David on Twitter @davetindallgolf

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