The Open – storylines to comply with: Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Tiger Woods and English hopes at Royal Troon

Who will declare main glory at The 152nd Open this week? Six storylines to comply with at Royal Troon, together with Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Tiger Woods and extra…

Will Scheffler proceed his successful streak?

World No 1 Scheffler returns to motion after a three-week absence and for the primary time since his win on the Vacationers Championship, the place he turned the primary participant since Arnold Palmer to win six instances on the PGA Tour earlier than July.

His glittering 2024 additionally contains victories on the Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Gamers, The Masters, RBC Heritage and Memorial Match, extending his benefit on the high of the world rankings, and he’s now chasing a seventh win in 11 begins.

Scheffler has contended in nearly each occasion he has teed it up in latest seasons, with the American main all gamers within the majors since 2022 in greens in regulation share, strokes gained strategy and strokes gained ball hanging per spherical.

His document at The Open is the weakest of the 4 majors, ending no increased than eighth in his three earlier appearances, though it could be little shock to see him add to his two Masters victories and declare a 3rd main title in as a few years.

Will McIlroy finish his main drought?

McIlroy has three worldwide wins this marketing campaign – the Hero Dubai Desert Basic, Zurich Basic of New Orleans and Wells Fargo Championship – however is in peril of taking his main drought into one other 12 months, having let victory slip by way of his grasp on the US Open final month.

McIlroy bogeyed three of his final 4 holes to complete a shot behind Bryson DeChambeau and depart him caught on 4 main titles, the identical complete he has had because the 2014 PGA Championship, with the Northern Irishman now having 21 high 10s in majors since that success a decade in the past.

The 35-year-old insisted after that runner-up end he was “closer than ever” to a fifth main victory, with McIlroy displaying little scar tissue from that US Open disappointment throughout his tied-fourth end on the Genesis Scottish Open final week.

When McIlroy squandered a four-shot lead at The Masters in 2011, he got here again to win the following main in emphatic style. He has top-six finishes at The Open in six of his eight appearances since his 2014 win at Royal Liverpool – is that this the week he lastly claims that fifth main title?

What can we count on from Tiger?

Tiger Woods returns to motion at The Open after lacking final 12 months’s contest by way of harm, with the previous world No 1 set to finish all 4 majors for the primary time in a calendar 12 months since 2019.

Woods’ main document in latest seasons has been a shadow of his former glory, with the 48-year-old ending final of those that made it by way of to the weekend at The Masters earlier than making back-to-back missed cuts on the PGA Championship and US Open.

The 15-time main champion has lacked aggressive reps since his career-threatening accidents sustained in a automotive crash in February 2021, with Woods finishing 72 holes of a event simply 4 instances since The Masters the earlier November.

He all the time insists pre-tournament that he looks like he can compete and has the sport so as to add to his main tally, whereas 18-hole follow rounds at Royal Troon on Sunday and Monday counsel he’s ramping up his preparation to be bodily prepared.

Woods has not made the reduce on the occasion since contending at Carnoustie in 2018, so ending that run can be a minimal goal. Current kind suggests a victory push is unlikely, however those that have written off Woods earlier than have been made to look silly.

Will Harman return to again for extra Group USA success?

The final six males’s majors have all been received by completely different Individuals, an ominous signal for Group Europe forward of the Ryder Cup subsequent 12 months at Bethpage Black, however will the streak proceed in Scotland?

Brian Harman is again as defending champion after final 12 months’s dominant victory at Royal Liverpool, with the left-hander now seeking to grow to be the primary participant since Padraig Harrington to win successive editions of The Open.

Brooks Koepka, Wyndham Clark, Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Bryson DeChambeau have additionally loved main success over the previous 14 months, whereas former Open champion Collin Morikawa is available in with top-four finishes within the first two majors of the 12 months.

Six of the final seven Open champions at Royal Troon have been American and it could be little shock to see that run persevering with right here this week. New Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley is within the discipline and would like to see considered one of his Group USA hopefuls lifting the Claret Jug.

Who can finish England’s anticipate an Open win?

England’s footballers narrowly missed out on a significant trophy after shedding to Spain within the ultimate of Euro 2024 on Sunday, however can the nation’s golfers finish the 32-year anticipate an English winner of the Claret Jug?

There has not been an English winner of The Open since Sir Nick Faldo’s success in 1992, though there’s a large contingent of gamers seeking to finish that streak and cease the run of six consecutive American main champions.

Tommy Fleetwood has the bottom rating to par of any participant at The Open since 2018, sitting a mixed 32 beneath par throughout these 5 editions, whereas Tyrrell Hatton has 4 top-five finishes in six begins – together with a win – within the LIV Golf League.

Matt Fitzpatrick will look so as to add to his 2022 US Open success and Justin Rose has a robust document at The Open, whereas Aaron Rai has been in spectacular kind and amongst these seeking to grow to be simply the third completely different English winner of The Open within the final 70 years.

The Open Dwell

Thursday 18th July 6:30am

Will Royal Troon produce extra main magic?

The Open is again at Royal Troon for a tenth time and the primary since 2016, when Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson produced a final-round duel that goes down as the most effective in main historical past.

Stenson finally claimed a three-stroke victory after 10 birdies in a superb Sunday 63, seeing the Swede be part of the likes of Palmer, Bobby Locke and Tom Watson as winners on the Ayrshire venue.

Royal Troon will provide the longest gap in Open Championship historical past now the par-five sixth has been lengthened by 22 yards, making ‘Turnberry’ a beastly 623 yards at full size, plus it gives one of the iconic holes in golf with the ‘Postage Stamp’.

The on-site meteorologist has warned of “unsettled” circumstances for all 4 event days, with rain and powerful winds anticipated, that means gamers should beat the weather in addition to the golf course if they’re to be topped Champion Golfer of the Yr.

Who will win The 152nd Open? Watch prolonged protection this week dwell on Sky Sports activities. Dwell protection begins on Thursday from 6.30am on Sky Sports activities Golf. Stream The Open and extra high sport with NOW.