Market Shifts as Scheffler's Grip on Open Championship Odds Loosens
AI-generated image · US National Wire
Scottie Scheffler remains the favorite for the 2026 Open Championship, but recent struggles have narrowed the gap with Rory McIlroy.
The betting market is reacting to a perceived vulnerability in Scottie Scheffler as the 2026 Open Championship approaches. While Scheffler is the defending champion and remains the favorite, his position is more tenuous than in previous years. According to CBS Sports, BetMGM lists Scheffler at 15/2, just ahead of Rory McIlroy at 17/2.
This tightening of the spread follows a concerning performance for Scheffler at the Scottish Open, where he missed the cut at the Renaissance Club. CBS Sports reports this snapped a 78-event streak of made cuts on the PGA Tour and marks the longest odds Scheffler has faced in a major since the 2022 Open Championship (16-1). Although Scheffler leads the PGA Tour in scoring average, birdie average, and strokes gained: total, he has not won a tournament since January and currently ranks 34th in Round 1 scoring, down from leading the tour for the last three seasons.
Conversely, McIlroy is positioned as a primary challenger. FanDuel lists McIlroy at +750, trailing Scheffler's +700. CBS Sports notes that McIlroy possesses promising history at Royal Birkdale, where he finished fourth during the 2017 Open Championship. If McIlroy wins, he would become the 12th golfer to reach seven major championships, tying him with Harry Vardon for the most by any British golfer.