PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – JULY 20: Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates victory on 18th green with the Claret Jug on Day Four of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 20, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Alex Pantling/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
R&A via Getty Images
The Open Championship is the final opportunity of professional golf to claim a major victory this calendar year. After a season full of surprises and excitement at majors, Royal Birkdale will host the event with all the world’s best golfers descending on this ancient course to try and lift the Claret Jug.
Major tournaments are still one of the few events on the schedule which have all the best golfers, regardless of tour, being in the same field. It’s a star studded event, and one all golf fans will be watching.
Let’s take a look at the details of the upcoming Open Championship:
- Dates: July 16-19
- Location: Southport, Merseyside
- Course: Royal Birkdale Golf Club
- Course Details: Par 70, 7,223 yards
- Field: Open Championship
- Total Purse: $17.75 million
It’s still important to take a look at the past winners of this event:
Open Championship Past Winners
- 2025 – Scottie Scheffler (Royal Portrush)
- 2024 – Xander Schauffele (Royal Troon)
- 2023 – Brian Harmon (Royal Liverpool)
- 2022 – Cameron Smith (St. Andrews)
- 2021 – Collin Morikawa (Royal St. George’s)
Let’s take a look at pre-tournament winner odds:
2026 Open Championship Odds
- Scottie Scheffler (+620)
- Rory McIlroy (+850)
- Tommy Fleetwood (+1800)
- Matt Fitzpatrick (+1850)
- Jon Rahm (+1850)
- Xander Schauffele (+2500)
When it comes to picks for this event, I’d start with my favorite and long shot picks. The favorite pick is the winner pick I like the most. For the long shot winner, that is a golfer who has over +2000 odds to win. It is a long shot pick for a reason, and finding those can be like finding a needle in a haystack.
Here are my favorite and long shot picks for the 2026 Open Championship:
Favorite: Matt Fitzpatrick (+1850)
Long Shot: Collin Morikawa (+3400)
I know there are plenty of pundits who provide weekly picks who are in on Scottie Scheffler this week. I’m just not one of them. Last week’s missed cut scared me enough to avoid Scheffler on all fronts this week, and focus on someone’s game who is suited for a course like Royal Birkdale, and is also playing well.
That would be Matt Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick has won three times on tour this year and is coming off a T3 finish at the Scottish Open. At +1850 odds, it’s a good bet.
Morikawa, when healthy, has the game which fits links golf. He has enough distance, but his iron game is what keeps him atop the field. If Morikawa can make some putts, don’t be shocked to see him in the mix on Sunday.
Top 5 Bets For The Open Championship 2026
- Rory McIlroy (+184)
- Matt Fitzpatrick (+335)
Just like Fitzpatrick, McIlroy is coming off a good tournament at the Scottish Open. When I saw plus odds for him to be in the Top 5, I thought it was a smart play. McIlroy is at the point in his career where he likely only gets truly motivated for the majors, and I think he’s near the top of the leaderboard when the dust settles Sunday.
I’m going to double down on Fitzpatrick as a Top 5 pick, and with +335 odds it was hard to pass up. If Fitzpatrick doesn’t win outright, I think he’ll be in the Top 5 of the tournament.
Top 10 Picks For The Open Championship 2026
- Wyndham Clark (+320)
- Tommy Fleetwood (+160)
Wyndham Clark is arguably one of the hottest golfers in the field, and his play last weekend at the Scottish Open has me feeling like his game can translate to links golf. I felt the same a year ago when Scheffler placed well in Scotland before going on to win the Open. I like Clark getting +320 to be in the Top 10.
This is a home match for Fleetwood, who grew up in the area, and while I don’t envision him winning the major, I think he’ll play well and finish around the Top 10 for the 2026 Open Championship.
Top 20 Value Picks For The Open Championship 2026
- Justin Rose (+154)
- Alex Fitzpatrick (+196)
Justin Rose could have been a long shot play for me, and I truly believe he has an opportunity to win this major. However, I’m going to stay away from the outright win pick, and focus on a Top 20 for Rose. He hasn’t had the same type of momentum he had since winning early this year and being in the final pairing at The Masters. Let’s hope he can re-gain his form.
My “gut pick” this week is Alex Fitzpatrick to finish Top 20. It was Fitzpatrick who earned his tour card after he and his brother Matt won the Zurich Classic in New Orleans earlier this season. He’s taken advantage of the opportunity, and I think he continues to do so this weekend.
Best Prop Bets, Parlays And Bonus Plays For The 2026 Open Championship
For bonus plays, these are picks which I don’t necessarily hang my hat on, but still provide value for some who want more exotic plays outside of the aforementioned picks. Sometimes bonus plays are parlays, double chances, triple chances, and even some fun plays for that particular event.
Here are the bonus plays for the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open:
Top 30: Jordan Spieth (+146)
Top 20 Parlay: Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood (+570)
1st Time Winner: No (+210)
Top LIV Golfer: Tyrell Hatton (+400)