The 2026 Open Championship—often referred to as the British Open—is set to take place this week, returning to the historic Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.
Tournament Details
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Dates: July 16–19, 2026
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Venue: Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, Merseyside, England
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Event Context: This marks the 154th edition of The Open. Royal Birkdale is hosting the championship for the 11th time, adding another chapter to its storied history as one of the world’s premier links courses.
Key Favorites and Betting Odds
As of mid-July 2026, the field is headlined by the world’s top-ranked players, with oddsmakers currently favoring the defending champion.
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Scottie Scheffler: Entering as the defending champion, Scheffler remains the tournament favorite, though his odds have shifted slightly following a missed cut at the Scottish Open last week. He generally sits around +700 to +750 odds to win.
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Rory McIlroy: A perennial favorite, McIlroy is hot on Scheffler’s heels, with odds typically hovering around +850 to +900. He is looking to capture his first Claret Jug since 2014.
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Contenders to Watch:
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Matt Fitzpatrick (+1500 to +2050): Highly regarded for his accuracy, which is essential for avoiding Royal Birkdale’s 123 pot bunkers.
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Tommy Fleetwood (+1500 to +2000): A strong local favorite who consistently performs well on links layouts.
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Jon Rahm (+2200): Remains a major threat due to his consistent ball-striking and mental toughness.
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Robert MacIntyre (+3900): An intriguing “peak” candidate who has shown strong recent form, including top-15 finishes in several of his last four starts.
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Tournament Storylines
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The “Shinnecock-Style” Challenge: Royal Birkdale is famous for its narrow fairways and deep bunkers. Accuracy off the tee and disciplined iron play are paramount; players who are wayward will find themselves frequently penalized by the course’s notorious hazards.
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Momentum vs. Slump: A major talking point heading into Thursday is Scottie Scheffler’s form after his recent missed cut, which was his first since 2022. Conversely, players like Tom Kim—who won the Scottish Open last week—are entering with significant momentum, though historically, winning both events in the same year is a rare feat.
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The Weather: As with any Open Championship held on a British links course, the coastal winds will be the ultimate “x-factor.” Should the weather turn, the scoring environment at Birkdale could tighten significantly.
The tournament begins on Thursday morning, July 16, with the Champion Golfer of the Year set to be crowned on Sunday, July 19.
