Scheffler, McIlroy, DeChambeau, Rahm, the list of candidates is mighty at Troon

The list of possible winners of British Open at Royal Troon (Scotland) It’s long and mighty: Scottie Scheffler Rory McIlroy, Bryson deChambeau, Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm… From 6:30 am to 4:30 pm, 158 golfers started the path to glory this Thursday.

The Open is the oldest of the four majors and often the most unpredictable, due to the changeable weather and changing nature of the links. This year’s British, the 152nd edition, promises to be very open, with several players emerging as strong contenders for the Beach Jug and the honorary title of ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’.

American Scottie Scheffler, world number one and Masters champion, who is looking for his third major title, opens the shortlist. With six victories, in 15 starts this 2024, he wants to emulate Arnold Palmer, British champion at Troon in 1962 after winning six PGA Tour tournaments. “I have no idea about this information,” said one from Texas. “We should have some wind this week… which adds to the challenge of this links. It will be fun,” added the world no.

Bryson DeChambeau, ranked ninth in the world, has played better than anyone in the majors this year, tied for sixth at the Masters, second at the PGA Championship before winning his second US Open last month. “It’s been a hell of a journey but I come in with a lot of confidence after winning the US Open,” Bryson said. “I know how to get the job done. It’s just a matter of if I’m as consistent as I was at the US Open last month. If I can play the golf I play, I think I’ll give myself a big chance .” he added.

Rory McIlroy’s ‘disaster’ continued last month at the US Open, where he finished second – one stroke behind DeChambeau – after making bogeys on three of his last four holes. It took McIlroy a few days to process the pain of that loss, but as he prepared for Thursday’s opening round, he said he felt no added pressure in his bid to win the fifth major of his career.

“I know I’m in a good moment,” said the world number two. “If I think back from 2015 to 2020, that five-year stretch, I rarely had a realistic chance to win a major championship. So I’d rather hang around it. It means I’m getting closer.” McIlroy hasn’t won a major since the 2014 PGA Championship.

Other contenders include PGA Championship winner and world number three, Xander Schauffehe, the swedish Ludwig Abergfourth ranked, the 2021 Open champion, Collin Morikawa, and our Jon Rahm, winner of the US Open in 2021 and the Masters in 2023, although for now he needs more to add a third. A click in the mind and swing that changes the dynamics of the past months, especially in Grand Slams.

Rahm, who has been in the top 3 twice in the last three editions of the British Open, leads the Spanish participation of five professionals and two beginners: in addition to the Basque, they are in Troon. David Puig, Jorge Campillo, Nacho Elvira, Ángel Hidalgo, and fans Luis Masaveu and Jaime Montojo.

American left-hander Brian Harman, defending champion and number 13 in the world, is not among the favourites, as he was last year at Hoylake, where he won by six strokes ahead. AND Tiger Woodyes? Back in Troon after 20 years (he was gone in 2016). The old world of Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus

Royal Troon, located next to the Irish Sea, will be a tough test. The Ayrshire county layout has one of the toughest final stretches with eight of the last nine holes played into the headwind.

This year’s tournament features the longest hole in Open history. The 6 measured 601 yards when it was last played in 2016, but this year it measures 623 yards. In total, the course will be 195 yards longer than in 2016, when Swede Henrik Stenson defeated American Phil Mickelson in one of the best duels in Open history in the final round.

Of the 9 champions at Troon, six won only one ‘major’, this one, in their career: Arthur Havers, Tom Weiskopf, Mark Calcavecchia, Justin Leonard, Todd Hamilton, and Henrik Stenson.