{"id":805086,"date":"2026-07-16T06:37:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T06:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/805086\/"},"modified":"2026-07-16T06:37:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T06:37:14","slug":"open-championship-preview-picks-tv-schedule-odds-and","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/805086\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Championship preview: Picks, TV schedule, odds, and"},"content":{"rendered":"

The final major of the 2026 season is upon us, with the brilliant Royal Birkdale set to host the Open Championship for the 11th time.<\/p>\n

Scottie Scheffler returns as the defending champion following his win at Royal Portrush last year, but he’s coming off his first missed cut in 78 tournaments last week. Should he lift the Claret Jug again, he would end a streak of 12 straight first-time Open champions.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc49 Bet on the Open Championship with theScore Bet here<\/a><\/p>\n

Here’s everything you need to know for the Open Championship, including picks to win and two potential long shots.<\/p>\n

Jump to: How to watch<\/a> | The course<\/a> | Previous winners<\/a> | The favorites<\/a> | Picks to win<\/a> | Long shots<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa How to watch<\/a><\/p>\n

United States<\/p>\n

Date
\nTime (ET)
\nChannel<\/p>\n

July 16
\n1:30 – 4:00 a.m.
\nPeacock<\/p>\n

4:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
\nUSA<\/p>\n

July 17
\n1:30 – 4:00 a.m.
\nPeacock<\/p>\n

4:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
\nUSA<\/p>\n

July 18
\n5:00 – 7:00 a.m.
\nUSA<\/p>\n

7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
\nNBC<\/p>\n

July 19
\n4:00 – 7:00 a.m.
\nUSA<\/p>\n

7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
\nNBC<\/p>\n

Canada<\/p>\n

Date
\nTime (ET)
\nChannel<\/p>\n

July 16
\n4:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
\nGolf Channel<\/p>\n

July 17
\n4:00 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
\nGolf Channel<\/p>\n

July 18
\n5:00 – 7:00 a.m.
\nGolf Channel<\/p>\n

7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
\n TSN 1<\/p>\n

July 19
\n4:00 – 7:00 a.m.
\nGolf Channel<\/p>\n

7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
\n TSN 3<\/p>\n

\u26f3\ufe0f The course<\/a> Michael Reaves \/ Getty Images Sport \/ Getty<\/p>\n

Royal Birkdale Golf Club<\/p>\n

7,223 yards, par 70
\nRedesigned in 1932 by Fred Hawtree and John Henry Taylor, with multiple generations of the Hawtree family working on the course over the past 75 years
\nLatest renovation by Tom Mackenzie presents multiple new challenges from the last Open played at Birkdale in 2017
\nHosting The Open for the 11th time, second all time to only the Old Course at St. Andrews
\nImpressive list of past winners including Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, and Jordan Spieth
\nOne of the flattest courses in The Open rotation, with level holes framed by massive dunes that often look more like Ireland than northwest England
\n\ud83c\udfc6 Previous winners<\/a><\/p>\n

2025: Scottie Scheffler (-17), Royal Portrush
2024: Xander Schauffele (-9), Royal Troon
2023: Brian Harman (-13), Royal Liverpool
2022: Cam Smith (-20), St. Andrews
2021: Collin Morikawa (-15), Royal St. George’s
2020: No tournament
2019: Shane Lowry (-15), Royal Portrush
2018: Francesco Molinari (-8), Carnoustie
2017: Jordan Spieth (-12), Royal Birkdale<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfcc\ufe0f The favorites<\/a><\/p>\n

Player
\nOdds<\/p>\n

Scottie Scheffler
\n+800<\/p>\n

Rory McIlroy
\n+900<\/p>\n

Matt Fitzpatrick
\n+1400<\/p>\n

Tommy Fleetwood
\n+1400<\/p>\n

Jon Rahm
\n+2000<\/p>\n

Xander Schauffele
\n+2500<\/p>\n

Cam Young
\n+3000<\/p>\n

Chris Gotterup
\n+3000<\/p>\n

Collin Morikawa
\n+3000<\/p>\n

Justin Rose
\n+3000<\/p>\n

Ludvig Aberg
\n+3000<\/p>\n

Robert MacIntyre
\n+3000<\/p>\n

Tyrrell Hatton
\n+3000<\/p>\n

Viktor Hovland
\n+3000<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc49 Bet on the Open Championship with theScore Bet here<\/a><\/p>\n

