2026 Open Championship Sleeper Picks: Bet on Robert MacIntyre, Collin Morikawa at Royal Birkdale
The Open Championship returns to Royal Birkdale with Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy leading the odds board, but the sleeper tier is loaded with players who have proven links résumés. Collin Morikawa, Robert MacIntyre and Tyrrell Hatton stand out beyond the first two rows of the market as live upset threats at +3300 or longer.
Peter Alexis - July 14, 2026, 12:12 PM EDT
4 Minute ReadCan Robert MacIntyre Surprise at Royal Birkdale in 2026 Open Championship?
Royal Birkdale sets up as a demanding links test, playing as a par 70 at just over 7,200 yards with redesigned bunkers, new tee positions and weather likely to shape scoring throughout the week. Scheffler enters as the defending champion after winning last year’s Open at Royal Portrush, while McIlroy sits close behind on the board as the top challenger.
The short prices make sense, but this is the type of Open where experience, flight control, patience and scrambling can bring longer numbers into play. Anyone past the first two rows qualifies as a sleeper here, and the best mix of form, course fit and championship pedigree points toward Morikawa, MacIntyre and Hatton.
2026 Open Championship Odds
2026 Open Championship Date, Time, and Where to Watch
- Date: Thursday, July 16th - Sunday, July 19th, 2026
- Time: 2:20 AM ET
- Where to Watch: NBC, USA Network, Peacock
Click here for complete 2026 Open Championship Odds
2026 Open Championship Sleeper Odds Breakdown
Collin Morikawa (+3300) Check out the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Morikawa is the most accomplished sleeper on the board because he already owns a Claret Jug. He won the 2021 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s with elite iron play and controlled ball flight, two traits that remain extremely valuable at Royal Birkdale. His current season also has enough upside to justify a shorter price than +3300, with one PGA Tour win, five top-10 finishes and a top-five FedExCup standing.
The recent form is better than the outright number suggests. Morikawa finished third at the Travelers Championship after closing with a 61, then posted a T17 at the U.S. Open, giving him two quality results entering the final major of the year. He is not always the longest player in this range, but Open winners often need precision more than overpowering distance, and Morikawa’s approach game can separate if conditions become firm, windy and tactical.
Robert MacIntyre (+3600) Check out the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
MacIntyre is an ideal Open sleeper because his game is built for this style of golf. The Scottish left-hander has always been comfortable shaping shots in wind, using the ground and managing uneven links lies, which makes him more dangerous at Birkdale than at a standard PGA Tour venue. He also brings recent major confidence, with a strong U.S. Open performance highlighted as part of his case entering this week.
His Open record is trending in the right direction. MacIntyre finished T7 at last year’s Open at Royal Portrush, proving he can contend deep into the weekend in this championship. At +3600, the number still gives enough room for upside, especially for a player who should not be rattled if the weather turns the tournament into a grind.
Tyrrell Hatton (+3800) Check out the best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Hatton has the strongest links-specialist profile of the three. He is making his 13th consecutive Open appearance, has multiple top-five finishes in the championship and has built much of his career on success in UK and Scottish-style conditions. His résumé also includes three Alfred Dunhill Links titles and a Hero Dubai Desert Classic win, reinforcing that he can win on courses where shot-making and patience matter more than pure power.
The form is live as well. Hatton finished T3 at the Masters earlier this year, T7 at the U.S. Open and T17 at the Scottish Open, giving him a strong major-season profile and a useful links tune-up. He may not have the same outright win equity as Scheffler or McIlroy, but at +3800, his combination of temperament, iron play and experience makes him one of the best values outside the headline tier.
Open Championship Sleeper Picks Outlook
Morikawa is the cleanest pedigree play because he has already won this championship and appears to be rounding back into form. MacIntyre brings the best links-native profile and proved last year that he can contend at The Open, while Hatton combines current major form with one of the strongest wind-and-links résumés in the field.
Scheffler and McIlroy deserve to lead the market, but the sleeper tier has real winning quality. Morikawa at +3300, MacIntyre at +3600 and Hatton at +3800 offer the best mix of price, course fit and proven Open Championship traits.
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