Last Updated on September 8, 2026 by Maurya
The Open Championship returns to one of golf’s most famous settings in 2027, giving bettors an opportunity to analyse a course with more history, data and strategic intrigue than almost anywhere else in professional golf.
The 155th Open will be played at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, from 11-18 July 2027. It will be the 31st time the Old Course has hosted the Championship and the first visit since Cameron Smith’s memorable victory in 2022.
For anyone researching Open Championship betting tips for 2027, however, simply looking at the previous St Andrews leaderboard is not enough.
The Old Course is undergoing significant strategic adjustments before the Championship. It will be lengthened, new championship tees are being introduced, bunkers are being repositioned or added, and several holes will present a different challenge from the one players encountered five years earlier.
That means successful Open betting research should combine course history with current player form, links-golf ability, weather forecasts, market prices and an understanding of how St Andrews is likely to play in 2027.
No betting strategy can guarantee a profit. Golf tournaments contain enormous variance, particularly when wind and changing weather are involved. The objective should therefore be finding prices that appear better than the probability you assign to the outcome—not trying to predict every tournament correctly.
Open Championship 2027: Key Details
| Detail | Information |
| Tournament | The 155th Open Championship |
| Venue | Old Course, St Andrews |
| Location | Fife, Scotland |
| Dates | 11-18 July 2027 |
| Previous St Andrews Open | 2022 |
| 2022 Champion | Cameron Smith |
| Planned 2027 Championship Yardage | 7,445 yards |
| Previous Open Champion, 2026 | Ryan Fox |
The R&A confirmed that St Andrews will host The Open for the 31st time in 2027. Cameron Smith won the most recent Open played there, shooting 268 for 20-under-par in 2022.
The defending Champion Golfer entering the 2027 season will be Ryan Fox, who won the 2026 Open at Royal Birkdale by one stroke over Cameron Young. Fox finished at 10-under after birdieing the 72nd hole.
Why St Andrews Matters When Betting on The Open
St Andrews is not an ordinary championship golf course.
Its enormous double greens, unusual angles, deep bunkers, rolling fairways and unpredictable links conditions create strategic decisions that are difficult to reproduce on standard parkland courses.
The Old Course contains seven giant double greens, while the Swilcan Burn comes into play around the 1st and 18th holes. The famous 17th, known as the Road Hole, remains one of the most demanding holes in championship golf.
This makes course management particularly valuable.
Players cannot simply attack every flag. Approaches frequently require using slopes, landing areas and the ground rather than flying the ball directly at the target.
For bettors, that means raw driving distance should never be the only statistic considered.
Distance helps, but St Andrews tends to reward players capable of combining aggressive scoring with excellent judgement.
The Old Course Will Be Different in 2027
One of the biggest mistakes bettors could make is treating the 2027 Old Course as identical to the version used in 2022.
Following a review after The 150th Open, The R&A and St Andrews Links Trust approved several changes designed to strengthen the strategic challenge for elite golfers.
Six holes—the 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th and 16th—will be lengthened, while the 12th will become slightly shorter. The planned championship yardage increases by 132 yards to 7,445 yards.
New championship tees are being introduced on the 5th, 6th, 7th and 10th holes.
There will also be bunker changes.
New bunkers are being positioned around elite driving distances on the 6th and 10th, while bunkers around other holes are being altered to bring strategic decisions back into play. The historic route on the 16th is also being restored, accompanied by two additional bunkers.
The changes matter for betting analysis because players could face fewer straightforward driveable par fours than they did during benign conditions in 2022.
The R&A specifically noted that the 7th and 10th had become driveable in calm conditions and that both par fives were reachable in two during the 2022 Championship. The adjustments are intended to restore some of that lost strategic challenge.
Betting takeaway
Give slightly more weight than you might have in 2022 to:
- Long-iron and approach quality
- Strategic driving rather than distance alone
- Avoiding fairway bunkers
- Par-five decision-making
- Distance control
- Links experience
- Bogey avoidance
Players will still need birdies, but the 2027 setup could punish indiscriminate aggression more severely.
- Prioritise Proven Links Golf Ability
Links golf should be one of the first filters in your Open Championship betting research.
That does not mean only backing golfers who have already won The Open.
Instead, examine how players repeatedly perform on exposed coastal layouts and in tournaments where they must control trajectory, use the ground and adjust their game according to wind.
Useful indicators include:
- Previous Open Championship finishes
- St Andrews history
- Scottish links performances
- Ability to hit low-flighted approaches
- Strong performance in windy conditions
- Creative short-game skills
- Effective lag putting
- Experience controlling distance on firm turf
A player arriving in brilliant statistical form can still be a questionable bet if his game repeatedly struggles in links conditions.
