The Open Championship: Four golfers to watch at Royal Birkdale

Savannah Lendich Jonkers • July 15th, 2026 3:22 pm

Scottie Scheffler celebrates with the Claret Jug in 2025 | Photo: Ben Brady/Photosport

The 154th Open Championship has arrived at Royal Birkdale, with the iconic links venue set to provide one of the toughest tests in golf.

Golf analyst David Bieleski, who is on the ground at the British course, told Sport Nation Mornings the layout is playing firm, fast and unforgiving following an intense UK heatwave, creating conditions that will demand precision, patience and creativity from the world’s best players.

With unique fairways, small greens and brutal run-off areas surrounding the putting surfaces, Bieleski believes success this week will come down to driving accuracy, quality iron play and the ability to scramble when things go wrong.

“If we look through the winners of Open Championships at Royal Birkdale, it's players like Jordan Spieth, Matt Kuchar has been in contention here, Pádraig Harrington. So some of the best players around the green have been the ones who have found success.”

As the final major championship of the season gets underway, Bieleski has identified four players capable of lifting the Claret Jug.

Scottie Scheffler

The world No. 1 arrives at Royal Birkdale looking to go back-to-back after claiming the Open Championship crown last year.

“Scottie Scheffler is coming in, obviously, as the defending champion golfer of the year last season at Royal Portrush, looking to make it back-to-back Opens.

“He did however miss the cut last week at the Scottish Open. That was his first missed cut in four years, believe it or not. So he is still the benchmark of the game.”

Despite the rare setback, Scheffler remains the player everyone is chasing and his ability to adapt across all conditions makes him one of the biggest threats in the field.

Scottie Scheffler | Photo: AAP

Rory McIlroy

McIlroy arrives with major-winning form already this season and a proven love for links golf.

“Rory McIlroy, of course, already a major winner this season, claimed back-to-back Masters titles, one of few human beings who have ever successfully defended the green jacket, he loves his fume links, golf courses, and of course we'll have huge galleries pulling him all week.

“I thought he struck like quite a pensive character really in the press conference today, but he would always be the type of player who can come out and go win a tournament like this and nobody would be surprised whatsoever.”

With huge expectations following him around Royal Birkdale, McIlroy’s ability to handle the pressure could be just as important as his ball-striking.

Rory McIlroy | Photo: AP

Tommy Fleetwood

Few players will have a bigger support crew behind them than hometown favourite Tommy Fleetwood.

“The hometown hero, of course there's a small tournament happening at the moment in the world of football as well and a few English fans you know, licking their chops at the prospect of a Sunday where the Football World Cup foam comes home, but the Claret Jug does as well, and Tommy Fleetwood would be leading that charge."

Fleetwood is still searching for his first major championship victory, but Bieleski believes his temperament could help him deal with the enormous expectations.

“He's still looking for his breakthrough major championship win. There's going to be a lot of pressure on him. He always has struck me as quite a calm character, Tommy Fleetwood. He comes across quite composed and unflustered.

“There will though absolutely be pressure on them with that expectation that he is at home. I think that he's trying to take it all in stride. How he reacts to that is really going to define it because he's had a fantastic season. He's in great form.”

Tommy Fleetwood on playing The Open at Royal Birkdale | Sport Nation

Matt Fitzpatrick

While the spotlight may be on some of the game’s biggest names, Bieleski believes Fitzpatrick could be the player best suited to the conditions at Royal Birkdale.

“I think when you get firm, fast conditions like this, it does tend to go to a favourite and I'm somewhat convinced that Matt Fitzpatrick is going to be the one who's going to take that opportunity.

“Matt Fitzpatrick told me on Monday that he believes he is playing better than he was in 2022 before he won the US Open and all of the form on paper suggests exactly that.

Matt Fitzpatrick on his form heading into The 154th Open | Sport Nation

“Matt Fitzpatrick in this field over the last six months is second for around the green. He's actually first for around the green if you looked over the past three months and he is ninth for driving accuracy over the six months. So his scrambling is perhaps the best in the game.

“He's coming in after multiple wins and I really do think that he could be the one who goes out and wins this tournament.”

The TAB's DeepDiveGolf Bookie Beater this week is a Matt Fitzpatrick Top 20 Finish - was paying $1.80 - currently at $2.25.

Listen to the full interview below: