The Open Championship — often called the British Open — is the oldest of the four majors and is played on links courses along the British and Irish coastline. For Irish punters, it is the most familiar major given the proximity and the strong Irish golfing tradition on links terrain.
The Open Championship Format
The Open Championship is a 72-hole strokeplay event held in July. The venue rotates among a list of links courses in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland — including Royal St George's, St Andrews, Muirfield, Royal Birkdale, Royal Troon and Royal Portrush (which hosted in 2019). The links environment — firm, fast fairways, unpredictable winds and pot bunkers — rewards creative shot-making over pure power.
Main Betting Markets for The Open
- Outright winner: 72-hole event winner. Standard major outright market with prices from 10/1 to 500/1+.
- Each-way betting: 5 places at 1/5 odds. The Open often produces longer-priced winners than other majors because links conditions equalise the field more than purely ball-striking courses.
- Top European / top Irish golfer: Which European or Irish player finishes highest in the field.
- To make the cut: Over/under or yes/no on specific players making the halfway cut after 36 holes.
- Round betting: Which player posts the lowest score in a specific round — popular for punters who assess daily form.
Irish Links Tradition
Irish golfers are historically well-suited to Open Championship conditions — links golf is embedded in Irish golfing culture with more links courses per capita than anywhere in the world. Shane Lowry's win at Royal Portrush in 2019 embodied this tradition.
Responsible Betting
Set a budget for this event before the first market opens. Contact the Gambling Awareness Trust at 1800 753 753 or visit gamblingcare.ie. 18+ only.
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Compare Betting Odds →Frequently Asked Questions
The venue for The Open Championship 2027 has not yet been officially confirmed as of November 2026. The R&A announces venues several years in advance. Expected rotation candidates include Royal Liverpool (Hoylake), Royal Troon, Muirfield, Royal St George's and St Andrews.
The Open Championship is traditionally held in the third week of July. The 2027 dates will be confirmed by the R&A. The tournament runs Thursday to Sunday.
Links golf is played on coastal terrain with firm, fast fairways, significant wind exposure and pot bunkers. The ball runs along the ground more than on conventional courses, rewarding creative shot-making and course management. Wind direction and strength affect strategy daily — looking at wind forecasts during the week can provide betting edge on round betting markets.
Yes — Irish golfers have an outstanding record in The Open Championship, with multiple winners and consistent top-10 finishes in the modern era. Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington are among recent Irish Open major champions.