Our experts have compiled an Open betting guide for the 154th edition of the major at Royal Birkdale, featuring today's standout price boost, the best free bet offers, live Open betting odds, and everything you need to know about betting on golf. This guide will be updated throughout The Open, making it a must-read every morning of the competition.
Today's Top Price Boost
William Hill offers Scottie Scheffler to win the Open at 13/2 boosted to 8/1. Scheffler claimed The Open title for the first time last year, finishing four strokes clear of the chasing pack. Already the clear favourite with most bookies, Scheffler managed extra practice at Royal Birkdale after failing to make the cut at the Scottish Open—the first time he has failed to do so in his last 58 events.
Today's Top Open Free Bet Offer
Sky Bet is running a special bet and get offer for the Open Championship, allowing bettors to grab a £5 free bet when they wager £10 on the battle for the Claret Jug. Punters need to opt in on Sky Bet and wager £10 or more on any golf market at odds of 1/2 or greater. Qualifying bets must be placed by 06:00 BST on Thursday, July 16. In return, bettors receive a £5 free bet once the qualifying bet has settled.
Live Open Betting Odds
Top 5 finish betting odds, top 10 finish betting odds, and to make the cut odds are available from leading bookmakers.
The Open Each-Way: Extra Places Compared
A standard each-way winner bet on a golf tournament pays out on a golfer finishing inside the top five or six at 1/5 odds, but for majors, the number of places covered is often increased. For The Open, BOYLE Sports leads the way, covering 12 places, with a trio of other bookies on 10. Some bookies offer extra places, but only at shorter odds than their standard Open winner market.
- 12 places: BOYLE Sports
- 10 places: Coral, Ladbrokes, Tote
- 8 places: Bet365, Betfred (10 and 12 available at shorter odds), Betway
- 7 places: BetMGM, BetUK, Grosvenor Sport, LeoVegas Sport, Spreadex, William Hill (10 places available at shorter odds)
- 5 places: Betcrown, Betfair (10 & 12 available at shorter odds), Betnero, BetVictor, Paddy Power (10 and 12 at shorter odds), Sky Bet (10 and 12 available at shorter odds)
Best Open Betting Offers
The Standard's betting team reviewed top Open offers from UK betting sites, recommending the following bookmakers for betting on the Open Championship.
1. Sky Bet
Sky Bet has two free bet offers for The Open. The welcome offer features £30 in free bets for any sport, unlocked with as little as a 5p qualifying bet. Bettors can also grab a £5 free bet by wagering £10+ on any golf market before the first round. The Sky Bet Club awards free bets weekly, plus price boosts and Open specials. Each-way bettors get 12 places, but best odds are for five places under standard terms.
2. Betfred
The Betfred welcome offer gives new customers who bet £10 a total of £50 in free bets, split across sports and bet builder tokens. However, the £20 in free bet builders cannot be used on The Open as golf is not included in Betfred's bet builder tool. Betfred pays eight places as standard, with 10 and 12 places available at shorter odds.
3. Tote
Tote punters get a £1 free bet for every birdie their selection makes during the first round of The Open after wagering £10 on the outright winner market. The welcome offer is a bet and get promo: new customers who bet £10 get £20 in free bets, including £10 in free pools bets that cannot be used on The Open. Tote pays 10 places on the outright market as standard with no decreased prices.
4. Bet365
Bet365 offers great depth of golf markets, from outrights to top finishers per nationality, plus in-play betting. All £30 in free bets from the welcome offer can be used on The Open. Bet365 also provides daily super boosts and odds boosts for selected bet builders during the tournament.
5. William Hill
William Hill provides plenty of boosts throughout The Open, including today's offer of Scottie Scheffler to win. The welcome offer gives new customers £30 in free bets when they sign up and place a £10 qualifying wager; the entire bonus can be wagered on golf. Eligible customers can also claim a matched free bet for The Open by opting in and wagering on the qualifying market.
6. Coral
Coral's play-off offer means customers who wager a maximum of £10 on the Open winner market will be paid out as a winner if their selection loses in a play-off. The welcome offer is bet £5, get £30 in free bets, but only £20 of that bonus can be wagered on golf. Coral pays on 10 places for outright winner bets as standard for each-way wagers.
