Open Championship Betting Tips

No major asks players to adapt quite like The Open Championship. The best golfers in the world spend most of the year competing on manicured courses where high, aggressive approach play is rewarded, but links golf demands a broader range of shots and an ability to solve problems as they appear.

That will certainly be the case at Royal Birkdale, which stages The Open for the 11th time. The Southport venue has produced champions ranging from Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson to Padraig Harrington and Jordan Spieth, with the latter lifting the Claret Jug when the championship was last held here in 2017.

At 7,223 yards and playing to a par of 70, Birkdale is not a course that can simply be overpowered. The challenge begins with avoiding the numerous bunkers scattered across the property, but positioning is just as important as finding short grass. Players who repeatedly leave themselves approaching from the wrong areas will find it difficult to attack.

The greens provide another examination. Distance control will be vital, particularly when conditions firm up, while missed approaches can leave awkward recoveries from a variety of lies. Creativity around the greens is an obvious asset, although much will depend on how the course reacts to a warm and largely dry week in Merseyside.

Recent renovations have changed several holes and added close to 70 yards since 2017, providing a slightly different test for those returning from nine years ago. However, Birkdale remains a venue where good decisions and precise execution are usually rewarded.

Golf tipster Ben Smith has made four selections with BetMGM, one of the leading golf betting sites.

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Winner (each-way 7 places) - Viktor Hovland 28/1

Viktor Hovland has spent enough time around major leaderboards to suggest a breakthrough is coming. The Norwegian has recorded top-seven finishes in all four of golf's biggest events, with fourth at St Andrews in 2022 his best effort in this championship.

His form has not always been easy to predict over the last couple of seasons, but victory at the Travelers Championship last month was a significant result. Hovland held his nerve to defeat Scottie Scheffler in a play-off before finishing 13th at the Scottish Open three weeks later.

At his best, Hovland remains one of the finest tee-to-green players in the game. His long game is in good order and, having returned to the winner's circle in 2026, he looks ready to make another serious push for a first major title.

Winner (each-way 7 places) - Robert MacIntyre 30/1

Few players boast a better Open record in recent times than Robert MacIntyre. The Scot has made the weekend in all six of his appearances, finishing eighth or better on three occasions, and clearly enjoys the different demands of links golf.

MacIntyre came close to adding another title on home soil last week. He briefly led during the final round of the Scottish Open before eventually taking third, continuing a stellar season that has already featured three top-four finishes.

Most encouraging was the quality of his iron play at the Renaissance Club, where he ranked first for Strokes Gained: Approach. MacIntyre has also putted well throughout the year and already knows what it feels like to be in contention for one of golf's biggest prizes, having finished second at the 2025 US Open.

Winner (each-way 7 places) - Tyrrell Hatton 33/1

Two of Tyrrell Hatton's three major appearances this year have ended with a top-10 finish. He took third at The Masters before placing seventh at the US Open, adding to an increasingly impressive CV in golf's biggest events.

The Englishman has five top-20 finishes to his name at this event, including fifth at Royal Troon and sixth at Royal Portrush, and his experience of links golf needs little introduction.

Success at Valderrama in May provided his first victory of the season, while 17th at the Scottish Open was another promising result and came despite an opening triple bogey.

Hatton has now featured prominently in several majors over the past two years and there is little reason to believe he cannot do so again in Southport.

Winner (each-way 7 places) - Wyndham Clark 33/1

Wyndham Clark's career has reached another level. Last month's US Open success gave the American his second major title, three years after his first, and only a select group of active players can match that achievement.

More importantly for this week, Clark is playing with remarkable consistency. He has finished 13th or better in six consecutive tournaments, a run featuring two victories, and maintained that sequence with 13th at the Scottish Open.

His relationship with links golf also changed significantly at Royal Portrush last year, where he finished fourth after some less convincing Open Championship efforts before then. Clark's combination of power, quality approach play and excellent putting gives him several ways to score, while his record under major pressure is already beyond doubt. A third major title would be no surprise.

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