2026 Open Championship Picks & Predictions: Round 2 H2H Bets
Jackson Suber’s shocking ascension as the solo first-round leader at Royal Birkdale was due to a potent combination of approach play and putting. Carding -5-under-par, the 26-year-old American drained six birdies and an eagle, firing 3-under-par in his final three holes to climb atop the leaderboard.
There’s still plenty of big names sitting near the top of the leaderboard after Round 1. These include Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Young, Robert MacIntyre, Scottie Scheffler, Si Woo Kim, and Collin Morikawa between -2 and -3.
My 2026 Open Championship Picks & Predictions: Round 1 H2H Bets settled 1-1-1. Robert MacIntyre dominated Harris English by six strokes thanks to a strong -3-under effort to cash a -150 ticket. Min Woo Lee and Justin Thomas each logged even par in Round 1 for a push, while Wyndham Clark fell flat, shooting +3 to lose by two strokes as an underdog against Xander Schauffele.
The dry, crusty conditions of Royal Birkdale should continue into Round 2 on Friday. Temperatures in the mid-70s, wind below 10 mph, and no rain in the forecast should lead to some more red scores in Southport tomorrow.
I’ve got three more head-to-head matchups to bet on DraftKings Sportsbook ahead of Round 2 at the 2026 Open Championship. Make sure to follow me on X at Matt_MacKay_ for more free picks and analysis heading into the 2026 FedExCup Playoffs next month.
2026 Open Championship Picks & Predictions: Round 2 Head-to-Head Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
18 Hole Matchups (Round 2) – Shane Lowry vs. Aaron Rai
Let’s start with a pair of British golfers and look at Shane Lowry against Aaron Rai. Rai’s improbable PGA Championship win earlier this season carded the Englishman his first career major. Since that performance, Rai has bounced between top 30s and a pair of missed cuts.
In Round 1, Lowry held the edge at Royal Birkdale. The Irishman ranks 23rd in SG: Approach heading into Friday, compared to 108th in SG: Approach for Rai. The former 2019 Open Championship winner at Royal Portrush typically brings his best effort playing on links golf courses.
At Royal Birkdale, approach shots are critical to success. The edge goes to Lowry in this Round 2 matchup, so let’s bet on him to beat Rai as a slight favorite at -118 odds.
Pick: Shane Lowry (-118)
18 Hole Matchups (Round 2) – Cameron Young vs. Ludvig Åberg
Cameron Young and Ludvig Å0berg are a pair of bombers, so it should be fun to sweat this matchup on Friday. Young shot a 67 (-3) to surge into T4 on the leaderboard heading into Round 2. Åberg’s +1 effort was the result of 119th in SG: Putting, missing three putts inside of 10 feet.
Young held a decisive edge in his short game, ranked 22nd in SG: Putting and 33rd in SG: Around the Green. The American had a stellar surge earlier this season and is capable of keeping his foot on the gas, even with less urgency than his opponent ahead of the cut line on Friday.
Åberg’s ball-striking was pedestrian, ranked 73rd in SG: Approach. That’s not going to get it done again, even with better putting. Young’s worst metric was in SG: Approach (51st), so he should be able to score lower than Åberg for a second straight round.
Bet on Young to beat Åberg in this 18 Hole Matchups Round 2 prop bet at -118 odds.
Pick: Cameron Young (-118)
18 Hole Matchups (Round 2) – Tyrrell Hatton vs. Bryson DeChambeau
A pair of LIV golfers is how we’re closing out this Round 2 matchup betting card. Bryson DeChambeau’s struggles at majors this season are well-documented, failing to make the cut at all three events.
A strong showing in Round 1 led to a 67, which could’ve been lower if not for a few short misses. DeChambeau ranks ninth in SG: Around the Green and in SG: Approach, while sitting eighth in SG: Off-the-Tee. It’s doubtful his putting is as poor (117th SG: Putting) on Friday.
Hatton managed to go under par as well (-1) thanks to 15th in SG: Around the Green. However, in all other SG metrics, he fell outside the top 50. While he’s well-versed in links golf, DeChambeau has way more motivation based on his poor play at majors and subsequently facing loud criticism.
Once again, we’re landing -118 odds on a marginal favorite, so let’s bet on DeChambeau to beat Hatton in Round 2.
Pick: Bryson DeChambeau (-118)