The world’s best male golfers will gather for the final major round of the year at the 151st Open Championship later this month.
Jon Rahm (The Masters), Brooks Koepka (US PGA Championship) and Wyndham Clark (US Open) have claimed the first three majors of the season. They will all be chasing Cameron Smith, the defending champion, who warmed up for this year’s Open Championship with a win at LIV London.
When is it?
The Open will start on Thursday 20th July with the final round on Sunday 23rd July.
Where is it?
Royal Liverpool Golf Club, also known as Hoylake. The Merseyside links have hosted five Opens in the post-war era with Fred Daly, Peter Thompson and Roberto De Vicenzo winning in 1947, 1956 and 1967 respectively.
There was then a 39-year wait for the Open to return to Hoylake, with Tiger Woods planning his way around parched form in 2006 with a fine display of strategy and ball-striking.
In softer conditions eight years later, McIlroy found his first and only Open course form which is going well as he tries to end his major drought.
Course architect Martin Ebert has overseen some changes to the course, including a new par-three 17th and a new 18th tee that will extend the closing hole to 607 yards.
What TV channel is it on in the UK?
Live broadcast
Sky Sports has exclusive live coverage for UK viewers, with all the action available from dawn to dusk.
Highlights
The BBC provides highlights of the night after each round on BBC Two. Highlights from the first and second rounds will be shown at 8pm, hosted by Eilidh Barbour.
How to watch The Open Champion in the US
For viewers in the United States, a combination of the NBC Peacock streaming service and the Golf Channel will provide coverage over the first two days with NBC taking over Saturday and Sunday.
What time does it start?
We will not know the tee times until Tuesday of the competition week.
The Open and the Masters are the two majors with a one-tee start, meaning the entire field starts from the first tee. However, the open range is much larger so tee times are spread from as early as 6.30am to as late as 4.15pm. That means the first tee times will be around 1.30am Eastern Time in the United States.
Those who are out early on Thursday will be out later on Friday. That can leave a player’s chances at the mercy of the dry weather by the sea and mean that the luck of the draw plays a part, but that is part of the charm of the tournament.
Weekend tee times will be determined by the leaderboard with the leaders going out last. There will be a midway cut with the top 70 and ties making it through to the weekend.
Who are the players to watch?
Rory McIlroy 15/2
Tournament favorite and Golfer of the Year the last time Hoylake hosted the Open.
Despite some painful instruments and concerns about his game, McIlroy is knocking on the door with seven top ten finishes in his last nine major starts.
The Northern Irishman came very close to ending his major drought at the US Open last month, but finished just one shot behind American Whyndham Clark.
Since lifting the Claret Jug in 2014, McIlroy has four major Open finishes either side of his nightmare cut at Royal Portrush in 2019.
This tournament and venue presents McIlroy with a great opportunity to add to his main story.
John Rahm 9/1
The Spaniard has already had great glory this year winning at Augusta in April.
However, the 28-year-old is not enjoying the red-hot form of the early months of the season, but he remains a strong contender with no real weaknesses in his game.
Rahm has never been in contention at the Open – his T3 at Royal St George’s in 2021 has been his only top 10 at the major.
However, two Irish Open wins are proof that Rahm has connections.
Scottie Scheffler 9/1
The World No. 1 and the best player in the game from tee to green, but has been held back in recent weeks by a cold putter.
In eight tournaments in 2023, the American finished no worse than T11, with three third-place finishes and a runner-up finish at this year’s PGA Championship.
Top 10 finishes in all three majors are fairly consistent, but the American is yet to produce his best form in the UK.
In his two appearances at the Open, Scheffler has finished T-8 and T-21.
However, with his love of links golf, he will be a contender in Liverpool.
Brooks Koepka 14/1
The American now has five major titles after his victory at the Oak Hill PGA Championship back in May.
Koepka needs the Claret Jug to complete the career grand slam ahead of rivals McIlroy and Jordan Spieth.
Koepka played a lot of tournament golf in Europe during his rookie years and has Northern Irishman Ricky Elliott on the bag.
He has four top-10 finishes at the Open and his excellent form this year suggests Koepka is likely to be a big player at Hoylake.
Cameron Smith 14/1
The defending champion, and Australia’s creativity around the greens are ideal for the challenge of links golf.
The Australian shot a final year 64 to beat Rory Mcllory and claim the Claret Jug in St Andrews.
Since joining LIV Golf, his form has continued to impress with a T9 at the PGA Championship before finishing fourth at the US Open in Los Angeles.
He recently claimed victory at the LIV golf event at the Centurion Club this month.
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