The Open Championship Golf Betting Guide

Betting on the Open Championship? You’ve come to the right place for wagering updates, tournament odds, and predictions.

This year’s Open Championship, celebrating 150 years, is scheduled for July 14-17, 2022, at the Old Course in St. Andrews.

St. Andrews is known as the home of golf. The power of its persuasion prompted Tiger Woods to make an early commitment to play in this year’s event.

“I am looking forward to St. Andrews,” Woods told Sky Sports. “That’s something that’s very near and dear to my heart. I’ve won two Opens there. It’s the home of golf. It’s my favorite golf course in the world. So, I will be there for that one.”

Woods reportedly played a practice round at St. Andrews over the weekend. He is not among among the tournament favorites, but his presence at the Open Championship is sure to generate headlines. Woods had to withdraw before the final round of the PGA Championship in May as he continues to recover from a serious leg injury after a 2021 car accident. He did not compete in June’s US Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Here are the odds being offered on Woods at DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel, as of Monday of Open Championship week:

Legal online sportsbooks have Open Championship odds for bettors, who are advised to compare tournament odds at multiple books before making their wagers. Let’s examine the current Open Championship odds and top contenders. 

2022 Open Championship Betting Odds

We’re down to the last major of the year after Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick won the US Open on June 19. Rory McIlroy is the +900 betting favorite at DraftKings.  

After his win in the Genesis Scottish Open this past weekend, Xander Schauffele is now the second betting favorite at +1200. Other big names including defending Open Championship winner Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, and Justin Thomas can be found in the range of +1200 to +3500 depending on the sportsbook.

JT Poston punched his ticket into the Open Championship by winning the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic on July 3. The American golfer was listed at +15000 odds at DraftKings.

It’s always prudent to compare the odds being offered across the sports betting industry. Futures odds tend to vary more than spreads and totals. Poston, for example, was being dealt at odds of +12500 at BetMGM. 

Golf bettors need to look at two key pieces of data before making their bets on the Open Championship: A player’s recent form heading into the event and his past performances in the Open and particularly at St. Andrews. 

2022 Open Championship Betting Analysis

After capturing his first major victory at the US Open, Fitzpatrick has crept up oddsboards to win this year’s Open Championship. Fitzpatrick has dropped from +3500 to +1800 odds at DraftKings after his US Open win. There can also be a focus on players who are coming back “home” and the native of England falls into that category.

Irishman Shane Lowry, +2200 at DraftKings as of this writing, won the 2019 Open Championship in his native country at long odds. McIlroy, also from Ireland, benefits from years of experience playing in Europe. He won the 2014 Open Championship.    

Many players competed in last week’s Genesis Scottish Open to prep for the Open Championship. This allows them to adjust to any jet lag and playing in a different time zone.

These players merit consideration for a win bet at the Open Championship based on their play in the Genesis Scottish Open: Schauffele (win), Patrick Cantlay (T-4), Tommy Fleetwood (T-4), Fitzpatrick (T-6), and Cameron Smith (solo 10th).

From that group, Fleetwood offers decent value at +3500 to win. Looking for a live longshot? Kurt Kitayama nearly won the Genesis Scottish Open, and ultimately finished second to Schauffele. The runnerup finished gained him a spot in the Open Championship, and he’s listed at +20000 to win at DraftKings as of Monday.

Will LIV Tour Golfers Be Allowed to Play in the Open Championship?

The professional golf world has been divided by the debut of the Saudi-backed LIV Tour. Several players including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and others are no longer competing on the PGA Tour. The R&A followed the USGA’s lead at the U.S. Open and made the decision to allow LIV golfers entry into the Open Championship. 

“The Open is golf’s original championship and since it was first played in 1860, openness has been fundamental to its ethos and unique appeal,” R&A CEO Martin Slumbers said. “Players who are exempt or have earned a place through qualifying for the 150th Open in accordance with the entry terms and conditions will be able to compete in the Championship at St. Andrews. We are focused on staging a world class championship in July and celebrating this truly historic occasion for golf. We will invest the proceeds of The Open, as we always do, for the benefit of golf which reflects our purpose to ensure that the sport is thriving 50 years from now.”

The Best Sportsbooks For Betting On Open Championship Golf

This isn’t as easy as it may seem. With betting numbers all over the board, you should start by checking which books you can legally bet with from the comfort of your home and state. That’s the top priority.

Then, come the numbers. A player at “Book A” may be +1000 and that same player may be +1400 at “Book B.” Betting is just like buying an appliance for your home or even a car: shop around for the best pricing.

Also, sportsbooks typically offer sign-up bonuses for new users (see DraftKings’ below). Be sure to read the fine print, but these offers can definitely add to your bankroll in the form of risk-free bets or matching deposits. 

Get a $50 Free Bet at DraftKings

How To Bet On The Open Championship

One important part of betting on the Open Championship is making sure you wager early. The tournament tees off in the early morning here in the U.S. (like 3 a.m. early), so gets your bets in by late Wednesday night.

Betting on golf, specifically on the majors, is different from betting on baseball, football, and other major sports. First and foremost, it isn’t a team sport; there isn’t a “Team A” or a “Team B.” It’s one player against the rest of the field. In some instances, it’s a full field of 144 players.

It is always a challenge to pick the outright winner of a golf tournament. But the good news is there are plenty of other ways to bet on the Open Championship. Let’s examine some of these options now.

Open Championship Live Betting

Most sportsbooks offer live betting on the majors. Live betting in golf can be tricky. If a player has a big lead, bettors are looking at a huge minus when it comes to picking that player to win coming down the stretch. On the other hand, just about everyone else will be a nice plus. It’s all about momentum and finding the right number for your bet.

Remember, the later in the round you’re looking to bet, the wider the discrepancy in money. If a player has a four-shot lead with nine holes left, he will be a huge favorite. On the other hand, if it’s a horse race down to the wire, the odds will reflect more players having a chance to win and give bettors better odds for their favorite player.

Open Championship Prop Bets

Like all of the majors, the Open Championship will have more than its share of prop bets. From betting on “a hole-in-one” to “will there be a playoff” to “will the winner come from the last group,” there are prop bets for just about everyone’s tastes. There are also prop bets on the top finishing player from England, Australia, America, and more. Don’t forget to make any prop bet wagers before the first player tees off in the tournament. Once that opening tee shot is hit, the props are gone.

Open Championship Odds At Leading Sportsbooks

DraftKings

• Rory McIlroy, +900
• Xander Schauffele, +1200
• Scottie Scheffler, +1400
• Justin Thomas, +1600
• Jordan Spieth, +1600

BetMGM

• Rory McIlroy, +1000
• Xander Schauffele, +1400
• Jordan Spieth, +1600
• Jon Rahm, +1800
• Matt Fitzpatrick, +1800

FanDuel

• Rory McIlroy, +1000
• Xander Schauffele, +1300
• Jordan Spieth, +1500
• Jon Rahm, +1600
• Matt Fitzpatrick, +1800

Open Championship Golf Betting Odds FAQs