Multiple outlets report that Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are the top betting favorites heading into the 2026 Open Championship. The Athletic lists Scheffler as the tournament favorite, emphasizing that the course and prevailing conditions are expected to challenge him and the rest of the field. Yahoo Sports likewise describes Scheffler as the betting front-runner for a second consecutive Open Championship title, placing both him and McIlroy near the top of the odds. CBS Sports adds that the gap between the two players has narrowed, noting that McIlroy closes in on Scheffler on the betting lines after a missed cut for Scheffler in Scotland. Across coverage, the common theme is that while Scheffler is widely regarded as the favorite, McIlroy’s odds are close enough to keep him in contention from a wagering perspective. Together, the reports present a near-two-horse betting market shaped by recent form and the expected difficulty of the tournament’s setup.