British Open 2026: A Deep Dive into the Field at Royal Birkdale
The 126th Open Championship is set to take place at Royal Birkdale, a course known for its accuracy-demanded test. With changes made to all 18 holes, the field of 156 players will face a new challenge. The key to success will be finding fairways and scrambling, with the forecast calling for mild to moderate wind and warm temperatures.
Here's a breakdown of the top 10 players in the field, based on recent form and course fit:
Scottie Scheffler (No. 1)
- Scheffler, the reigning Open winner, has had an extra couple of days in Southport thanks to a missed cut in North Berwick. His approach play has improved, and the lack of adverse weather will benefit his elite ball-striking skills.
Matt Fitzpatrick (No. 2)
- Fitzpatrick is in top form and has a massive course fit with his chipping and ability to navigate trouble.
Tommy Fleetwood (No. 3)
- Fleetwood returns to Birkdale, where he finished T-27 in 2017. He has had five Open showings of T-16 or better since then, making him a strong contender.
Rory McIlroy (No. 4)
- McIlroy has a strong record at Birkdale, with a T-4 finish in 2017 and three top-7s in his last four Open starts. He'll likely rely on his driver, which has been lethal of late.
Viktor Hovland (No. 5)
- Hovland is in a bit of an Open funk, having missed two straight major cuts. However, he's driving it straighter and has been top 10 in strokes gained tee to green over the past month.
Alex Fitzpatrick (No. 6)
- Alex Fitzpatrick has been a top-10 tee-to-green player on Tour and finished T-17 at the 2023 Open. His consistency makes him a strong contender.
Jon Rahm (No. 7)
- Rahm showed fight after a poor start at the Scottish Open, and while he didn't hit many fairways, he'll be pressing to close the major calendar with a strong performance.
Xander Schauffele (No. 8)
- Schauffele has a strong record at The Open, with a win and four straight T-17s. His short game has been a concern, but his consistency makes him a contender.
Tom Kim (No. 9)
- Tom Kim finished T-2 at Liverpool and has shown improvement off the tee. His consistency makes him a strong contender.
Collin Morikawa (No. 10)
- Morikawa has been trending well, and his major tests that de-emphasize length are right up his alley. His short game has been a concern, but his overall consistency makes him a contender.
The rest of the field is filled with talented players, including Tyrrell Hatton, Aaron Rai, Eugenio Chacarra, and many more. The key to success at Royal Birkdale will be finding fairways, scrambling, and taking advantage of the course's accuracy-demanded nature.
In my opinion, the top 10 players have a strong chance of contending, but the course's challenges will test even the best golfers. The forecast and course conditions will play a crucial role in determining the winner of the 126th Open Championship.
