The final major of the 2024 season is just around the corner. The 152nd edition of the Open Championship will kick off at the Royal Troon Golf Club on July 18, Thursday, and will see its winner being crowned on July 21, Sunday. The hype is exceptionally high, as the community expects a scintillating display of golf between the PGA Tour Pros and the LIV golfers. But only one will be able to do so, regardless of the division!

The athletes, be it from Jay Monahan’s circuit or the breakaway league, will also keep an eye out for the $17 million prize pool. The victor, meanwhile, will receive a winner’s cut of $3.1 million alongside the iconic Clarey Jug, not to mention the honor of becoming the Champion Golfer of the Year. As a result, there are bound to be some favorite PGA Tour Pros in the community!

Defending champion Brian Harman hopes to defend his title

A total of 156 golfers will tee off at the Royal Troon Golf Club on Thursday, as per the official field. Out of the same, 18 of the athletes belong to the Greg Norman-led circuit, with the rest including past champions, top athletes on the OWGR, and winners of various events. Who amongst them will end up victorious? That is the question that needs to be answered.

1. Brian Harman: He had won the event back in the 2023 edition of the tournament by six strokes, with a score of 13 under 271. Although the golfer hasn’t had that much of a great year in 2024, he is, undoubtedly, someone who shouldn’t be underestimated. Moreover, Harman, boasting 3 top-10 finishes this season, will be looking to defend his title and clinch his fourth victory on the men’s circuit at the Royal Troon.

2. Scottie Scheffler: The current world No. 1 is one of the favorites to take home the trophy at the Open Championship. The 28-year-old leads the PGA Tour Pros in the number of wins and top-10 placements this season, with 6 victories and 13 finishes, respectively, while cementing his place at the top of the rankings. Moreover, the athlete is fresh off a win at the 2024 Travelers Championship and would hope to continue his momentum in Scotland while raking in the Open Championship win.

3. Rory McIlroy: None would forget the close call that the Northern Irishman had that day with victory at Pinehurst No. 2. And the upcoming event would be the perfect place to redeem himself, break the 10-year major drought, and clinch his second Open Championship title. The 35-year-old already boasts an exceptional season in 2024, with six top-10 finishes and 2 victories, despite having a sub-par start on the PGA Tour.

4. Xander Schauffele: The American pro closely trails behind Scottie Scheffler in the number of top-10 placements this season with a figure of 11. What’s more, a victory at the 2024 PGA Championship also helped him clinch the second spot on the OWGR, despite McIlroy shooting past him soon after. The golfer would, therefore, hope to increase his tally of wins to 9 all the while claiming his second major victory of the year and his career.

5. Ludvig Aberg: The Swedish golfer would be looking to rake in his first victory of the season with the major championship. Even though he hasn’t topped the scoreboard once this season, the 24-year-old brags a very good record with 7 top-10 finishes from 15 starts, including two T2 placements at the Masters and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Besides, a T4 at the recently ended Genesis Scottish Open would have only increased his confidence as he tees off at the Royal Troon Golf Club!

The ultimate Links challenge at the Royal Troon

The Club has two courses to its name, The Old Course and the Portland Course. The upcoming Open Championship, in the meantime, will take place at the former layout, which was founded in 1878 for the 10th time in history. It was designed by Old Tom Morris’s protege Charlie Hunter as a six-hole layout, which was then expanded to 18 by George Strath.

The grounds again underwent a redesign by five-time champion James Braid before the first edition of the Open Championship was held at the venue in 1923. Fast forward a century and the traditional Old Course tests the athletes, with some of the best links landing alongside an equally tough back nine to test the golfers. It seems the PGA Tour Pros are in for a challenging weekend if they are to leave with the trophy on Sunday!