The 154th Open: DP World Tour Fantasy Ones to Watch

The final men's Major Championship of the year takes place this week at The 154th Open and here is all that players of the DP World Tour's official fantasy game need to know.

For the first time since 2017, when Jordan Spieth lifted the Claret Jug, golf's oldest championship returns to Royal Birkdale.

Since first hosting The Open in 1954, the Southport venue has become the competition's most regular venue, outside of St Andrews.

Some of golf’s finest champions have enjoyed their greatest moments at Birkdale, with Australia's Peter Thomson, Americans Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson having celebrated success before.

This time, however, the world's best will take on a revamped layout after multiple renovations were made from 2023 to 2025.

Tommy Fleetwood will likely receive the most support this week as the popular Englishman returns to his hometown in his quest to become a Major champion, with fellow local boy and Royal Birkdale member Matt Baldwin given the honour of hitting Thursday's opening tee shot.

Scottie Scheffler is bidding to become the first player to successfully retain the Open title since Pádraig Harrington went back-to-back in 2007 and 2008.

READ MORE

• The 154th Open: Five things to know

• Explained: The changes made to Royal Birkdale ahead of Open Championship return

• One liners: Get to know the 12 DP World Tour members making their Open Championship debut

Who are the most backed players?

Players from the British Isles rank favourably, with in-form Matt Fitzpatrick the most popular pick for the second week in a row at 52%.

European Ryder Cup teammates Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, a Southport native, are second and third as they feature in 37% and 30% of teams.

Justin Rose, who won the Silver Medal as the leading amateur at Royal Birkdale in 1998, and Chris Gotterup are fourth and fifth respectively at 22%.

Who are our ones to watch?

Here, we pick out three players in action this week who are worth considering for your Fantasy team selections.

Favourite - Scottie Scheffler

The American arrived at Birkdale for the defence of his Open title earlier than many expected after his first missed cut since the FedEx St Jude Classic in 2022. In the near four subsequent years, he made the cut in 78 consecutive tournaments and registered nine top tens including victory at The American Express in his first start of 2026. So, despite the dissapointment at the Genesis Scottish Open, the World Number One is still the favourite - just ahead of career Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy - to claim his fifth Major victory and first of 2026. The 30-year-old was still an amateur when Birkdale last hosted The Open, so this is his first taste of playing for the Claret Jug at the Southport links.

Form Horse - Viktor Hovland

In truth, there were a handful of players who we could have selected here with Matt Fitzpatrick and Wyndham Clark notably among them but the upturn in recent weeks by the Norwegian Hovland is promising ahead of a latest tilt at a first Major victory. Having dropped outside the world's top 30 shortly after the US PGA Championship, he has since finished third at the RBC Canadian Open, won the Travelers Championship and gone from battling to make the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open to finish tied 13th over the links style layout at The Renaissance Club. As such, he arrives as the World Number 12 and bidding to improve on the tie for fourth he achieved at The Open in 2022 over St Andrews' Old Course.

Wild Card - Haotong Li

It is perhaps harsh to describe China's top-ranked player as a Wild Card but it is a Major Championship so there's only so far down you can go. In what is his seventh Open appearance, Li returns to the scene of his debut where he finished third after a final-round 63. After missed cuts in 2019, 2021 and 2022, he returned to The Open last year and played his way into the final pairing alongside Scottie Scheffler, before finishing in a tie for fourth place. The result helped him earn dual membership with the PGA TOUR where the new courses and tournaments have proven a challenge, with four missed cuts in his last five starts. But where better to return to form than on the Major stage?

What can I win?

Sign up and now be in with a chance of winning some great rewards!

The Ultimate Prize

Finish the 2026 Race to Dubai with the highest total Fantasy score and you’ll take home an incredible top-tier prize package:

1st

•  Two Ticket+ tickets to one DP World Tour event in 2027, valid for each day of competition. Both tickets must be used at the same tournament, chosen from the following: British Masters, BMW PGA Championship, Genesis Scottish Open, Irish Open, or Open de France.

•  £500 flight voucher, redeemable in line with the issuing airline/provider’s terms and conditions.

•  £500 accommodation voucher, redeemable with the respective accommodation provider’s terms and conditions.

2nd

•  £300 DP World Tour Store voucher (subject to applicable terms and conditions).

•  Two General Admission tickets (valid for each competition day) to one 2027 DP World Tour event of the winner’s choice from: British Masters, BMW PGA Championship, Genesis Scottish Open, Irish Open, or Open de France.

3rd

•  £150 DP World Tour Store voucher (subject to applicable terms and conditions).

•  Two General Admission tickets (valid for each competition day) to one 2027 DP World Tour event of the winner’s choice from: British Masters, BMW PGA Championship, Genesis Scottish Open, Horizon Irish Open, or Open de France.

This year also introduces two brand-new Boosters: Triple Captain and Bench Boost, giving you even more ways to outscore the competition and climb the global leaderboard.

Alongside the season-long chase for the Ultimate Prize, players will also be able to win rewards throughout the year with prizes available for each Global Swing and Phase of the Race to Dubai.

Looking back - Genesis Scottish Open

Despite having finished no worse than a tie for 17th across his four starts at The Renaissance Club, Tom Kim wasn't a well-backed player as his victory earned 239 points for just 412 players - or 1.47%.

Our Favourite Scottie Scheffler missed the cut - something he had not done since the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship. Form Horse Matt Fitzpatrick finished tied third, with Wild Card missing the weekend.

Report - Tom Kim wins first Rolex Series title in stunning style at Genesis Scottish Open

Season so far - 2026 DP World Tour Fantasy Top 10 player rankings