Scottie Scheffler<\/p>\n

Scheffler is still listed as the favorite, but we haven’t seen a +800 beside his name in years. He was priced at just +475 two majors ago at the PGA Championship, but some less-than-stellar play – at least by his outrageous standards – has him close to McIlroy for top spot. Although Scheffler missed his first cut in 78 starts last week at the Scottish Open, he’s the defending champion and remains the World No. 1 for a reason. If you were ever looking to put Scheffler on a betting card, this is almost unheard-of value for the 30-year-old.<\/p>\n

Rory McIlroy<\/p>\n

McIlroy is coming off a sizzling final round at the Scottish Open, and he has a strong track record at Royal Birkdale with a T-4 showing in 2017. He’s firmly established himself as one of the best links players in the world of late with three top-seven finishes in his last four Open Championships.<\/p>\n

Matt Fitzpatrick<\/p>\n

Both men listed at +1400 would be extremely popular winners in northwest England, with either Fitzpatrick or Tommy Fleetwood capable of ending the 34-year drought for an Englishman at The Open. Despite his English roots, Fitzpatrick hasn’t exactly been a links master in his career, but he did post a fourth-place showing at last year’s Open Championship. He enters in perhaps the best form of his life with three wins, two runner-up showings, and two other top-four finishes in his last 12 events.<\/p>\n

Tommy Fleetwood<\/p>\n

Sunday has the potential to be an all-time day for residents of Southport, with a potential combo of an England World Cup title and an Open Championship for the hometown lad. Fleetwood will receive the most support this week with Birkdale just minutes from his childhood course, Formby Hall.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcb5 Picks to win<\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfcc\ufe0f Bet: Rory McIlroy to win (+900)<\/a><\/p>\n

He’s rested and prepared, he’s got great history at Birkdale, and he’s playing links golf better than he ever has before. There’s a ton of reasons to back McIlroy to claim his second Claret Jug and seventh major title this week.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfcc\ufe0f Bet: Matt Fitzpatrick to win (+1400)<\/a><\/p>\n

We mentioned Fitzpatrick’s incredible form, and his game is a perfect fit for Birkdale. Firm conditions will level the field in terms of distance, placing increased importance on approach and around-the-green play. Fitzpatrick leads the PGA TOUR in both those statistical categories this year.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfcc\ufe0f Bet: Collin Morikawa to win (+3000)<\/a><\/p>\n

You might not fancy Morikawa in traditional Open Championship conditions, but he already has a Claret Jug in his trophy case from ideal weather in 2021 at Royal St. George’s. Few people on the planet are better at controlling the ball with their irons than Morikawa, and he enters with a third-place showing in his last start.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udca5 Long shots<\/a> Ben Jared \/ PGA TOUR \/ Getty<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfcc\ufe0f Bet: Hideki Matsuyama to win (+7500)<\/a><\/p>\n

A course that places a premium on iron play and shots around the green? That’s Matsuyama’s music. The Japanese star has steady but unspectacular results thus far this season. He does have a promising history at Birkdale, however, with a T-14 at this layout in 2017.<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfcc Bet: Jordan Spieth to win (+9000)<\/a><\/p>\n

Does anything in Spieth’s form suggest he should win this week? No. Is there some trend in recent majors that makes him a likely Open champion for the second time? Also no. However, Spieth has never missed a cut in the Open, and he’s back at the site of perhaps his greatest triumph in 2017. If that’s not enough justification to take a flier on him at +9000, nothing is.<\/p>\n

US: Must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET; Hope is here. Call (800)-327-5050<\/a> or visit gamblinghelplinema.org<\/a> for 24\/7 support (MA); Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).<\/p>\n

CA: Please play responsibly. AB (18+) & ON (19+) only. If gambling is affecting your mental health or well-being, 211 Alberta is here to help. Call or text 211 or visit ab.211.ca<\/a> (AB). Call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600<\/a>. Text us at 247247 or chat with us at www.connexontario.ca<\/a> (ON).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The final major of the 2026 season is upon us, with the brilliant Royal Birkdale set to host…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":805087,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[443],"tags":[49,48,622,82],"class_list":["post-805086","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-golf","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-golf","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/805086","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=805086"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/805086\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/805087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=805086"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=805086"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=805086"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}