Chasing the Claret Jug: Contenders, odds, and value at the 2026 Open Championship

The 2026 Open Championship will be played at Royal Birkdale, where the game’s elite congregate to win the Claret Jug. A large part of the spectators’ interest will be on the defending champion Scottie Scheffler. With the start of the tournament, people wonder if Scheffler can quickly adjust to the difficult links at Birkdale, or if some other player will use this opportunity to grab one of the game’s most coveted trophies.

The Story to Follow

The main storyline going into the tournament is around the defending champion, Scottie Scheffler. For a while now, Scheffler has been playing golf like Tiger Woods did in his prime. Scheffler’s amazing run of 78 consecutive tournaments was nonetheless brought to an end when he missed the cut at the 2026 Scottish Open. This is the first time in years that Scheffler didn’t make the cut in a tournament. Golf is known to be unforgiving when a player fails to perform even a bit below his potential and due to fatigue it’s only natural that Scheffler didn’t perform the best.

Royal Birkdale

Royal Birkdale is one of those courses where the elite golfers have played for ages. Thanks to the 2026 Open Championship, this year it will be the 11th time in the history of the game that Royal Birkdale will host the championship, with its start dating back to 1954. One of the most unique characteristics of the course is its huge sand dunes and fairways that weave their way through the valley. 

Unlike other links golf courses, where the players may be gifted by the bounce off the ground, Royal Birkdale is a course where accuracy counts from the tee box. Also, the weather is one of the important bits to consider regarding the course as cold winds and rain may suddenly come from the Irish Sea.

• The tournament will be hosted for the eleventh time at Royal Birkdale in 2026 since its first occurrence in 1954.
• Due to its proximity to the Irish Sea, players need to adjust to the sudden possibility of changes in temperature and weather conditions such as winds and rain.

A Packed Field

The competition for this year is loaded with some of the best players around who are at the top of their game. Along with Scheffler, there are other major tournament winners who will be playing in Southport and looking to take home another victory in what could be one of the greatest seasons of their careers. Rory McIlroy, the winner of a thrilling Masters Tournament this year, has high ambitions of adding another Claret Jug to his name. Also competing is Aaron Rai, whose win at the PGA Championship was shocking to all of golf after he played very well. Last but not least, Wyndham Clark is joining after winning a grueling U.S. Open just last month.

• Rory McIlroy: The Masters champion who is hungry for another major title.
• Aaron Rai: The PGA champion whose precision is perfectly suited for tough winds.
• Wyndham Clark: The U.S. Open champion who brings raw power to the coastal course.

The Outright Winner Board

So with all these skills being displayed by the players, we can rest assured that the betting boards will be buzzing with activity. If you need to find out how all the players are faring in this tournament, the Open Championship winner predictions will provide you with the current betting odds. 

Right now, Scheffler continues to be the favorite in the betting ranks at odds of +750. His odds have been lowered from what they were a month ago as the sportsbook feels confident in his long-term form. Rory McIlroy comes next in line at odds of +850 due to his success in links courses and victory at the Masters.

	Odds	Recent Results
Scottie Scheffler	+750	Missed Cut (Scottish Open) Failed to make the cut yet remains the betting favorite.
Rory McIlroy	+850	Winner (Masters) Got his anticipated career Grand Slam with a great performance.
Tommy Fleetwood	+1500	Top 15 (Scottish Open) An encouraging week on the links that proved that he does well in rough conditions.
Wyndham Clark	+3000	Winner (U.S. Open) A brilliant performance to claim his second career major championship.
Aaron Rai	+6000	Winner (PGA Championship) Showed some of the most precise play seen all season.

The Best Value?

If you wish to take advantage of some value picks that sit farther down on the board, you will find some great opportunities offering very favorable odds. Tommy Fleetwood is currently priced at +1500 and looks like an absolute steal. Fleetwood was raised playing golf in this same area and is one of the best in this event when it comes to dealing with the tough conditions. He also has plenty of experience playing at The Open and is one of the favorites of many of the fans who call this area home. The next value play would be Aaron Rai who is priced at +6000. Even though he won the PGA Championship earlier this year, his odds are quite profitable.

Who to Avoid this Week

While some players are very good values at the moment, there are also several that are worth staying away from, owing to their odds and the fact that they simply don’t suit this particular tournament. Scottie Scheffler at +750 is definitely one of those who are worth reconsidering. While he is clearly the best golfer in the world on paper, betting on him as he only recently missed a cut isn’t wise as we can’t be sure of his confidence. If you would like to participate in the tournament and ride its wave as a spectator, you can bet on golf online to try your luck, learn more about live odds, tournament matches, and prop bets.