Scottie Scheffler enters British Open as +750 favorite at Royal Birkdale

Scottie Scheffler stands as the betting favorite to win the 2026 British Open at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.

What are the latest odds?

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler is +750 on the moneyline with BetMGM, the shortest price among all contenders. The next closest is Rory McIlroy at +900. Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood sit at +1600 apiece. Scheffler’s odds reflect his status as the reigning Open champion-he won last year at Royal Portrush-and his current form: he leads the PGA Tour in both earnings and FedEx Cup standings entering the week.

Who is playing with Scheffler?

Scheffler tees off at 4:58 a.m. EDT on Thursday, grouped with Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton. All three are LIV Golf members. DeChambeau sits at +6600 in the odds, while Hatton is +3300. The trio faces a challenging opening round at Royal Birkdale, a links course known for its firm fairways and punishing rough.

How can fans watch the action?

Coverage begins Thursday at 1:30 a.m. EDT on Peacock, shifting to USA Network at 4 a.m. The broadcast schedule runs through Sunday’s final round. Live streaming is available via Sling and Fubo for USA viewers. NBC takes over Saturday and Sunday mornings, with USA Network handling early rounds.

What’s at stake for Scheffler?

A win at Royal Birkdale would make Scheffler the first back-to-back Open champion since Tom Watson in 1982 and 1983. He’s also chasing a sixth PGA Tour title of the season. McIlroy, a past Open winner, sits just behind in the odds at +900. Fitzpatrick and Fleetwood, both major winners in other events, loom as dark horses at +1600.

Full moneyline breakdown

Beyond the top names, the field includes Jon Rahm (+2200), Viktor Hovland (+2500), Chris Gotterup (+2800), Xander Schauffele (+2800), and Collin Morikawa (+3000). Lower-ranked contenders like Cameron Young (+3500) and Tom Kim (+5000) round out the list. The odds suggest a tight race, with Scheffler’s experience giving him the edge.