British Open: Five contenders to watch

SOUTHPORT – The July 16-19 British Open returns to Royal Birkdale Golf Club this week as the world’s top golfers descend on England’s north-west, all with eyes on the coveted Claret Jug.

AFP Sport takes a look at five of the main contenders to emerge victorious at the 154th edition of golf’s oldest Major.

Scottie Scheffler (U.S.)

Scottie Scheffler stormed to victory at Portrush in 2025 to end any suggestion that he could not conquer the links conditions on the other side of the Atlantic.

But the world No. 1 defends his Claret Jug in the middle of a much more frustrating year, having won only once on the PGA Tour in 2026, and that was back in January.

A four-year run of 78 successive made cuts came to an end at the Scottish Open on July 10, but that has given the 30-year-old American more time to prepare at Birkdale.

Despite not hitting the same heights as 2025, Scheffler still came close at the Masters and played well at the US Open in recent months, and will be desperate to add to his four Majors.

Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)

Rory McIlroy has tailored his schedule much more in 2026 to prioritise being fresh for the Majors, and it worked as he retained the Masters in April for his sixth Major.

Yet the Northern Irishman continues his wait to add to his only British Open crown, which he claimed at Royal Liverpool in 2014.

In contrast to Scheffler’s struggles, the 37-year-old played himself into form at the Scottish Open with a top-10 finish.

Matt Fitzpatrick (England)

One of the most in-form players on the PGA Tour in 2026, Matt Fitzpatrick is yet to replicate that success at the Majors.

Since finishing second to American Cameron Young at the Players’ Championship in March, the 31-year-old has won three titles on Tour, outgunning Scheffler to win a play-off at the RBC Heritage after success at the Valspar Championship, before claiming the Zurich Classic of New Orleans two-man event with his younger brother Alex.

The world No. 3 does not have a great record at the British Open, but a fourth-place finish in 2025 was his best effort yet, and he is the leading contender to end the 34-year wait for an English winner.

Cameron Young (U.S.)

Young’s hopes for a first Major win appears to be only a matter of time.

The world No. 4 has won twice on the PGA Tour in 2026, including his biggest victory to date at the Players’ Championship.

The 29-year-old also finished tied-third at the Masters and has pedigree in the links conditions, as he was edged out by Australian Cameron Smith in a birdie-laden fourth round to finish second at St Andrews in 2022.

Tommy Fleetwood (England)

While Fitzpatrick is the primary English hope, Tommy Fleetwood will be the hometown hero on a course a stone’s throw from where he grew up in Southport.

A top-five finisher at all four Majors without winning one, the 35-year-old returns fuelled with confidence after his win at the Tour Championship in August 2025.

That triumph earned him a cheque for US$10 million (S$12.9 million), but prize money cannot buy what he craves on home soil later this week. AFP