Analysts Flag 5 Open Sleepers at 50-1 to 175-1 as Royal Birkdale Looks Wide Open

Q: From delivery driver to the final spot, can qualifier Joe Dean's fairytale run continue on golf's toughest stage?

Yes — Joe Dean has a credible chance to extend the fairytale, even if contending for the title remains a long shot. Dean has already done the hardest part of his story: the former supermarket delivery driver, ranked No. 268 in the world, won the inaugural Last-Chance Qualifier at Royal Birkdale on Monday with a two-under 68 to claim the 156th and final place in the field. That result was not a fluke. He arrives with solid DP World Tour form, including a tie for third at the KLM Open and a tie for ninth at the BMW International Open. There is also evidence he can handle this stage. This will be Dean’s third Open, and he has made the cut in both previous appearances, finishing tied 70th at Birkdale in 2017 and tied 25th at Royal Troon in 2024. For a player outside the elite tier, that is meaningful proof of links competence and major-championship composure. Royal Birkdale, however, is an exacting test. Its firm links turf, exposed wind, deep pot bunkers and recent redesign demand precision, trajectory control and patience more than raw power. That profile can help a player like Dean stay competitive if he keeps the ball in play and avoids big numbers. The realistic target is not necessarily lifting the Claret Jug, but making the cut and pushing into the weekend. Given his recent form, prior Open record and comfort at Birkdale, Dean has a genuine chance to keep the run going — and perhaps become one of the championship’s standout stories.

2 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Jul 13

Five sleeper picks for the 2026 Open Championship range from Sam Burns at 50-1 to Ludvig Thorbjornsen and Johnny Keefer at 175-1, with Alex Fitzpatrick at 70-1 and Hideki Matsuyama at 100-1 also highlighted.
Burns leads the value case after major finishes of T7, T26 and second this season, while Fitzpatrick brings four top-10s since the Zurich and Matsuyama has still not missed a cut despite modest recent form.
Scottish Open momentum underpins the longer shots: Thorbjornsen arrives off a T7, and Keefer comes in after a breakthrough T3 against a strong field.
The picks reflect a major season that has opened up after surprise winners Aaron Rai at the PGA Championship and Wyndham Clark at the U.S. Open, even as top names try to reassert control at Royal Birkdale.

Sources

CBS Sports4h ago

Analysts Name Five "Sleeper" Golfers for 2026 Open Championship

Sports Illustrated9h ago

Iain MacMillan's 2026 British Open Betting Preview Features Picks, Odds for Royal Birkdale

Will Royal Birkdale's new design and unpredictable winds favor precision players, or will power ultimately prevail at The Open?

Can Scottie Scheffler overcome his shocking missed cut to defend his title on the newly renovated Royal Birkdale course?

From delivery driver to the final spot, can qualifier Joe Dean's fairytale run continue on golf's toughest stage?

Sources

2 total

CBS Sports4h ago

Analysts Name Five "Sleeper" Golfers for 2026 Open Championship

Sports Illustrated9h ago

Iain MacMillan's 2026 British Open Betting Preview Features Picks, Odds for Royal Birkdale

Analysts Flag 5 Open Sleepers at 50-1 to 175-1 as Royal Birkdale Looks Wide Open

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