Conversely, some players regularly become more competitive when golf turns tactical.
- Study St Andrews Form—but Don’t Overrate It
Previous St Andrews results deserve attention because of how unusual the Old Course is.
Cameron Smith won in 2022 at 20-under, one shot ahead of Cameron Young. Rory McIlroy was third, while Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland shared fourth.
Those results offer useful evidence of which playing styles handled St Andrews effectively.
But five years is a long time in professional golf.
Players age. Swing changes occur. Injuries happen. Putting improves or declines. New stars emerge.
And, importantly, the golf course itself is being adjusted.
Historical St Andrews performance should therefore be one part of your model rather than the entire model.
- Look Closely at Approach Play
Approach play should be among the most important statistical categories in your 2027 Open analysis.
St Andrews may offer enormous greens, but that doesn’t automatically make accurate approach play irrelevant.
Quite the opposite.
Players frequently face huge differences between simply hitting the green and leaving themselves a realistic birdie opportunity.
Someone who repeatedly leaves 50- or 60-foot putts will eventually place enormous pressure on his lag putting.
Look for golfers who combine:
- Strong approach statistics
- Excellent proximity from relevant distances
- Reliable long-iron play
- Distance control
- Ability to change trajectory
The course’s increased length could make mid- and long-iron performance even more important in 2027.
- Don’t Ignore Putting From Long Range
The Old Course’s massive greens create unusually long putts.
Consequently, traditional putting statistics can occasionally be misleading.
A player might hit plenty of greens but repeatedly face enormous first putts. In that situation, avoiding three-putts becomes almost as important as converting birdie chances.
When comparing potential bets, investigate both scoring putting and three-putt avoidance where good data is available.
Successful St Andrews golfers need to know when to attack and when two putts represent a satisfactory result.
Cameron Smith’s 2022 victory demonstrated how decisive elite putting can become. His final-round 64 included a remarkable scoring surge on the back nine as he overturned a four-shot deficit entering Sunday.
- Monitor the Weather Before Placing Major Bets
Weather is one of the most important variables in Open Championship betting.
The 2022 tournament demonstrated just how much conditions can change the personality of St Andrews.
Warm, dry conditions produced a firm and fast course, while relatively little wind contributed to low scoring early in the Championship. Cameron Young opened with 64, and Cameron Smith ultimately won at 20-under.
Do not assume 2027 will produce the same scoring environment.
Wind direction and strength can dramatically alter which holes offer scoring opportunities.
Rain can soften the course.
Dry weather can increase roll and make fairway positioning more complicated.
Check the tee-time draw
Weather also makes Thursday and Friday starting times particularly important.
One half of the field can occasionally encounter substantially stronger winds than the other.
Before making your largest pre-tournament wagers, compare the forecast across both waves.
A player priced attractively on Monday may become less appealing once Thursday and Friday conditions become clearer.
- Compare Odds Instead of Automatically Backing Your Favourite Player
One of the most important principles in sports betting is separating who you think will win from whether the available odds represent value.
Suppose you believe a golfer has roughly a 10% chance of winning.
Decimal odds of 8.00 imply a probability of 12.5%, before accounting for the bookmaker’s margin.
That price would not necessarily be attractive simply because you like the player’s chances.
By contrast, odds of 15.00 imply approximately a 6.67% probability.
The second price may represent a more interesting proposition if your assessment remains at 10%.
The formula is straightforward:
Implied probability = 1 ÷ decimal odds × 100
Thinking in probabilities helps prevent famous names from becoming automatic bets at unattractive prices.
- Consider Each-Way Betting Carefully
Golf is one of the sports most associated with each-way betting because outright winners can be difficult to predict.
An each-way wager normally consists of:
- A win portion
- A place portion
Bookmakers can offer substantially different place terms around major championships.
For example, one operator might pay fewer places at a larger fraction of the outright price while another offers additional places at reduced place odds.
Never compare the headline price alone.
Evaluate the combination of:
- Outright odds
- Number of places
- Place fraction
- Dead-heat rules
- Each-way stake
For bettors targeting golfers outside the favourites, enhanced place terms can sometimes be more important than a small difference in outright price.
- Use Top-10 and Top-20 Markets When Appropriate
You do not always have to predict the Champion Golfer.
Top-5, top-10 and top-20 markets can be useful when you strongly expect a player to perform well but are less convinced he will defeat the entire field.
These markets may particularly suit:
- Consistent major performers
- Strong links specialists
- Accurate ball-strikers
- Players with questionable winning records
- Golfers whose outright odds have shortened too far
The important point is not that placement bets are inherently better. They simply express a different probability.
