The 2024 Open Championship Primer: History, TV, Field, Odds

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British Open Primer 2024
England's Justin Rose tees off the 1st during a practice day ahead of The Open at Royal Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Owen Humphreys for PA Images via Getty Images)

The fourth and final major of 2024 is upon us, as the (British) Open Championship, also known as the 152nd Open, gets underway this week at Royal Troon.

The iconic golf course, which sits on the southwest coast of Scotland, will host The Open for the 10th time, with the first edition played in 1923.

A field comprised of the game’s biggest names, including the season’s three major winners: Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau, will be teeing it up at the home of the iconic Postage Stamp hole.

The trio of 2024 major champs will be joined by a bevy of superstars headlined by Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, and Collin Morikawa .

Other marquee names, who are considered serious threats to hoist the Claret Jug, include Ludvig Aberg, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland, Cam Smith, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood, and Shane Lowry, among others.


The Skinny

Tournament: The Open Championship
Dates: July 18-22, 2024
Where: Troon, S. Ayrshire, Scotland
Course: Royal Troon GC
Distance: Par 71, 7385 yards
Format: 72-hole stroke play (36 cut)
Purse: $17,000,000
Winning Share: $3,100,000
FedExCup/OWGR Points: 750/100
Defending Champion: Brian Harman


How to Follow The Open Championship

British Open Primer 2024 Rory McIlroy
Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy look at a phone on the 14th ahead of The Open at Royal Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland on July 16, 2024. (Photo by Owen Humphreys for PA Images via Getty Images)

Television: Thu: 1:30-4 a.m. (Peacock), 4 a.m.-3 p.m. (USA); Sat: 5-7 a.m. (USA), 7 a.m.-3 p.m. (NBC); Sun: 4-7 a.m. (USA), 7 a.m.-2 p.m. (NBC)

The Open Links: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

PGA Tour Links: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube

European Tour Links: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Youtube


Open Championship History

Seve Ballesteros
Seve Ballesteros holds the Claret Jug following his victory during The 113th Open Championship held on the Old Course at St Andrews, from July 19-22,1984 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by R&A via Getty Images)

The oldest of the four majors, The Open Championship has humble roots that date all the way back to 1860. The inaugural tournament featured a small handful of professionals playing three 12-hole rounds in one day at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland.

That first Open was won by Willie Park Sr., who finished the event in 174 strokes (this was back even before pars were a thing).

The early winners were awarded a red belt, known as the Challenge Belt, but the event had to come up with something new after the legendary Young Tom Morris was able to invoke a myopic condition where a player with three consecutive Open victories gets to keep the belt.

The belt became a medal, and as the tournament increased in prestige and participation, the ultimate prize became the Claret Jug, one of the greatest symbols of achievement in the world of elite-level sports.

Jack Nicklaus Wins 1978 British Open
Jack Nicklaus is presented with the Claret Jug after winning the 1978 British Open at St. Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography via Getty Images)

The Open Championship’s illustrious list of winners includes both of the Tom Morrises (Old and Young), Harry Vardon, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth, among others.

Vardon is the tournament’s all-time leader in wins with six, followed by James Braid, John Henry Taylor, Peter Thomson and Watson with five a piece. In all, 27 players have won multiple Open Championships.

Royal Troon is the host venue of The Open for the 10th time – the first since 2016 when Henrik Stenson edged Phil Mickelson in what is considered one of the greatest final-round duels in major championship history.

History: Recent Winners

2022: Brian Harman (-13)
2022: Cam Smith (-20)
2021: Collin Morikawa (-15)
2020: COVID (-19)
2019: Shane Lowry (-15)
2018: Francesco Molinari (-8)
2017: Jordan Spieth (-12)
2016: Henrik Stenson (-20)
2015: Zach Johnson (-15)
2014: Rory McIlroy (-17)
2013: Phil Mickelson (-3)
2012: Ernie Els (-7)
2011: Darren Clarke (-5)

History: Records

72-HOLE SCORING
264 – Henrik Stenson (2016)

54-HOLE SCORING
197 – Shane Lowry (2019)