7. BOYLE Sports
BOYLE Sports boasts the best each-way terms for The Open, with 12 places on offer as standard. It is also the best for golf accumulators, offering money back if one leg of your acca lets you down, plus Acca Rewards. The welcome offer is bet £10, get £40, with the entire £40 in free bets eligible for any golf betting.
8. Paddy Power
Paddy Power's low qualifying bet unlocks a large free bet package. The bookmaker has earned a reputation as a top golf betting brand. Money-back specials during majors, alongside Paddy's Rewards Club and the Wonder Wheel, provide excellent return value. For The Open, Paddy Power pays standard five places each-way, with 10 and 12 places available at shorter place odds.
Today's Free Bet Offers
| Bookmaker | Open Offer | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sky Bet | Bet £10, get a £5 free bet | Opt in, wager £10+ on any golf market at odds of 1/2 or greater, get a £5 free bet once settled. |
| Tote | £1 free bet for every 1st round birdie | Wager min £10 on outright winner market, get £1 free bet for every 1st round birdie your selection makes. |
| William Hill | Bet and get a free bet | Opt in, wager on qualifying market at odds of evens or greater, bet matched in free bets. Value varies. |
| Betway | Bet £25, get £10 in free bets | Opt in, wager £25+ on golf accumulators (trebles or greater), get a £10 free bet. |
| BetMGM | Bet £5, get a £1 free bet for every birdie | Wager £5 on Open outright winner market, get £1 free bet for every birdie in round one. |
Open Price Boosts
| Bookmaker | Open bets | Price boost |
|---|---|---|
| William Hill | S. Scheffler to win the Open | 13/2 > 8/1 |
| Sky Bet | Any Englishman to win the Open | 3/1 > 7/2 |
| Paddy Power | McIlroy, Fleetwood or M. Fitzpatrick to Win The Open | 3/1 > 4/1 |
| bet365 | M. Fitzpatrick 1st round leader | 25/1 > 28/1 |
| Midnite | R. McIlroy to win the Open | 8/1 > 9/1 |
How to Select an Open Betting Offer
The Standard's betting experts reviewed all The Open betting offers before recommending them. Criteria included welcome offer value and qualifying stake, free bet token structure, each-way terms and extra places, restrictions and wagering requirements, and ongoing golf promotions. A good sportsbook for golf betting provides each-way place boosts, money-back specials, daily price boosts, and free-to-play games that give regular bettors more return value than the one-off welcome.
How to Bet on The Open 2026
Understand golf betting markets before wagering. Novices can start with outright winner or top-20 finish markets. Outright win value is best before round one; each-way covers a win or top-five-or-better finish. Bettors can also wager on top 5, 10, or 20 finishes, or to make the cut. Maintain bankroll discipline by setting a tournament budget and sticking to it. Use responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion via GAMSTOP. For support, visit GambleAware.org, gamcare.org.uk, or the NHS gambling support page.
The Open Betting - FAQs
What are the top betting markets for The Open?
The outright winner market is most popular, along with each-way bets. Top 5, 10, and 20 finish markets and make-the-cut markets are also common. Wagering on the top player from a specific country or continent is another option.
How does each-way betting work on The Open?
Each-way bets split a bettor's stake: half on the win, half on the place. For a £10 wager, £5 goes to win and £5 to place. If your selection wins, the win portion pays at full odds and the place portion pays at 1/5 of the odds. If it only places, you receive 1/5 of the odds. Typically, 1/5 odds are paid for the top five, but some bookmakers boost places for majors.
Can you bet in-play during The Open?
Yes, most bookmakers offer in-play markets during rounds, including live outright and finishing-position markets, though prices suspend briefly as scores update.
When does The Open 2026 start?
The 154th edition of The Open starts on Thursday, 16 July and runs to Sunday, 19 July 2026 at Royal Birkdale.
We aim to offer every online gambler and reader of The Standard a safe and fair platform through unbiased reviews and offers from the UK's best online gambling companies. Gambling can be addictive; always play responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose. Gambling sites have tools to help you stay in control, including deposit limits and time outs. If you think you have a problem, advice and support is available from BeGambleAware or Gamcare. Any offers or odds listed are correct at time of publication but subject to change. Terms & Conditions apply.
