Overview
- The 154th Open Championship begins Thursday at Royal Birkdale with a full 156-player field and play scheduled from July 16 to 19.
- Scottie Scheffler enters as the pre-tournament favorite despite missing the cut at last week’s Genesis Scottish Open and is framed as seeking an immediate bounce back.
- Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick and Jon Rahm head betting and pundit lists as leading threats, with public markets and tip pieces highlighting both favourites and outsider value bets.
- Jon Rahm has publicly said majors could be staged in other regions such as Australia or Asia and has also acknowledged ongoing self-doubt and impatience in his pursuit of another major.
- Royal Birkdale’s firm, dune-lined links and a dry forecast increase the premium on tee accuracy and iron play, a course dynamic that could favour shotmakers with precise ball-striking and influence who contends this week.