The third round of the 2026 Open Championship gets underway on Friday at Royal Birkdale GC in Southport, England.
Lucas Herbert holds a one-stroke lead over the rest of the field at eight-under par after the second round. With two days remaining, this tournament remains wide open.
Here are my picks and The Open Championship Round 3 best bets. Not only that, be sure to check out VegasInsider's breakdown on The Open as well.
The Open Championship Round 3 Best Bets
Bud Cauley Top-20 (+116 at DraftKings)
Bud Cauley has played consistently good golf to begin the week, shooting a 68 in each of the first two rounds to enter the weekend T8. At +116, he is worth backing to maintain that momentum for the remainder of the tournament.
Royal Birkdale places a premium on accuracy. The fairways are narrow, and the course is lined with deep bunkers that are difficult to escape.
Avoiding those hazards is essential, and players need to hit fairways and greens to prevent costly mistakes. That setup makes Cauley a strong target in this market.
Entering this week, Cauley ranks above the PGA Tour average this season in both greens-in-regulation percentage and driving accuracy percentage.
Cauley has been playing great golf over his past four tournaments, with a win at the RBC Canadian Open and a T14 finish at the Travelers Championship. Another strong finish is likely in store this week.
Justin Thomas Top-20 (+220 at DraftKings)
Another golfer worth targeting in this market is Justin Thomas. He's just two shots back from joining those in the top-20, making +220 a worthwhile swing to take.
Like Cauley, Thomas fits this course well.
This season, he ranks 55th on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy percentage.
Since Royal Birkdale last hosted this major championship, the course has undergone renovations, including partially raised greens. This change makes the putting surfaces firmer and more difficult to control, increasing the importance of greenside play.
One of the best greenside players in the world, Thomas ranks in the 99th percentile in strokes gained: around the green.
