The Open Championship 2026

The final men's major of the season takes us to one of the game's most revered links venues this week as The 154th Open Championship returns to Royal Birkdale for the 11th time. Widely regarded as one of the fairest tests in championship golf, Birkdale doesn't rely on tricked-up greens or blind shots to separate the field. Instead, it demands world-class ball striking, intelligent course management and, as always on England's north-west coast, the ability to adapt to whatever the weather delivers. With firm fairways, towering dunes and the ever-present threat of the coastal winds, another classic Open Championship looks firmly on the cards. 

Royal Birkdale has been a permanent fixture on The Open rota since first hosting in 1954 and, aside from St Andrews, no course has staged the championship more often in the modern era. The roll of honour reads like a who's who of golfing greats, with Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Ian Baker-Finch, Mark O'Meara, Pádraig Harrington and Jordan Spieth all lifting the Claret Jug here. Spieth's unforgettable victory in 2017, highlighted by his miraculous recovery from the driving range on the 13th hole before birdieing the next three holes, remains one of the defining moments in recent Open history. Branden Grace also made history that week by recording the first ever 62 in a men's major championship. 

Although Birkdale has undergone subtle changes since its last Open, its identity remains the same. The fairways are among the straightest on the Open rota, framed by steep dunes rather than thick rough, meaning accuracy from the tee is rewarded without being overly punitive. Finding the short grass is only the beginning, however, as players must then control their trajectory into firm, fast greens that are notoriously difficult to hold when the wind freshens. Creative shot-making around the greens is essential, while avoiding the deep revetted bunkers is a priority throughout the week. Those who combine elite driving with crisp iron play have traditionally thrived here, and if the weather turns typically British, patience and resilience will become just as valuable as pure ball striking. 

As always, The Open promises to provide one final examination of every part of a player's game. There is nowhere to hide on a true links course, and with Royal Birkdale once again providing a stern but wonderfully fair challenge, only the golfer capable of mastering both the course and the conditions will leave Southport on Sunday evening holding the Claret Jug.

Rory McIlroy 5pts ew 17/2 (8 places bet365)

Rory McIlroy returns to Royal Birkdale this week with the opportunity to claim a second Claret Jug and further strengthen a legacy that already places him among the greatest golfers of his generation. Indeed, there is a strong case that McIlroy is the greatest Irish sportsperson of all time, with six major championships, a career Grand Slam, multiple Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup titles, and more than two decades spent at the very top of world golf. He heads into the final major of the season in excellent shape once again after another consistent campaign, producing strong performances throughout the biggest events and carrying encouraging form into links season. Statistically, few players can match him, ranking first on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Total and Off the Tee while also sitting inside the top five in Strokes Gained: Approach, giving him arguably the strongest long-game profile in the field.

The Open Championship has often brought out McIlroy's very best golf. Since lifting the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool in 2014, he has added a pair of runner-up finishes along with several other top-10s, repeatedly proving he has the creativity and shot-making required to excel on links layouts. Royal Birkdale has also been a happy hunting ground. He finished tied fourth when The Open was last played here in 2017, producing rounds of 71-68-69-67 to finish just three shots behind Jordan Spieth. It was another reminder that Birkdale suits his eye, rewarding his combination of power, high-quality iron play and ability to flight the ball in difficult conditions.

Everything about McIlroy's game points towards another genuine run at the Claret Jug this week. He continues to lead the PGA Tour in driving performance, combining elite distance with improved accuracy, while his approach play has returned to the exceptional standard that has defined the best years of his career. He also ranks among the Tour's leaders in Greens in Regulation and Birdie Average, highlighting just how many scoring opportunities he continues to create. If the putter enjoys an above-average week on Birkdale's undulating greens, it is difficult to imagine McIlroy being too far away on Sunday afternoon. On a course that has always rewarded elite ball strikers, there are few players arriving with a stronger statistical profile or a more compelling case to lift the Claret Jug once again.

John Rahm 2.5pts ew 20/1 (10 places Powers)

Jon Rahm once again heads into The Open Championship with every chance of adding the Claret Jug to a résumé that already includes victories at both the Masters and the U.S. Open. The Spaniard has quietly pieced together another excellent season, winning on LIV Golf in Hong Kong before producing a runner-up finish at the PGA Championship and returning to the Genesis Scottish Open for valuable links preparation ahead of Royal Birkdale. While his results have been slightly more inconsistent than those of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, Rahm's ball-striking remains among the very best in world golf, and he arrives this week full of confidence after speaking positively about how his game is shaping up for the unique demands of Birkdale. 

Rahm has developed into one of the most consistent Open Championship performers of recent years despite still searching for his first Claret Jug. He finished third at Royal St George's in 2021 before following that with a runner-up finish at Royal Liverpool in 2023, where a stunning third-round 63 nearly propelled him to victory. He backed that up with another impressive tied-seventh finish at Royal Troon last year, while last season's tied-34th finish at Royal Portrush was his only real disappointment in the last five Opens. His ability to control ball flight, embrace difficult weather and remain patient on links layouts makes him a major threat whenever golf's oldest championship comes around. 

The statistical profile is equally encouraging. Rahm continues to rank among the elite in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green, with his biggest strengths remaining his powerful driving and consistently elite iron play. Few players strike the ball more solidly from tee to green, and he combines that with an underrated short game that often shines in major championships. Birkdale rewards disciplined driving and precise approach play more than outright aggression, something Rahm himself acknowledged this week as he discussed the need for patience on the firm, fast-running links. If he can produce an average week with the putter, there is every reason to believe he can once again contend deep into Sunday and finally add the Open Championship to his growing collection of major titles. 

Tyrell Hatton 2pts ew 30/1 (10 places bet365)

Tyrrell Hatton heads to Royal Birkdale with genuine aspirations of finally landing the major championship that his talent has long suggested is within reach. The Englishman has enjoyed another impressive campaign, highlighted by a third-place finish at the Masters and a victory on the LIV Golf circuit before recording a solid tied-17th finish at last week's Genesis Scottish Open. Hatton has become one of the most consistent performers in world golf over the past 18 months, and his statistical profile remains extremely strong. Across his recent starts he has averaged more than 1.15 strokes gained total per round, with the biggest strengths in his game continuing to be his elite iron play and reliable putting. 

The Open Championship has often brought out Hatton's best golf. A player raised on windy British conditions, he relishes the creativity and patience required on links layouts. He owns top-six finishes at both Royal Troon and Royal Portrush, while last year's tied-16th finish continued a run of consistently competitive performances in golf's oldest major. Few players in the field are more comfortable flighting the ball through the wind or accepting the inevitable bad breaks that links golf can produce, qualities that make him a dangerous contender whenever The Open returns to England. 

Royal Birkdale should be an ideal fit for Hatton's game. The course rewards disciplined driving, precise approach play and a sharp short game far more than sheer power, all areas in which the Englishman excels. His fiery personality has occasionally worked against him over the years, but it has also helped him grind out scores when conditions become difficult. Ranking among the world's best in strokes gained tee-to-green while remaining one of the strongest putters in elite golf, Hatton possesses all the tools required to contend. If he can continue the high standard of ball striking he has shown throughout 2026, it would be no surprise to see him firmly in the mix on Sunday as he chases a first major championship. 

Corales Puntacana Championship

Thomas Rosenmeuller 1pt ew 45/1 (10 places Powers)

Kevin Roy 1pt ew 45/1 (10 places Powers)