US Open Golf
18–21 June 2026
The Open Championship 2026 — Odds, Facts & Betting Guide
16–19 July 2026 · Royal Birkdale, Southport, United Kingdom
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The Open Championship is golf's oldest major, first played in 1860, and the only one staged outside the United States. The 154th Open runs from 16 to 19 July 2026 at Royal Birkdale on England's north-west coast, where Jordan Spieth produced one of the great closing stretches to win the last Open held there in 2017.
Links golf is a different game: wind, firm ground, pot bunkers and the draw of early or late tee times can matter as much as world ranking. That is why Open betting rewards links pedigree and weather-watching more than any other major.
Where to find the latest odds
All odds are indicative only and subject to change. New customers only. T&Cs apply. 18+.
The Open Championship: fast facts
- The Open is the oldest of golf's four majors, first played at Prestwick in 1860.
- The winner receives the Claret Jug and the title Champion Golfer of the Year.
- Royal Birkdale has staged The Open ten times before 2026; Jordan Spieth won there in 2017.
- Scottie Scheffler won the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush.
- The Open is the only major played on links courses, where coastal wind is often the chief defence.
- Tee-time draws genuinely matter at The Open: changing weather can hand one half of the field a major advantage.
Past winners
| Year | Winner | Key detail |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Scottie Scheffler | Won at Royal Portrush |
| 2024 | Xander Schauffele | Second major of his year, at Royal Troon |
| 2023 | Brian Harman | Wire-to-wire at Hoylake |
| 2022 | Cameron Smith | Closing 64 at the 150th Open, St Andrews |
| 2021 | Collin Morikawa | Won on his Open debut at Royal St George's |
| 2020 | Not held | Cancelled due to the pandemic |
| 2019 | Shane Lowry | Won by six at Royal Portrush |
| 2018 | Francesco Molinari | Italy's first major champion, at Carnoustie |
| 2017 | Jordan Spieth | Famous recovery on the 13th at Royal Birkdale |
| 2016 | Henrik Stenson | Record-breaking duel with Mickelson at Troon |
How to bet on The Open Championship
Outright and each-way betting work as at any major, with bookmakers typically offering enhanced place terms. The Open's distinctive angle is links form: players with strong records in coastal, windy conditions repeatedly outrun their odds, while some elite players never take to it.
First-round leader betting carries an extra layer here — check the weather forecast and the tee-time draw before backing anyone, because a calm morning followed by a windy afternoon effectively splits the field into two different tournaments.
Top-10 and top-20 finish markets suit backing in-form links players at sensible odds without needing them to win. As ever: golf outrights are long shots by definition, losing runs are normal, and stakes should always be money you can comfortably afford to lose.
Popular markets
- Outright winner
- Each-way (extra places common)
- Top 5 / Top 10 / Top 20 finish
- First-round leader
- Top nationality markets
- Make/miss the cut
- Hole-in-one during the tournament
The Open Championship 2026: your questions answered
When is The Open 2026?
The 154th Open Championship runs from Thursday 16 July to Sunday 19 July 2026.
Where is The Open 2026 being played?
Royal Birkdale in Southport, England — the course's eleventh Open. Jordan Spieth won the last Open there in 2017.
Who won The Open in 2025?
Scottie Scheffler won the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.
What does the winner of The Open receive?
The champion receives the Claret Jug — officially the Golf Champion Trophy — and is named Champion Golfer of the Year.
Why does weather matter so much for Open betting?
Links courses are defended chiefly by wind. When conditions change between morning and afternoon waves, half the field can face a far harder course, which is why tee-time draws influence first-round leader and outright betting.