36 HOLE SCORING
130 – Nick Faldo (1992)
130 – Brandt Snedeker (2012)

LOWEST ROUND
62 – Branden Grace (2017)

TO-PAR SCORING
-20 – Henrik Stenson (2016), Cam Smith (2022)

AGE
Youngest – Young Tom Morris (17.5, 1868)
Oldest – Old Tom Morris (46.3, 1867)

WINS
6 – Harry Vardon (1896, 1898-99, 1903, 1911, 1914)
5 – James Braid (1901, 1905-06, 1908, 1910)
5 – John Henry Taylor (1894-95, 1900, 1909, 1913)
5 – Peter Thomson (1954-56, 1958, 1965)
5 – Tom Watson (1975, 1977, 1980, 1982-83)

CONSECUTIVE WINS
4 – Young Tom Morris (1868-70, 72)*
3 – Peter Thomson (1954-56)
3 – Bob Ferguson (1880-82)
3 – Jamie Anderson (1877-79)
* No tournament in 1871

WIRE TO WIRE WINNERS
1912 Ted Ray (+11)
1927 Bobby Jones (-3)
1932 Gene Sarazen (-5)
1934 Henry Cotton (+3)
1973 Tom Weiskopf (-12)
2005 Tiger Woods (-14)
2014 Rory McIlroy (-17)


Open Championship Power Rankings

British Open Primer 2024 Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy plays a shot during a practice round prior to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 16, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Oisin Keniry for R&A via Getty Images)

The power rankings for the final major includes seven LIV tour golfers and 13 PGA Tour players, headlined by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and box office star Bryson DeChambeau.

DeChambeau, the 2024 U.S. Open champ, enters in top form having finished in the top-6 in the season’s three majors (1st, 2nd, 6th), while Scheffler owns six PGA tour wins on the season including the Masters.

The other six LIV Golf stars in our rankings include Brooks Koepka, Cam Smith, Tyrrell Hatton, Jon Rahm, Louis Oosthuizen and Joaquin Niemann.

The PGA Tour’s top-5 players are all ranked inside the top 7, including Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Aberg.

Power Rankings: Top 20

Power Rank-Player (World Rank)
20. Joaquin Niemann (112)
19. Cameron Young (25)
18. Louis Oosthuizen (155)
17. Sahith Theegala (11)
16. Shane Lowry (33)
15. Robert MacIntyre (16)
14. Patrick Cantlay (8)
13. Tyrrell Hatton (23)
12. Viktor Hovland (7)
11. Tony Finau (18)
10. Tommy Fleetwood (12)
9. Cam Smith (77)
8. Brooks Koepka (52)
7. Ludvig Aberg (4)
6. Jon Rahm (10)
5. Collin Morikawa (6)
4. Xander Schauffele (3)
3. Rory McIlroy (2)
2. Bryson DeChambeau (9)
1. Scottie Scheffler (1)


Open Championship Odds

British Open Primer 2024 Cantlay Burns Scheffler
Patrick Cantlay, Sam Burns and Scottie Scheffler prior to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 15, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images)

The favorite this week on the southwest coast of Scotland is world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who is being offered at 6-1. The Texan enters amid an historic season, which includes six wins.

At 8-1, world No. 2 Rory McIlroy is basically a co-favorite. The Northern Irishman enters his first major since blowing a late lead at the U.S. Open.

Rounding out the top-5 favorites are Ludvig Aberg (14-1) and Collin Morikawa (16-1), alongside the two most recent major winners: Xander Schauffele (14-1) and Bryson DeChambeau (16-1).

Top-10 Betting Favorites

1. Scottie Scheffler (6-1)
2. Rory McIlroy (8-1)
3. Ludvig Aberg (14-1)
3. Xander Schauffele (14-1)
5. Collin Morikawa (16-1)
5. Bryson DeChambeau (16-1)
7. Tyrrell Hatton (25-1)
7. Tommy Fleetwood (25-1)
9. Jon Rahm (28-1)
10. Viktor Hovland (30-1)


Open Championship Full Field

British Open Primer 2024 Brooks Koepka DJ
Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka talk while walking down the fairway prior to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 15, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images)


Joel Cook contributed to this preview.


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