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Golf’s final major of the 2026 season, and the only one contested on a links course outside the United States, is approaching with a field that feels particularly wide open given recent events. Though Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy remain pre-tournament favorites, the latest betting odds offer plenty of potential sleeper picks and longshots lurking as contenders when the 154th Open Championship begins on Thursday, July 16 at Royal Birkdale.
Scheffler isn’t playing as well as last year when he won the Open Championship (with a string of top-five finishes and consistent near-misses that still have him atop the 2026 FedEx Cup standings) and watched his streak of made cuts end heading into his last chance for a major win this year. McIlroy, meanwhile, has played in just five events since winning The Masters in April and the past two majors were won by relative longshots entering their respective tournaments – Aaron Rai at the PGA Championship and Wyndham Clark at the U.S. Open.
To sort through the most attractive bets and golfers with the best odds to win the 2026 Open Championship, USA TODAY Sports used Microsoft Copilot’s AI chatbot to make tournament predictions based on the latest data and picks ahead of the first round. AI did not choose either Scheffler or McIlroy to win the sport’s oldest major championship. But it also didn’t stray far from the list of current favorites as the world’s best descend on England’s northwest coast to contest the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale for the 11th time since 1954.
Here’s a breakdown of Microsoft Copilot AI’s picks and predictions for the 2026 Open Championship, including the chatbots reasoning for its British Open winner, best bets, sleeper picks and top tournament longshots.
Odds as of 1:15 p.m. ET on Monday, July 13, according to BetMGM
USA TODAY Sports asked Microsoft Copilot’s AI chatbot to predict the winner of the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale based on the latest picks, odds and analysis from reputable websites and breakdowns of this year’s full field. The AI chatbot was also prompted to offer its best bets, sleeper picks and top longshots, according to current odds and conditions heading into golf’s final major of the year.
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