Who would challenge Scheffler and where to watch this year’s grand final?
The big golf season draws to a close this week as The Open heads to the Royal Birkdale course.
The Southport course, famous for its unique Oceaniner clubhouse, has not hosted an Open since Jordan Spieth won in 2017.
His 11th place for the oldest golfer comes with another American defending champion, as Scottie Scheffler aims to retain the Claret Jug after his impressive performance at Royal Portrush last year.
But the course considered “golf’s greatest test” will present Scheffler and the field with what Jon Rahm this week described as an “unprecedented” open challenge. The hot weather has heated up some of the rough conditions, which may have reduced the penalty for hitting the ball on the fairways that was reduced in 2024, but it also dried out fairways, adding to the challenge for players in judging their shots on the fairway where hazards – especially deep fairway bunkers – are plentiful.
With the strength of significant winds from the Irish Sea also playing a critical role, Scheffler knows that Birkdale will be a tough test of his mind and his bad game.
“On every hole, there’s good strategy; there’s good thinking,” Scheffler said.
“This is going to be a solid golf course. This is the first forecast I remember seeing the rain not stopping for a week. The ball will run forever.
“There’s a lot of critical conditions. You’re going to get some weird bounces, some weird things are going to happen, but a lot of thinking off the tee and getting into the green and it’s been a lot of fun getting ready.”
Although he heads into The Open after a tough week, Scheffler has a history where he sees a place where past champions have always done well.
Scheffler wants to emulate Harrington
Scheffler will try to defend the Open after missing out on The Scottish Open last week. Despite that disappointment, the world number one has reason to believe that history is on his side.
No player has successfully retained the Claret Jug since Padraig Harrington did so in 2008, with the Irishman’s second successive victory coming at Birkdale.
Indeed, eight of the past 10 Games at Birkdale have been won by players who already have a major title to their name, the exceptions being Peter Thomson’s first win in 1954 and Ian Baker-Finch’s win in 1991.
No golfer exudes poise on the biggest stage more than Scheffler, who has three top-10 finishes in five Open appearances and has never finished outside the top-25.
While driving distance is not rewarded at Birkdale, ball accuracy that helps players avoid a series of hazards is the name of the game, and judging where the ball will land on the hard sun-baked fairways will also be important.
Those demands play into the hands of the composed and calculated Scheffler and, if he can maintain his solid form with the putter this season on the lofty greens of Birkdale, there is little to suggest he can emulate Harrington in a venue that often favors former champions.
McIlroy will end his 12-year wait
After firmly banishing his Masters demons with back-to-back victories at Augusta National, ending the long wait for a second Claret Jug will be crucial for Rory McIlroy.
The Northern Irishman’s only Open victory came in 2014 less than 30 miles down the road from Birkdale at Royal Liverpool. He has six top 10 games since that achievement without tasting victory.
On the face of it, Birkdale is not a good fit for a player like McIlroy who capitalizes on his strength.
However, McIlroy has fond memories of Birkdale, having enjoyed a classic Sunday surge to finish T4 in 2017.
And After a T7 finish at the Scottish Open, McIlroy is enjoying the challenge the course is giving him.
“The course has been an amazing week. We’re making links as links are found,” McIlroy told BBC Sport.
“It’s a lot different than when I was here a few weeks ago [for a practice round]. It’s not as green, the rough doesn’t have water – it’s still tall, fescue, but it’s thinning a little because of the weather we’ve had.”
“I think I can play the course more than I could, so I’m happy about that, but it’s a big test.
“The changes they’ve made to the golf course over the last few years, I think it’s going to be a great golf tournament that tests all aspects of the game.”
An English legend on the way?
Although it is clear that McIlroy will command a lot of support among the spectators, the man who will probably get the most support is local boy Tommy Fleetwood.
Fleetwood finished T27 on his home course in 2017, though that represented an achievement as he made his first cut at The Open.
After ending a long wait for a PGA Tour win last year, Fleetwood is one to attack the Birkdale challenge with confidence. He doesn’t win in 2026, but Fleetwood boasts six top 10s this year and is sixth on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy and scratch starts.
In other words, Fleetwood has a game to play among the contenders on Sunday, although there are a few other strong hopes of becoming the first Englishman to win the Open since Nick Faldo won at Muirfield in 1992. No Englishman has won The Open on English soil since Tony Jacklin at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s in 1969.
Aaron Rai has already had a dream season by winning the PGA Championship. Second in driving accuracy and 10th green in regulation on the PGA Tour this season, his form in 2026 suggests he can withstand the tough test Birkdale offers.
Matt Fitzpatrick has been arguably the best player on the PGA Tour this season with three wins and eight out of 10 and will be eager to challenge Scheffler.
Outside of Fleetwood, however, the ultimate legend would be Justin Rose’s victory.
The 2013 US Open champion endured more heartache at The Masters earlier this year and has twice finished T2 at The Open, most recently in 2024.
Rose famously rallied from the pain of the 18th at Birkdale to finish tied for fourth and claim the Novice Silver Medal in his 1998 Open debut. Twenty-eight years later, Rose would be a well-deserved and famous second major winner who was overdue.
When is the 2026 Open Championship
The 154th Open starts on Thursday, July 16 and concludes on July 19 at Royal Birkdale in Southport.
Where to watch the 2026Open Championship
Coverage of the Open Championship is available on Sky Sports Golf, with all four rounds live throughout the week.
For those without a Sky Sports subscription, NOW TV offers day passes and monthly passes that include access to the Sky Sports Golf channel.
2026 Open Championship prediction: Matt Fitzpatrick
For all the support the likes of McIlroy, Fleetwood and Rose will undoubtedly receive, there is a strong case to be made that Fitzpatrick is the best bet to win at home and the man best placed to challenge Scheffler.
Fitzpatrick’s only appearance at Birkdale saw him make The Open cut for the first time as a professional in 2017. Since then, he has blossomed into the most accomplished player in 2026, ranked in the top 10 on the PGA Tour in strokes gained (3rd), strokes gained: stroke to green (9th), driving 9 (driving green), driving green (9) regulation (3rd), scoring average (2) and Par 4 scoring (3rd). There are 12 holes of Par 4 at Birkdale.
A T4 finish at Portrush last year served as Fitzpatrick’s best at The Open and a T3 finish at The Scottish Open last week gave him even more reason to be confident that this is the year he captures the Claret Jug. Fitzpatrick has already shown he can deliver success when it comes to winning the 2022 US Open, and is the best player to produce the first English winner of The Open for 34 years.
