A ‘Big Three’ for a Silver Jug

royal liverpool was accepted British tomorrow twice since the turn of the century, including the victory of Tiger Woods in 2006 on paved streets that were prevented by rain on this occasion and the triumph of Rory McIlroy in 2014 before the changes in question on the last nine holes of a very complete links (par is now 71 because hole 10 is now par 4).

As a result, Sunday’s drama on the final day was almost guaranteed, with no safe leader if the wind caught up to the 17th tee, the new par 3 with a high, endless green, surrounded by treacherous bunkers. A major hole all week. A cool head will be important, and among the applicants, with countless factual arguments, the one we can now call stands out. Golf’s ‘Big Three’: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, now number 1, 2 and 3 in the worldeither.

McIlroy dominated the preview conversation. His victory at the Scottish Open served as the perfect preparation and the scene where the Northern Irishman lifted his only Jug to date. Hoylake would be a fitting place to end a nine-year drought without upsetting one of the ‘bigs’. The only player higher than McIlroy in the world rankings, Scottie Scheffler, has been a model of consistency in 2023. Nineteen consecutive top-12 finishes is an eye-opening and rare statistic, but to say that “winning is more fun than finishing third.” suggests that you need a big win to really enjoy your season. Scheffler led a list of his compatriots who would feel confident doing the opposite of the Beatles and would be American occupier of Liverpool. Brooks Koepka has finished inside the British top 10 four times since 2015 and Jordan Spieth five, the latter of whom is looking to add to his 2017 victory at nearby Royal Birkdale, while both Koepka and Wyndham Clark come looking for the ‘double’.

And it is clear that another winner of a ‘major’ in 2023, the Masters champion, cannot be ruled out Jon Rahmwho was inspired by the Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz to try to ensure that the two jewels in the sports crown of the British summer go to Spain. Jon is playing his seventh British with a best result of 3rd in 2021 at Royal St. George’s. He gave up the number 1 and number 2 rankings this year but continues to lead the FedEx Cup and come to Hoylake.

More Pitcher candidates? There is there. cameron smith, the defending champion in the 150th edition at Saint Andrews a year ago where McIlroy led on the final day but was overtaken by the ‘aussie’s’ finish of 64th. And the locals? No Englishman has won the Open in England since Tony Jacklin in 1969but Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Rose and Tyrrell Hatton have their choices at Hoylake, where they win legends like golf Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen.

Scheffler played only two British: 2021 (8th) and 2022 (21st). He has little experience on the links, although he admits he loves this type of course and it’s a shame he only plays on it in July. “Here you can be very creative. If you just avoid the bunkers, you can do whatever you want, but every time you’re in one, it’s almost a penalty hit. I have a lot of confidence in what I’m doing now (with the putt)”.

McIlroy’s many loyal fans must be convinced by now that “hope kills” and, true to form, the 34-year-old seems to have returned to his prime just in time. McIlroy, Rahm and Justin Rose will play this Thursday at 3:59 pm Spanish peninsular time (Movistar Golf) in one of the stellar matches of the first two days. Among the three seven Grand Slams they considered: 2 Basque, 4 Northern Irish and 1 English. Its first round starts this Thursday at 2:59 pm local time (3:59 pm Spanish peninsular time); and the second, on Friday from 9:58 am (an hour later in our country).

The first Spaniard to play in this Open is Pablo Larrazabal (Thursday at 8:19 am Spanish peninsular time) with Adrian Meronk and Hiroshi Iwata. After him, from 8.30 it will be the debutant amateur’s turn Josele Ballesterwho will play at least one Masters champion like Patrick Reed and Connor Syme. Adrian Otaegui It leaves at 13.31 in Spain with Gary Woodland and Alexander Bjork. adri arnaus will play from 15.26 with Ewen Ferguson and Keita Nakajima; Nacho Elvira and Alejandro Canizares they are together (16.32) with Marc Warren; and Jorge Campillo He leaves at 5:05 pm with a round with Brandon Robinson and Michael Stewart.

Scottie Scheffler will take on the first two rounds with Tommy Fleetwood and Adam Scott (Thursday from 10.47am). This will be the match ahead of reigning Open champion Cameron Smith, who starts at 1.58 with Xander Schauffele and Wyndham Clark, winner of the last US Open.

Finally, Brooks Koepka, winner of the PGA, was framed with Patrick Cantlay and Hideki Matsuyama, at 10.36.

The tournament can be seen live on the Golf channel on Movistar+, on dial 62 of the Movistar+ payment platform. The broadcasts will begin this Thursday, July 20, from 7:30 am to 9:00 pm, the same time slot where the second round will air on Friday the 21st.

At the weekend, Golf by Movistar+ will be connected to Royal Liverpool from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm for the third round, on Saturday, July 22, and from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm for the fourth and last round , on Sunday 23.