The fourth and final major of 2026 is upon us, as The (British) Open Championship, also known as the 154th Open, gets underway this week at Royal Birkdale.
The iconic golf course, which sits on the northwest edge of England, will host The Open for the 11th time, with the first edition played in 1954 (claimed by Peter Thompson).
A field comprised of the game’s biggest names, including the season’s three major winners: Rory McIlroy, Aaron Rai, and Wyndham Clark, will be teeing it up on the Lancashire coast.
The trio of 2026 major champs will be joined by a bevy of superstars headlined by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Collin Morikawa, among many more.
The Skinny
Tournament: The Open Championship
Dates: July 16-20, 2026
Where: Southport, Merseyside, England
Course: Royal Birkdale GC
Distance: Par 70, 7223 yards
Format: 72-hole stroke play (36-hole cut)
Field Size: 156 players
Purse: $17,000,000
Winning Share: $3,100,000
OWGR Points: 100
Defending Champion: Scottie Scheffler
How to Follow The Open Championship
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)
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Open Championship History
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 unique 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.
The Open Championship’s illustrious list of winners includes both (Old and Young) Tom Morris, 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, Jordan Spieth, and Scottie Scheffler, 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 Birkdale is the host venue of The Open for the 11th time — the first since 2017 when Jordan Spieth claimed his third major at just 23.
History: Recent Winners
2025: Scottie Scheffler (-17)
2024: Xander Schauffele (-9)
2023: 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)
WINNERS AT BIRKDALE
2017: Jordan Spieth (-12)
2008: Padraig Harrington (+3)
1998: Mark O’Meara (E)
1991: Ian Baker Finch (-8)
1983: Tom Watson (-9)
1976: Johnny Miller (-9)
1971: Lee Trevino (-14)
1965: Peter Thompson (-7)
1961: Arnold Palmer (-4)
1954: Peter Thompson (-9)
5 Open Championship Storylines
As the world’s oldest major returns to the rugged Lancashire coast for the 11th time, Royal Birkdale stands ready to write another chapter in Open lore. Towering dunes, ever-shifting winds, and fairways that test precision over power will greet the field this week. Here are the five top storylines captivating fans, players, and pundits alike.
1. A Homecoming for History: Royal Birkdale’s Grand Return
Nine years after Jordan Spieth’s epic 2017 victory — complete with that unforgettable bogey from the practice range — Birkdale welcomes The Open back with fresh anticipation.
Redesigned in the 1930s as one of Britain’s first purpose-built championship links, the course blends dramatic dunes with surprisingly forgiving fairways. Its spectator-friendly layout and proven pedigree (hosting more big events than almost any other British venue post-WWII) make it a fan and player favorite.
Will the 2026 edition produce another iconic moment, or will the links humble the stars once more?
2. Scottie Scheffler’s Quest for Back-to-Back Glory
The world No. 1 and defending Open champion arrives as the favorite (barely). Scottie Scheffler’s ball-striking dominance and recent major pedigree position him perfectly for links golf, where control trumps raw power.
Can he become the first player since Padraig Harrington (2007–08) to win consecutive Opens despite recent form? Birkdale’s fair test could suit his methodical style, but history shows defending champions rarely repeat on these fickle links.
3. Rory McIlroy’s Pursuit of Even Greater Glory
Fresh off winning major No. 5 and No. 6 in the past two seasons, Rory McIlroy enters as a man on a mission for more. With six majors to his name and proven links pedigree (including his 2014 Claret Jug), he aims to etch his name deeper into history. Already boasting two Masters titles and two PGA Championships, a victory at Birkdale would potentially set up a tilt at the double Grand Slam. The Northern Irishman’s experience and all-around game make him a massive threat on a course that rewards creativity and wind mastery.
4. Local Heroes: Rose, Fleetwood and Fitzpatrick Carry English Hopes
England’s Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, and Matt Fitzpatrick, each ranked in the world top 10, ignite national pride as strong contenders on home soil. Fleetwood, a links specialist with deep local roots, has thrived in recent Opens and carries massive crowd support. Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open winner, brings proven major mettle and tip-top form, while the gold medal-winning Rose, 45, has become something of a specialist in the majors in recent years. With English players hungry for a home victory (the last was in 1996), the trio could ride the galleries’ energy through Birkdale’s dunes. A British winner at an English Open would spark unforgettable celebrations.
5. Jon Rahm’s Grand Slam Chase Amid LIV Golf Scrutiny
Jon Rahm, already a Masters and U.S. Open champion, arrives hunting the third leg of the career Grand Slam at Royal Birkdale. A win here would leave him needing only the PGA for immortality alongside golf’s greatest. Yet the narrative carries extra weight: as a high-profile LIV Golf star, Rahm faces intense media pressure with many openly rooting against a LIV success in a major, framing any potential victory as a flashpoint in the ongoing tours divide. Can Rahm block out the noise, harness his powerful game on the links, and join the elite few who have conquered three-quarters of the Slam? The spotlight — and the stakes — could not be higher.
Open Championship Power Rankings
The power rankings for the final major includes five LIV league golfers and 20 PGA Tour stars, headlined by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and career grand slam winner Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy, the back-to-back reigning Masters champion, enters in solid form, with three top-12s in his last four starts, while Scheffler enters in semi-suspect form, off his first missed-cut in four seasons. Still, he’s world No. 1 and the defending champion.
The five LIV Golf stars in our rankings include Tyrrell Hatton, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, and Joaquin Niemann.
The PGA Tour’s top-5 players are all ranked inside the top 6, including Scheffler, McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa and Matt Fitzpatrick.
Power Rankings: Top 25
Power Rank-Player (World Rank)
25. Justin Thomas (19)
24. Shane Lowry (46)
23. Si Woo Kim (21)
22. Patrick Cantlay (38)
21. Cameron Smith (140)
20. Patrick Reed (26)
19. Brooks Koepka (118)
18. Viktor Hovland (12)
17. Sam Burns (18)
16. Robert MacIntyre (15)
15. Ludvig Aberg (20)
14. Justin Rose (10)
13. Tyrrell Hatton (22)
12. Cameron Young (4)
11. Joaquin Niemann (48)
10. Chris Gotterup (6)
9. Wyndham Clark (8)
8. Bryson DeChambeau (37)
7. Tommy Fleetwood (9)
6. Xander Schauffele (14)
5. Collin Morikawa (7)
4. Matt Fitzpatrick (3)
3. Jon Rahm (11)
2. Rory McIlroy (2)
1. Scottie Scheffler (1)
Open Championship Odds
The favorite this week on the west coast of England is world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who is being offered at 7-1. The Texan enters amid a perplexing season, highlighted by his first missed-cut in four years last week in Scotland.
At 8-1, world No. 2 Rory McIlroy is basically a co-favorite. The Northern Irishman enters off a top-10 finish at the Scottish Open.
Rounding out the top-5 favorites are Englishmen Matt Fitzpatrick and Tommy Fleetwood, both listed at 16-1, with Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele tied for fifth at 25-1.
Top-10 Betting Favorites
1. Scottie Scheffler (7-1)
2. Rory McIlroy (8-1)
3. Matt Fitzpatrick (16-1)
3. Tommy Fleetwood (16-1)
5. Jon Rahm (25-1)
5. Xander Schauffele (25-1)
7. Chris Gotterup (28-1)
7. Collin Morikawa (28-1)
7. Wyndham Clark (28-1)
10. Justin Rose (30-1)
10. Robert MacIntyre (30-1)
Open Championship Full Field
Joel Cook contributed to this preview.
