Surely not the last highlight, but certainly the last major of this year is coming up this week. From July 18th to 21st, The Open Championship 2024 will be held at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland. After The Open was last held there in 2016, the major returns this year. Back then, the winner was Henrik Stenson, who is part of the field again this year. However, the Swede is considered at most an outsider for the overall win. At the same time, the question arises as to who has the best chances for the major title. We take a look at the defending champion, in-form players, and stars who are always good for a win.
Defending Champion at the 2024 Open Championship: Brian Harman
Brian Harman travels to Scotland as the defending champion of The Open. When the major was held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club last year, the American won the major convincingly by six strokes over the runner-ups. Harman especially impressed in the first two rounds, building a significant lead early in the tournament. However, he has not won a tournament this year. His best finish was a tied second place at the Players Championship in March. Subsequently, Harman did not perform well in the three major tournaments and only managed one more top-10 finish in the other PGA Tour events. Considering the form of the defending champion, a victory would be rather surprising.
Recent Winner at the US Open: Bryson DeChambeau
The situation looks somewhat different for Bryson DeChambeau. Although his performances in the LIV Golf League could be better, it’s clear that the American is definitely a contender for major titles. He contended for the title at all three majors this year, narrowly missing the win at the PGA Championship 2024 with a tied second place and ultimately winning the US Open 2024. It is expected that DeChambeau will again be in contention for the overall victory at the Open Championship 2024.
World Number 1 Returns: Scottie Scheffler
The world number 1 has already recorded six wins this year. After winning both the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players Championship, Scottie Scheffler claimed the first major of the year by winning the Masters 2024. While he achieved three more victories on the tour, his performance in majors slightly declined. Most recently, he placed a disappointing tied 41st at the US Open 2024. After winning the Travelers Championship in a playoff the following week, the 28-year-old took a break, partly to spend time with his newborn. It will be exciting to see how Scheffler returns at The Open 2024.
Long Overdue: When Will Rory McIlroy Win Another Major?
It seems like only a matter of time before Rory McIlroy wins another major tournament. However, such predictions have been made for quite some time now. McIlroy last won one of the four big tournaments in 2014, when he claimed both The Open and the PGA Championship in the same year. Since then, the Northern Irishman has experienced a drought, coming very close to a fifth major victory multiple times. He has narrowly missed the title as a runner-up four times. His performances in recent years and his current form are promising. All he needs is a major tournament win.
The Third Major Winner in the Mix: Xander Schauffele
With Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau already mentioned, the third major winner of this year comes into focus. Xander Schauffele won his first major tournament at the PGA Championship 2024, narrowly beating Bryson DeChambeau, who finished second. Although it was a debut win for the American at a major event, his success had been foreshadowed. Schauffele has had a good season with 11 top-10 finishes in the 16 tournaments he participated in this year. Thus, Schauffele is also among the close favorites for the Open Championship 2024.
Dark Horse for The Open 2024? Robert MacIntyre
The next name might be unfamiliar to some, especially when discussing potential title contenders. However, Robert MacIntyre has proven with his good form in recent weeks that he can be considered a contender. The Scot has already secured two victories on the PGA Tour this year, and he achieved a top-10 finish at the PGA Championship. Admittedly, a win would be more surprising than for the previously mentioned candidates, but perhaps MacIntyre feels particularly comfortable on home turf.