Match your market to your opinion.
If your research says, “This golfer should contend,” a top-10 bet may reflect that view more precisely than forcing an outright selection.
- Wait for the Final Field Before Making Too Many Long-Range Bets
Open Championship odds can appear many months before the tournament.
Long-range betting may offer larger prices, but it also brings additional uncertainty.
Between now and July 2027, golfers can experience:
- Injuries
- Major swing changes
- Significant changes in form
- Qualification issues
- Equipment changes
- Scheduling changes
Your best analysis will generally become possible once the field, recent form, tee times and weather picture are clearer.
There is nothing wrong with identifying potential candidates early, but avoid treating September 2026 information as if it were July 2027 information.
- Build a Player Shortlist Before Looking at the Odds
An effective way to reduce market bias is to conduct your initial analysis without looking at bookmaker prices.
Create a shortlist based on factors such as:
| Factor | Suggested Importance |
| Current form | High |
| Approach play | High |
| Links performance | High |
| St Andrews history | Medium-High |
| Major championship record | Medium-High |
| Putting/lag putting | Medium |
| Driving distance | Medium |
| Bogey avoidance | High |
| Recent injuries | High |
| Weather suitability | High |
After creating the shortlist, look at the market.
This prevents bookmakers’ prices from unconsciously determining which players you believe are strongest.
Early 2027 Open Championship Players to Monitor
It is too early to present a definitive 2027 betting card, but several players have recent Open performances worth monitoring as the Championship approaches.
Scottie Scheffler
Scheffler won The Open at Royal Portrush in 2025 and shared fourth place at Royal Birkdale in 2026.
That recent record alone makes his 2027 preparation relevant.
His eventual betting value, however, will depend heavily on price. Elite golfers frequently begin majors at extremely short odds, meaning being the player most likely to win does not automatically make someone the best bet.
Cameron Young
Young has developed an interesting recent Open record.
He finished runner-up to Cameron Smith at St Andrews in 2022 after opening with a 64 and then finished second again at Royal Birkdale in 2026, one shot behind Ryan Fox.
Returning to a course where he has already contended makes his 2027 form worth monitoring closely.
Ryan Fox
Fox enters the next Open cycle as Champion Golfer of the Year after his dramatic Royal Birkdale victory in July 2026.
His win was particularly impressive because he sat at level par after 36 holes before shooting a record-equalling 62 on Saturday and eventually winning at 10-under.
His performance is another reminder that Open winners do not have to dominate from Thursday morning onward.
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy has substantial St Andrews experience and finished third at the 2022 Open after entering the final round in prime position.
He shot 66-68-66 through the first three rounds before closing with 70 and finishing two strokes behind Smith.
His St Andrews record makes him an obvious player to analyse again in 2027, though price will be crucial.
Tommy Fleetwood
Fleetwood tied fourth at St Andrews in 2022 and shared fourth again at Royal Birkdale in 2026.
His consistency in Open conditions makes him another player whose form and odds deserve attention closer to tournament week.
Cameron Smith
No discussion of the 2027 Open can completely ignore the most recent St Andrews Champion.
Smith produced rounds of 67, 64, 73 and 64 to win the 2022 Championship at 20-under, defeating Cameron Young by one and Rory McIlroy by two.
Five years will have passed, so bettors should judge his 2027 form independently rather than backing him solely because of that victory.
Best Open Championship Betting Markets for 2027
Different markets suit different types of predictions.
Outright Winner
The traditional market.
Best when you believe the bookmaker has significantly underestimated a golfer’s actual chance of winning.
Each-Way
Useful for golfers at medium or larger prices, especially when operators provide attractive extra-place promotions.
Top 5
A narrower placement market that can suit genuine contenders without requiring them to win.
Top 10
One of the more practical markets for players with strong major consistency.
Top 20
Potentially useful for solid links players or outsiders whom you expect to outperform their market ranking.
First-Round Leader
Highly volatile but occasionally attractive when combining a favourable weather draw with a player known for fast starts.
Tournament Matchups
These compare one golfer against another rather than requiring you to predict the winner.
Analyse course fit and price rather than simply choosing the more famous player.
Live Betting
Open conditions can create substantial price movement during tournament play.
However, do not chase a player merely because his odds have lengthened. Determine why the market moved.
Common Open Championship Betting Mistakes
Avoiding mistakes can be just as valuable as finding winners.
Backing too many players: Covering a large percentage of the field can create the illusion of diversification while making it difficult to achieve attractive overall returns.
Ignoring the price: A good player can still be a poor bet.
Overreacting to one tournament: Golf performance naturally fluctuates.
