SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND - JULY 19: Ryan Fox of New Zealand celebrates victory following birdie putt on the 18th green on day four of the The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 19, 2026 in Southport, England. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe Open Championship is historically known as one of golf’s ultimate tests of skill. With weather conditions changing almost by the minute, challenging pot bunkers, and high grass to punish the wayward shot, the Open is one tournament which isn’t taken lightly.However, due to weather conditions at Royal Birkdale Golf Club this season, the conditions were more benign than punishing. Due to unusually warm temperatures and a drought, the green grass had turned brown, the tall fescue became manageable, and the weather looked more like Florida in the fall than Northern England.With conditions being less of an impact during this 2026 Open Championship, you saw plenty of players putting up some incredible scores throughout the four rounds. There were three players who shot Open Championship record 62 rounds, and Cameron Young’s 64 on Sunday put him on the precipice of a playoff. However, New Zealand native Ryan Fox had different plans.Fox, who carded one of the aforementioned scores of 62, was on a mission Sunday. Playing in the final pairing with Sam Burns, who held a two stroke lead going into Round 4, Fox continued to battle to give himself a chance at winning his first major.After players like Scottie Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood fell off down the stretch, Fox was the one who wasn’t just known for his pace of play, but also his ability to make the clutch shot when it was required. Even after a difficult lie in a pot bunker forced him to play sideways on the Par 3 15th, Fox birdied two holes down the stretch, none more important than the challenging 18th, and finished with a 2-under 68 to have his name carved on the Claret Jug forever.MORE FOR YOUThe tournament was filled with drama from start to finish. Bryson DeChambeau’s questionable two stroke penalty dominated the press room after Friday’s round, Cameron Young’s incredible comeback, only to fall short, moment, Sam Burns again not able to win when it matters most, and an odd year with no major championships for Scottie Scheffler.It was a tremendous major tournament, and a great way to conclude this year’s major season.Let’s take a look at who was projected to be contending, based on pre-tournament odds.2026 Open Championship OddsScottie Scheffler (+620)Rory McIlroy (+850)Tommy Fleetwood (+1800)Matt Fitzpatrick (+1850)Jon Rahm (+1850)Xander Schauffele (+2500)When it came to picks for this event, I like to start with my favorite and long shot picks for the tournament. The favorite pick is the winner pick I like the most. For the long shot winner, that is a golfer who has over +2000 odds to win. It is a long shot pick for a reason, and finding those can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Here were my favorite and long shot picks for the 2026 Open Championship:Favorite: Matt Fitzpatrick (+1850) - MISSAfter a T3 finish at the Scottish Open, and plenty of success this season, Matt Fitzpatrick absolutely was a logical pick to potentially win the Open Championship this season. Fitzpatrick’s opening round started poorly, and it only got worse. How bad did it get? Fitzpatrick was one of many big-name golfers who didn’t make the cut. This was one of many disappointing plays from this tournament.Long Shot: Collin Morikawa (+3400) - MISSMorikawa had a good tournament, finishing T18, but was never able to flip that proverbial switch and be considered a contender in the tournament. Nonetheless, he was a long shot pick for a reason, and my streak of not hitting a long shot pick continues.Top 5 Bets For The Open Championship 2026Rory McIlroy (+184) - MISSRory was known this past weekend more for his comments on Bryson DeChambeau and the PGA Tour’s new schedule starting next year than he was for his play on the course. There were flashes of brilliance, but McIlroy looked like a golfer who simply hasn’t played much this year, which he hasn’t. McIlroy finished T40, which was a far cry from the expected Top 5 finish.Matt Fitzpatrick (+335) - MISSAs I stated earlier, I never would have expected Fitzpatrick to miss the cut in this event. Nonetheless, when you double-down on a player, like I did with Fitzpatrick, it’s a double-whammy for picks.Top 10 Picks For The Open Championship 2026Wyndham Clark (+320) - MISSClark has been one of the game’s hottest golfers in the latter third of the season, but his missed cut performance, after a decent performance at the Scottish Open, was a stunner. Clark not even making the weekend was never a thought in my mind. I was wrong.Tommy Fleetwood (+160) - HITFleetwood, who grew up in the area near Royal Birkdale, was the only golfer who came through for us this week. Fleetwood’s T4 finish helped us cash out the +160 play, and provide our only win of the championship.Top 20 Value Picks For The Open Championship 2026Justin Rose (+154) - MISSI had a feeling we might get a performance for the ages from Justin Rose this past weekend, and I was wrong. Rose, who started off the year strong, played poorly and was never able to recapture some of the magic he created as an amateur at Royal Birkdale. Rose missed the cut, and continued our streak of disappointments.Alex Fitzpatrick (+196) - MISSThroughout the week I was tracking Fitzpatrick and his progress. After Rounds 1 and 2 it seemed like he was going to be a shoe-in for a Top 20 play. Then the weekend happened and the wheels fell off Fitzpatrick. While he at least made the cut, unlike his brother, Alex finished T71.Best Prop Bets, Parlays And Bonus Plays For The 2026 Open ChampionshipFor bonus plays, these are picks which I don’t necessarily hang my hat on, but still provide value for some who want more exotic plays outside of the aforementioned picks. Sometimes bonus plays are parlays, double chances, triple chances, and even some fun plays for that particular event.Here are the bonus plays for the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open:Top 30: Jordan Spieth (+146) - MISSTop 20 Parlay: Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood (+570) - MISS1st Time Winner: No (+210) - MISSTop LIV Golfer: Tyrell Hatton (+400) - MISSTournament Review:Outright Plays: 1/8Bonus Plays: 0/4