The Open Championship 2026 - Golf Major Betting Odds & Tips

Stake is the place to be for betting on golf, with coverage of all major tournaments, including the Open Championship. Get the latest odds right here, or read on to learn more about the tournament and what to expect when betting at Stake Sportsbook.

What is the British Open Championship?

The Open Championship, often referred to simply as The Open or the British Open, is the oldest golf tournament in the world and one of the most prestigious. It was first played in 1860 and today is one of the men’s major golf championships, offering a chance for both amateur and professional golfers to win a share of the multi-million dollar prize fund.

The tournament is organised by the R&A and forms part of the European Tour, the PGA Tour and the Japan Golf Tour. It takes place at selected coastal link golf courses across the United Kingdom, and the winner of the championship is named the Champion Golfer of the Year, while also being awarded the Claret Jug.

What are The Grand Slam Tournaments/PGA Major Championships

The four men’s major golf championships are:

• The Masters

• The PGA Championship

• The US Open

• The Open Championship

Winning all four tournaments in either a calendar year or over the course of a career is known as the Grand Slam. To date, no player has achieved a calendar-year Grand Slam.

History of the Open Championship

The first Open Championship was played in October 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland. Eight golfers took part, playing 3 rounds of the 12-hole course. The winner, Willie Park Sr., was declared the champion, winning the Challenge Belt, which was donated by the Earl of Eglinton. From the following year, the tournament also became open to amateur golfers as well as professionals and a prize fund of £10 was introduced.

The Claret Jug, a silver trophy which is still awarded to winners today, was first introduced in 1872. From 1892, it was played at courses across the UK, and extended to 4 rounds of 18 holes played over 2 days.

Harry Vardon holds the record for the most victories at the Open Championship, having won the tournament 6 times.

European Tour/DP World Tour

The Open Championship forms part of the European Tour, also known as the DP Tour, which is a professional golf tour that was founded in 1972. It’s organised by the European Tour Group, and features events across the world, with the DP World Tour Playoffs crowning the final champion of the tour.

Format & Schedule of the Open Championship

156 players can enter the Open Championship, either through the qualifying process or by automatic qualification based on performance at high-profile tournaments. Over the 4-day tournament, players compete over 72 holes of stroke play, with 18 holes played per day. After 36 holes, players in the top 70 places make the cut to play in the remaining 2 rounds. If the first place is tied at the end of 72 holes, a 3-hole aggregate playoff is held, which is followed by sudden death if the score is still tied.

When is the Open Championship?

The 2026 Open Championship will take place between 16 and 19 July and will be held at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, UK.

Which Players are Playing in the 2026 Open Championship?

So far, the following players have qualified for the 2026 Open:

Who won the 2025 Open Championship?

Scottie Scheffler was named the Champion Golfer of the Year after winning the 2025 Open Championship. He finished ahead of Harris English in second place and Chris Gotterup in 3rd place. Meanwhile, Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick, and Li Haotong ended up tied for 4th place.

How to Bet on the Open Championship & Types of Golf Betting

Once you’ve created your Stake account, you can start betting straight away. If you’re new to sports betting, we recommend checking out our ultimate betting guide, and we’ve also got a guide on how to bet on golf. Alternatively, just follow these steps to place your first bets:

1. Log in to your Stake.com account using your secure passkey and check your current balance.

2. If you need to, you can make a deposit using any supported payment method and local currency, with options including Canadian Dollars, Turkish Lira, Vietnamese Dong, Argentine Pesos, Chilean Pesos, Mexican Pesos, USD in Ecuador, and Indian Rupees.

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4. Send your coins to your Stake wallet from your wallet or exchange. You can also use a platform such as Mesh, MoonPay or Swapped.com to buy crypto before transferring it.

5. Once your coins arrive in your Stake wallet, you can swap between supported cryptocurrencies and store them securely in the Stake vault.

6. Search for the golfer or event you want to bet on to see all live and upcoming events, or use the menu to look up Golf > Men > British Open 2026.

7. Select a bet to add to your bet slip, then enter your stake.

8. Check your potential payout before confirming to place your bet.