The Race to Dubai continues with the final men's Major Championship of the season as The 154th Open takes place. Here are your five things to know.
Scheffler defends
Scottie Scheffler produced a dominant performance to win his first Open Championship title 12 months ago at Royal Portrush. Already the long-standing World Number One, the American claimed the Claret Jug with a four-stroke victory over countryman Harris English in Northern Ireland to become a four-time Major winner. In doing so, he became just the fourth player to win the Masters, US PGA Championship and The Open before turning 30. The last 12 winners at The Open have all been first-time winners, with Scheffler bidding to buck that trend and become the first repeat winner since Ernie Els in 2012. After a first missed cut in four years at the Genesis Scottish Open last week, you'd imagine that's only fuelled his hunger even more.
A return to a renovated Birkdale
After nine years away, golf’s oldest tournament makes a return to Royal Birkdale on the northwest coast of England. Widely regarded as one of the best courses on the British Isles, this marks the 11th time The Open has been staged at the Southport venue. Since Jordan Spieth’s triumph in 2017, a multi-year project of course alterations have been made to its championship layout. Among those are the introduction of a brand-new par-three 15th, with the former par five-15th redesigned to become the new 14th. The fifth was previously a blind tee shot but the hole has been remodelled, reducing its length to 321 yards and enhancing the risk-reward element. The seventh has also been redesigned to become a shorter part three, with a big move to the tee box.
To read more about the course alterations, click here.
Where greats triumph
If history is anything to go by, expect one of golf’s established stars to emerge as the 2026 Champion Golfer of the Year come Sunday. Across the ten previous editions of The Open at Royal Birkdale, the list of winners reads as a who’s who of golf. Among the past champions are Australia’s Peter Thomson, Americans Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller and Tom Watson. Add to the mix three-time Major winners Pádraig Harrington and Jordan Spieth across the past two editions at the venue, and this appears to be a course that identifies the best players.
Spotlight shines on hometown hero Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood has become accustomed to life as one of the world’s best golfers and the limelight that comes with it, with that experience likely to come in handy as he returns to where it all started. The Englishman grew up just a few miles from the world-renowned links and would sneak on as a child for some practice. Back in 2017, he was the darling of the Southport crowds and there is likely to be an expectant atmosphere as the 35-year-old top ten golfer in the world bids for a breakthrough Major crown. After an incredibly consistent campaign worldwide so far this season, building on his long-awaited debut title on the PGA TOUR last year, victory this week would be a career highlight he’d struggle to top. C'mon Tommy lad...
Opportunity knocks
As is the case with other Majors, there may not be Closing Swing points on offer but there is plenty to be gained for DP World Tour members. There are 10,000 Race to Dubai ranking points to be played for, with 1,665 going to the winner. As such, Royal Birkdale member Matt Baldwin could change the course of his campaign with a strong showing after earning his place through Final Qualifying last month. At 158th in the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World, the Englishman needs a big week soon to avoid the potential for a return visit to Qualifying School later this year. Another with plenty to play for is Matthew Southgate, who finished tied sixth at Birkdale in 2017 and came through Final Qualifying for a sixth time, shortly after claiming his maiden HotelPlanner Tour title to boost his chances of a return to golf's global tour next year. Spain's Eugenio Chacarra is among 12 DP World Tour members making their Open debuts, along with this season's fellow two-time winners Casey Jarvis and Jayden Schaper.
