Following Rory’s win at the Genesis Scottish Open, Royal Liverpool is set to host the 151st Open Championship. Defending champ Cam Smith (-20) won last year at The Old Course and will be in the field this week. Rory McIlroy won his first and only Open Championship the last time Royal Liverpool hosted this event in 2014. We will see a loaded field competing for the Claret Jug this week, as golf’s final major of the year is up for grabs. Here is a preview of the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
Royal Liverpool
Royal Liverpool, known as one of the most historic golf courses in the world, will host it’s 13th Open Championship this week. The most recent champions from Royal Liverpool are Tiger Woods (-18, 2006) and Rory McIlroy (-17, 2014). Expect the winner this week to be right around -17.
Royal Liverpool is a Par 71, playing just north of 7,300 yards. In 2014, the most difficult holes for the field were the long par-4’s. One, two, and seven all produced the most bogeys throughout the week. We will also get to see a brand new hole at Royal Liverpool, the par-3 17th. This hole has been described as extremely difficult with massive run-offs and two very steep bunkers around the green. Keep an eye out for some potentially big numbers on 17 this week. This new hole will lead directly into the long but gettable par-5 18th to finish.
On an original links-style course, accuracy will be the focus. There are multiple holes that will require a strategic approach, and the brutality of the wind this week will play a big factor in club selection. Regardless, we will see irons off the tee with pot bunkers everywhere and heavily sloped fairways.
The Field
Take a look at the full field and betting odds here.
With an exciting win in Scotland last week and a win at Royal Liverpool in 2014, it is no surprise that Rory (+750) comes in as the betting favorite. Right behind him is Scottie Scheffler (+800). Scottie hasn’t finished worst than T-5 in his last seven starts. It would be no surprise to see one of these guys lifting the Claret Jug come Sunday afternoon.
We will see another combination of the PGA and DP World Tour this week, as almost all of the top 50 ranked golfers in the world will be in the field at Royal Liverpool. One notable player that will miss this week is Will Zalatoris. He is still dealing with a back issue that has sidelined him for most of the 2023 season. Plenty of other notable past champions will also tee it up at Royal Liverpool, including Collin Morikawa, Shane Lowry, and Jordan Spieth.
Three final qualifying spots were given out at the end of the Genesis Scottish Open last week to Byeong Hun-An, David Lingmerth and Nicolai Hojgaard. We will also get to see Matt Fitzpatrick’s younger brother, Alex, in the field. Alex Fitzpatrick qualified to play in his first major championship this week alongside his brother.
Players to Watch
Tommy Fleetwood is still looking for his first major championship, and this week is his chance to do so on his home soil. He has had a pretty solid season thus far. In June, Tommy finished T-5 in the US Open and lost in a playoff to Nick Taylor at the RBC Canadian Open. He also finished T-6 last week at The Renaissance Club. With a T-4 finish last year at St. Andrew’s and a 2nd place finish at Royal Portrush in 2019, he has experience competing over the weekend in this event. Fleetwood is knocking on the door for his first major championship.
Rickie Fowler will make his 12th Open appearance this week and he is another star looking for his first major. He has only missed the cut once in his 11 Open appearances, and his best recent finish was T-6 in 2019 at Royal Portrush. In 2014, Rickie was right behind Rory finishing T-2 at Royal Liverpool. In June, Rickie finished T-5 at Los Angeles Country Club and won the Rocket Mortgage Classic for his first win since 2018. Rickie finally looks like his old self, and he is way overdue for a major championship. Could this be the week Rickie finally gets it done on the big stage?
Tyrell Hatton finished T-6 at last week’s Genesis Scottish Open, and currently sits 14th in the FedExCup standings. He has had a solid year, ranking third on tour in total strokes gained. Tyrell finished T-11 at The Old Course last year, and has finished T-5 or better in three of his last six PGA Tour starts. Hatton will also have his favorite caddy back on the bag this week, who was sidelined with knee injury for much of the season. He missed the cut at Royal Liverpool back in 2014, but his game has improved drastically since then. Look for Hatton to have a chance come Sunday.
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