Ignoring weather: At The Open, weather should be part of the analysis rather than an afterthought.
Betting based entirely on course history: A strong 2022 performance does not automatically predict success in 2027.
Chasing live losses: Increasing stakes because earlier wagers lost has no analytical justification.
Confusing confidence with probability: Feeling strongly about a selection does not make it more likely to happen.
A Smarter 2027 Open Betting Process
A disciplined research routine might look like this:
Two to four weeks before The Open: Build a broad shortlist based on form, links performance, approach play and major results.
Tournament week: Review the confirmed field, player interviews, recent performance and course setup.
After tee times are released: Examine potential weather differences between Thursday and Friday waves.
Before betting: Convert bookmaker prices to implied probabilities and decide whether your estimated probability genuinely exceeds the market’s.
During the tournament: Reassess rather than automatically doubling down on your pre-event opinion.
This process won’t guarantee winning bets. What it can do is encourage decisions based on evidence rather than impulse.
Bankroll Management for Open Championship Betting
Even excellent golf analysis will produce losing bets.
Golf fields are large, and even the market favourite usually has a far greater probability of losing than winning.
Therefore, stake sizing matters.
Set a fixed betting budget before the tournament begins and treat that amount as entertainment expenditure you can afford to lose.
Avoid increasing wagers merely because earlier selections missed.
The UK’s Gambling Commission recommends checking that operators are licensed and using tools designed to control the amount of time and money spent gambling when needed.
Open Championship Betting Tips 2027: Final Checklist
Before placing your 2027 Open bets, ask:
- Is the player currently in strong form?
- Does his game translate to links golf?
- Has he performed well in previous Opens?
- How strong is his approach play?
- Can he control trajectory in wind?
- Does he avoid costly mistakes?
- Can he handle St Andrews’ enormous greens?
- How could the 2027 course modifications affect him?
- What weather is expected during his tee-time wave?
- Are the odds genuinely better than your estimated probability?
- Are better each-way or placement terms available elsewhere?
- Is your stake comfortably within your predetermined budget?
If several of these questions cannot be answered, more research is probably preferable to placing another bet.
FAQs
Where is the 2027 Open Championship being played?
The 2027 Open Championship will be played on the Old Course at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, from 11-18 July. It will be the 31st Open staged at St Andrews.
Who won the last Open at St Andrews?
Cameron Smith won The 150th Open at St Andrews in 2022. He finished at 20-under-par after a final-round 64, beating Cameron Young by one stroke.
Will St Andrews be different for the 2027 Open?
Yes. The championship course is planned to increase to 7,445 yards, 132 yards longer than the 2022 configuration. Six holes are being lengthened, and several bunker and strategic changes are being made.
What statistics are most useful for Open Championship betting?
Approach performance, links results, bogey avoidance, long-iron play, putting, major championship form and performance in windy conditions are useful starting points. For St Andrews specifically, distance control, strategic driving and avoiding deep bunkers should receive additional attention.
Should I bet on The Open early?
Early betting can occasionally provide attractive prices, but it also comes with additional uncertainty. Form, injuries, qualification, weather and even market prices can change considerably before July 2027.
What are the best Open Championship betting markets?
Common options include outright winner, each-way, top-five, top-10, top-20, tournament matchups, first-round leader and live betting. The most appropriate market depends on what your research actually predicts.
Final Thoughts
The return of The Open to St Andrews should make the 2027 Championship one of the most anticipated golf events of the year.
It will also create a fascinating betting puzzle.
Cameron Smith’s 2022 victory offers valuable historical evidence, while players such as Cameron Young, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood have demonstrated that their games can succeed on the Old Course. More recent results—including Scottie Scheffler’s 2025 Open victory and Ryan Fox’s dramatic triumph at Royal Birkdale in 2026—provide another layer of evidence for bettors preparing early watchlists.
But 2027 will not simply be a repeat of 2022.
The Old Course’s increased length and strategic changes are specifically intended to restore challenges that modern driving distances had reduced. Longer holes, revised championship tees and repositioned bunkers mean bettors need to update their assumptions rather than blindly relying on the previous leaderboard.
The strongest Open Championship betting strategy for 2027 is therefore a flexible one.
Analyse current form. Study links performance. Examine approach statistics. Understand St Andrews. Monitor the weather. Compare prices instead of merely choosing famous players. And match the betting market to the prediction your research actually supports.
Most importantly, remember that there is no guaranteed winning system for golf betting. Variance is unavoidable. Good betting analysis is ultimately about making disciplined, probability-based decisions and controlling risk—not trying to eliminate uncertainty from a sport where uncertainty is part of what makes The Open so compelling.
