Royal Birkdale Set for 154th Open as Scheffler Odds Drift Ahead of Tee-Off
Betting markets shift ahead of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, with value identified in English contenders and recent form players.
The 154th Open Championship is scheduled to commence at Royal Birkdale on July 16, 2026, with the field set to tee off in less than 24 hours. Scottie Scheffler enters the tournament as the betting favourite at +620, a significant drift from +500 twelve days ago and +590 over the weekend. The shift in odds follows Scheffler’s first missed cut in nearly four years at the previous major held at The Renaissance Club.
Market sentiment has also shifted toward English players, with Tommy Fleetwood rising to become the third favourite after overtaking Jon Rahm. Fleetwood’s increased support is attributed to local backing from his hometown of Southport. Justin Rose has similarly attracted considerable betting attention, bolstered by his historical presence at the venue; he is one of four players in the field with previous experience at Royal Birkdale, having competed there in 1998, 2008, and 2017.
Despite the narrative surrounding English players seeking to end a drought for home winners, Tyrrell Hatton’s odds have remained relatively flat at approximately +3600. This stability persists despite Hatton’s victory at the LIV Golf Andalucia in June and a third-place finish at Augusta. Hatton was cut at Birkdale nearly a decade ago, yet his recent form has not significantly moved the betting lines.
Other players identified as potential value picks include Hideki Matsuyama, listed at +9200. Matsuyama finished 14th at Birkdale in 2017 and 16th in the previous year’s Open, while also making all 16 weekends on the PGA Tour this year. Nicolai Hojgaard is also highlighted as a flier, noted for ranking fourth on the PGA Tour for driving distance, while Eugenio Chacarra is recommended at +15500 following two DP World Tour wins in June.
Specific betting suggestions include a parlay combining Scottie Scheffler and Chris Gotterup to finish in the top 20, including ties, which is currently paying +200. The Open has not seen a back-to-back winner since Padraig Harrington in 2008, the longest such stretch among the four majors.
