The final men’s major championship is here, as the best players in the world have made their way to Royal Troon in Scotland for the 2024 British Open, the 152nd staging of the storied event.
Defending champion Brian Harman returned the Claret Jug on Monday and will have to fend off players like world No. 1 and Masters winner Scottie Scheffler, PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele, U.S. Open victor Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka if he hopes to hoist it again Sunday.
Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods is also in the field and hopes to improve on his subpar record so far this season. After withdrawing from the Genesis Invitational due to illness, Woods finished 60th at the Masters and missed the cut at both the PGA Championship and U.S. Open. The three-time Champion Golfer of the Year has missed the cut in his last two appearances at The Open: 2019 at Royal Portrush and 2022 at St. Andrews.
The Open: Tournament hub | Thursday tee times | Photos
Golf course
Royal Troon | Par 71 | 7,385 yards
Championship history
Betting odds
| Player | Odds | Player | Odds |
| Scottie Scheffler | +450 | Brooks Koepka | +3000 |
| Rory McIlroy | +750 | Tony Finau | +4000 |
| Xander Schauffele | +1100 | Tom Kim | +4000 |
| Ludvig Aberg | +1400 | Shane Lowry | +4000 |
| Collin Morikawa | +1600 | Robert MacIntyre | +4000 |
| Bryson DeChambeau | +1600 | Patrick Cantlay | +4000 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | +2200 | Joaquin Niemann | +4500 |
| Jon Rahm | +2200 | Hideki Matsuyama | +4500 |
| Tyrrell Hatton | +2500 | Cam Smith | +4500 |
| Viktor Hovland | +2800 | Sahith Theegala | +5500 |
Picks to win
Rory McIlroy (15/2)
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland talks with his caddie on the 13th hole during a practice round prior to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 16, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Rory. Major championship. I’m ready to be hurt again.
In his last seven starts, he hasn’t finished worse than T-15. In his last four starts, he has three top-five finishes.
Over his last eight Open starts, McIlroy has six top-six finishes including a T-5 performance at Troon in 2016.
Not overly complicated. Let’s do this.
Tom Kim (40/1)
Tom Kim of South Korea reacts on the first green during a practice round prior to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 16, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
I had Young Tom on my card last week for the Scottish and he didn’t have his best stuff, but still finished T-15 with a 6-under final round.
Despite injury, Kim grabbed a share of second at Royal Liverpool last year.
Accuracy and strategy are two of Kim’s best attributes, and they’ll be needed around Troon.
Cameron Young (55/1)
Cameron Young tees off from hole 10, during round one of the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club in Detroit on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Young finished round one 5-under and in third place. (Photo: Kimberly P. Mitchell-USA TODAY NETWORK)
After joining the 59 club at the Travelers Championship and grabbing a share of ninth, Young played well again at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and tied for sixth. He was in position to win, but stumbled on Sunday and shot 1 over.
In two previous Open appearances, Young finished second at St. Andrews and T-8 at Royal Liverpool.
Sungjae Im (60/1)
Sungjae Im of South Korea smiles following a birdie putt on the 16th green during day one of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 11, 2024 in North Berwick, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
Im is playing some damn good golf right now. Here are his last nine finishes: T-4 (Scottish Open), T-12 (John Deere Classic), T-3 (Travelers), MC (U.S. Open), T-8 (Memorial), T-9 (Charles Schwab), MC (PGA Championship), T-4 (Wells Fargo) and T-12 (RBC Heritage).
Do I love that his two missed cuts are at the majors? No, I hate that. But it’s hard to ignore that run.
After missing the cut in his Open debut in 2019 and finishing T-81 at St. Andrews, Im tied for 20th at Royal Liverpool last year.
Akshay Bhatia (90/1)
Akshay Bhatia waves at fans after putting the 9th during Round 3 of Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club in Detroit on Saturday, June 29, 2024.
This will be Bhatia’s Open debut, but links golf should fit his game nicely. His ability to flight every club in his bag should shine in blustery conditions at Royal Troon.
He also enters the week in great form: T-2 (Rocket Mortgage), T-5 (Travelers Championship), T-16 (U.S. Open) and T-22 (Memorial Tournament).
Bhatia’s performance at Pinehurst is another thing I love about his chances.
