​Royal Birkdale is a massive property that went through extensive changes to further cement its positioning as one of the flagship Open Championship venues. The holes weave effortlessly through the dunes, creating an amphitheatre that is beautifully intimidating. This golf course is going to repeatedly ask players to make difficult, and sometimes uncomfortable decisions.RELATED: British Open power rankings 2026: The entire field at Royal Birkdale, rankedAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementReports from the grounds of Birkdale indicate the setup is intensely firm. Players typically approach tournament prep focusing on where they want the ball to go. This week, it’s about where they want the ball to stop. Steep, hazardous bunkers protect the fairways and greens, making this tournament about controlling trajectory and distance. It’s going to take a blend of fearless shotmaking and strategic target lines to lift the claret jug in Northern England.This brings about a simple question: Given the demands of Royal Birkdale, can one of the longshot contenders actually win The Open? The answer is yes, but I’m only considering players who have a strict combination of important boxes checked. Those include current form, links-golf prowess, major championship win equity, and a statistical profile that aligns with Royal Birkdale.RELATED: British Open 2026: 7 players who will help you win your poolRead The Line’s Joe Idone and John Haslbauer break down a longshot bet they love at Royal Birkdale:Watch Read The Line’s full betting breakdown of the British Open here.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHere are five longshots who fit the bill and have what it takes to win the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale: Si Woo Kim2285635048Andrew RedingtonWe are going to zig when others zag with our first selection. While many will discredit Si Woo Kim right away based on his Open Championship history, we’re going to turn a blind eye because very few players in this range of the odds board possess this level of current form and consistency.Kim arrives fresh off a T-9 finish at the Genesis Scottish Open, with consecutive closing rounds of 66 at The Renaissance Club. I’m overlooking the history because Kim has never been this complete of a player, and it showed last week. His approach play all season has quietly been amongst the best in the world, and his trademark accuracy off the tee should help him navigate the treacherous fairways at Royal Birkdale.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSi Woo Kim has laid a foundation of confidence, with nine top-10s this season and carrying confidence in links conditions from last week into the final major of the season. The ball-striking has been too good to ignore at his price, and we’re hopeful that another player who makes their home base in Texas can dominate in the winds and tough conditions at Royal Birkdale once again.Current best odds: 55-1, HardRockBetAlex Fitzpatrick2285747604Oisin Keniry/R&AExpect