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The final major championship of the 2026 golf season is here as the world’s best players head to Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, for the 154th playing of The Open Championship. Golf’s oldest major returns to one of its most historic venues, where players will compete for the coveted Claret Jug before the PGA Tour season shifts its focus to the FedExCup Playoffs.
The tournament arrives with plenty of storylines, starting with defending champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who enters The Open looking to build on his recent major success. Scheffler’s preparation took an unexpected turn last week at the Genesis Scottish Open, where he missed the cut for the first time since the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Scheffler will face a strong group of contenders, including Tom Kim whose coming off a victory at last week’s Genesis Scottish Open and Tommy Fleetwood, who returns to Royal Birkdale with a unique hometown connection, growing up just minutes from the course in Southport. The field also features several recent major champions looking to add another title to their resumes, including Rory McIlroy, Aaron Rai, and Wyndham Clark, all chasing the 2026 Claret Jug.
