How to bet on the British Open

The British Open (also often called the Open Championship) is the last of the four golf majors to be played every season, driving heavy betting traffic every year. It follows the U.S. Open on the PGA TOUR schedule, and will next be played at the Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England, from July 20 to 23, 2023.

As the oldest continually run championship in golf, the British Open has been held annually on various courses in Scotland, England, and on one occasion, Northern Ireland, since 1860. However, it didn’t become an official part of the PGA TOUR schedule until 1995. John Daly won it that year, starting a period of American dominance during which 10 of the next 13 winners were from the US.

The British Open features the best players from around the world from the more than 2,500 that attempt to qualify every year. The total purse reached $14 million in 2022, including $2 million (and the coveted Claret Jug) for winner Cameron Smith. The winner also receives 100 World Ranking points, and, as per other majors, 600 FedExCup points.

The odds for the British Open are often released months ahead of time, allowing for significant movement throughout the season and prior to the major. Be sure to check in on how a golfer is playing prior to the tournament to determine the best possible value among the odds.

The British Open has markets available at almost every sportsbook months in advance, and therefore the odds are constantly moving depending on how each golfer is playing prior to the tournament. Whether you are looking to place a wager on the outright winner, someone to make the cut, or place in the top 10, shopping around for value is the best way to go about it.

Outright and round winner odds are the most common wagered bet for the British Open, and involve wagering on a golfer to beat the field outright or in an individual round. These wagers come with the longest odds, so it’s best to diversify your bets, such as by wagering on a handful of favorites and one or two long shots.

Other markets include head-to-head odds, where you wager on one player to outperform another player in either a given round or throughout the entire tournament. These odds are usually close to even. Prop bets are also available and there are always dozens posted for the British Open, ranging from whether the winner will cry to how many birdies a certain golfer will make on the back nine.