British Open Expert Picks & Cheat Sheet: Best Bets at Royal Birkdale
The 2026 British Open tees off Thursday morning at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, with the world's best golfers competing for the Claret Jug in the final major championship of the season. Scottie Scheffler enters the week as the betting favorite, while Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau are among the top contenders in what promises to be a highly competitive championship.
Our golf experts have analyzed the field from every angle ahead of the opening round, so I've put together this betting guide featuring all of our British Open expert picks and predictions before the first groups tee off Thursday morning.
💰 Our British Open best bets
LJ Blut's best picks
British Open pick to win: Jon Rahm (+2000)
Jon Rahm has all the tools needed to win the British Open this week at Royal Birkdale. His strong ball-striking, controlled ball flight, and ability to handle difficult weather conditions make him a perfect fit for links golf. Rahm has consistently contended in major championships throughout his career and thrives when courses demand patience and creativity around the greens. If he keeps the driver in play and capitalizes on scoring opportunities, his experience and composure should separate him from the field. Expect Rahm to be in contention throughout the weekend and ultimately lift the Claret Jug.
British Open top prop pick: Scottie Scheffler - Top 10 finish (+200)
Scottie Scheffler is one of the safest bets to record a top-10 finish at the British Open thanks to his unmatched consistency from tee to green. His strong ball-striking and ability to avoid costly mistakes make him an ideal fit for the demanding test at Royal Birkdale. Scheffler continues to contend in nearly every tournament he enters, and his steady approach allows him to stay in the mix even when scoring conditions become difficult. Expect another disciplined performance that keeps him on the first page of the leaderboard through all four rounds.
British Open sleeper pick: Bryson DeChambeau (+6500)
Bryson DeChambeau has the power and confidence to overpower Royal Birkdale while also possessing the improved short game needed to contend in links conditions. His aggressive style creates birdie opportunities that few players can match, and he has proven he can perform on golf's biggest stages. DeChambeau enters the British Open in excellent form, with his combination of distance, iron play, and putting giving him legitimate winning upside. If he manages the coastal winds and avoids costly mistakes, Bryson has every opportunity to separate from the field and capture the Claret Jug.
Best British Open sleeper bet: Sam Burns (+4500)
Sam Burns has the game to surprise the field and capture the British Open this week at Royal Birkdale. He combines above-average driving with a reliable putter, a combination that can be especially valuable when links conditions make scoring difficult. Burns has shown he can compete against elite fields and has the patience to manage changing weather throughout four rounds. If his approach play stays sharp and he converts his birdie opportunities, Burns has the talent to climb the leaderboard quickly and emerge as a strong value pick to lift the Claret Jug.
Best British Open First Round Leader bet: Chris Gotterup (+5000)
Chris Gotterup has the game to post a low number early and emerge as the British Open first-round leader at Royal Birkdale. His combination of power off the tee and aggressive iron play gives him plenty of birdie opportunities when conditions are at their calmest on Thursday morning. Gotterup has shown he can get off to fast starts and isn't afraid to attack pins when his swing is dialed in. If he takes advantage of favorable weather and rolls in a few putts, he has the upside to lead the field after the opening round.
🏌️ LJ Blut's British Open breakdowns
Check out my British Open picks and predictions, as well as my British Open long shots. I also break down my top First Round Leader predictions in my British Open first-round leader predictions.
Dustin Saracini's best picks
British Open pick to win: Rory McIlroy (+850)
McIlroy enters Royal Birkdale in prime position to capture his seventh career major title. He's historically thrived on this layout, securing a T4 finish at Birkdale in 2017 to go along with six other career top-10 finishes at The Open. Coming off a strong T7 finish at the Scottish Open last week, and winning this tournament in 2014, his links-style form is sharp enough to finally get him back in the winner's circle.
British Open top prop pick: Matt Fitzpatrick - top 10 Finish (+170)
Fitzpatrick is putting together a career-defining season in 2026, backed by three victories and an elite statistical profile. He ranks first in this stellar field in true strokes gained: tee-to-green and strokes gained: approach, which will be vital for navigating Birkdale's tricky layout. His exceptional bogey avoidance and third-place ranking in adjusted scoring average make him an incredibly safe bet to find the first page of the leaderboard. We'll take him at +170 betting odds - a play I'd price closer to even-money.
Top LIV player: Jon Rahm (+250)
Rahm prepped for the British Open, having played the Genesis Scottish Open to acclimate to links turf, unlike his LIV peers, who skipped a competitive warmup. Backed by stellar 2026 form as the LIV Golf points leader and a T2 finish at the PGA Championship, his driver is perfectly built to cut through Birkdale's heavy winds and avoid its penalizing bunkers. With his primary LIV rivals like Bryson DeChambeau struggling in majors this season (he hasn't made a cut in a major yet this season) and others lacking consistency, Rahm's in a good spot to beat his LIV counterparts.
Rickie Fowler to miss the cut (+138)
After skipping the Genesis Scottish Open, Fowler is a strong candidate to miss the cut. Taking the week off has left him without any competitive links warmup, making it difficult to adjust to Royal Birkdale's unique turf and wind.
This lack of preparation is compounded by his highly erratic iron play - which cost him several missed cuts earlier this summer and missed cuts in three of his last five tournaments - and a below-average short game (ranking 76th in strokes gained: approach to green) that will make saving par incredibly difficult when he misses Birkdale’s tight greens. Combined with his recent putter inconsistency, Fowler will be in tough this week.
⛳️ Dustin Saracini's breakdown
Check out Dustin Saracini's full breakdown in his British Open odds and favorites and his British Open prop bets.
⛳ British Open tournament info 2026
- Where: Royal Birkdale GC (Southport, England)
- When: Thursday, July 16 - Sunday, July 19
- Field: 156
- Favorite: Scottie Scheffler (+700 via FanDuel)
- Defending champion: Scottie Scheffler
- Purse: $17.75 million
- FedEx Cup points: 750
❓ British Open FAQs
Who is the British Open favorite?
Scottie Scheffler is the consensus betting favorite to win The Open with odds of +700 via FanDuel.
Who won The Open Championship last year?
Scottie Scheffler won last year's British Open by four strokes over Harris English at -17.
When is the 2026 British Open?
The 2026 British Open will be played from July 16-19.
Where is the 2026 British Open?
The 2026 Open Championship will be played at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.
What is the British Open trophy called?
The Claret Jug is award to the winner of the British Open, also referred to as the Champion Golfer of the Year.
How can you watch the Open Championship?
NBC has the U.S. broadcasting right for The Open Championship. Parts of the tournament will be streamed on Peacock.
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