The Open Championship returns to the Royal Troon in Scotland. The fourth major, which is scheduled from July 18 to July 21, will have a versatile field of 156 golfers. From PGA Tour Pros to LIV Golfers and even some of the selected amateurs who have stood out in the season, they will be teeing off for a whopping $3.1 million and the coveted Claret Jug.

Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Rory McIlroy are among the top contenders at the coastal course. Apart from them, there are several oldies in the field, who have known the game for a longer time.

Top-4 oldest players in the field of the Open Championship

Jaime Montojo Fernandez, who is 19 years old, is the youngest player in the field of the Open Championship. While Todd Hamilton, who is 58 years old, is the oldest player to make an appearance at the final Major on the men’s circuit. Here is a list of the top 4 players who are among the oldest players that will be teeing off at the Royal Troon on Thursday:

Todd Hamilton

Todd Hamilton is the former champion of The Open. The Galesburg resident in his 37 years of professional golf career has earned only one Major so far, in 2004, defeating Ernie Els in a four-hole playoff. Hamilton had a one-stroke lead over Els on the 72nd hole. However, he bogeyed on the 18th hole of the final round, while Els carded an even par at the Royal Troon Golf Course. Hamilton has arrived in Scotland to test his luck after two decades, hoping to lift the Claret Jug.

Phil Mickelson

54-year-old Phil Mickelson is only among the very few players who are a part of the field in the Open Championship. He has won six Majors, which included his win at the Open in 2013 at Muirfield Golf Links in Scotland. He became the first player to win the Scottish Open and the Open in the same year. Lefty also became the oldest major winner after winning the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island, less than a month before turning 51. Will he once again beat his record at the Royal Troon?

Zach Johnson

Zach Johnson lifted the Claret Jug at what is known as the oldest golf course in the entire world—the St. Andrews Golf Course in Scotland. He defeated Louis Oosthuizen and March Leishman, who were at -15, after the final round, tied off with him, in a four-hole playoff and grabbed the second major win of his career. The 48-year-old also bagged the title of becoming the sixth player to win the majors both at the Augusta National (2007) and the St Andrews.

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods, one of the greatest names in the golf world, has not been able to give his best since his return from his long hiatus. And has been advised time and again, to hang up his clubs. But this has all the more ignited the fire in Mr. T to grab a major win at least, to show who truly is the legend! He has won fifteen Major Championships in his career, which includes winning the Open three times (2000, 2005, 2006). Will the 48-year-old golfer once again be able to restore his reign by winning the oldest major for the fourth time?

Will it be the players who have had more experience with the clubs and the bombs, or will it be the new pros who will take away the Claret Jug this year? Or will there be a new rising star up for grabs? Stay tuned to find out!