The Open: High 50 gamers at Royal Troon, ranked by possibilities to win

The world’s finest gamers have descended upon Royal Troon for The 152nd Open Championship, the ultimate main of the season. This course final hosted golf’s oldest main in 2016, when Henrik Stenson fended off Phil Mickelson in a historic duel for the ages.

Stenson prevailed at 20-under-par that yr, an Open report, whereas Mickelson completed three strokes behind at 17-under. Remarkably, the third-place finisher, J.B. Holmes, posted a 6-under-par rating, 13 strokes again of Stenson. Solely 17 gamers completed underneath par that week, a testomony to Troon’s issue and the way nicely Stenson and Mickelson performed.

This week could not see scores that low, because the forecast requires inclement climate on Thursday and Friday. However no matter what the climate does, all of it comes all the way down to the wind, which performs a large position at Royal Troon because it sits alongside the Firth of Clyde.

So, to assist break down the event, we ranked the highest 50 gamers on this week’s area, ranked by their probabilities of successful the Claret Jug:

50. Jordan Spieth

Ah, the curious case of Jordan Spieth, the person with an otherworldly brief sport who received the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. However he has seemed like something however a significant championship contender in 2024, lacking the reduce on the Masters and tying for forty third and forty first on the PGA Championship and U.S. Open, respectively. His iron play has been a difficulty recently, which explains why he missed the reduce eventually week’s Genesis Scottish Open. However his putter let him down, too.

Photograph by Charlie Crowhurst/R&A through Getty Photos

49. Harris English

Harris English had a stable begin to the season, posting 4 straight top-25 finishes in February and March. However the former Georgia Bulldog has struggled since then, recording solely two high 25s, which, humorous sufficient, got here at Augusta and Valhalla.

48. Thomas Detry

Thomas Detry has performed nicely in each main championship begins this season, tying for fourth at Valhalla and 14th on the U.S. Open. He additionally tied for thirteenth at Royal Liverpool at The Open a yr in the past, as he had a well-rounded efficiency that week. Detry can also be a terrific putter and may very well be an ideal decide to complete within the high 10 at Royal Troon.

47. Adam Hadwin

Adam Hadwin final made the reduce at The Open in 2019 and tied for 57th at Royal Portrush. He doesn’t have the most effective report within the British Isles, as evidenced by his latest T-34 on the Genesis Scottish Open. However the Canadian is a stable putter, which at all times helps.

46. Tom Hoge

Tom Hoge, top-of-the-line ball strikers on the PGA Tour, has had an up-and-down stretch as of late. He missed the reduce on the U.S. Open, tied for third on the Vacationers, after which didn’t make the weekend on the Genesis Scottish Open. Hoge missed the reduce in each of his Open appearances.

45. Si Woo Kim

After a poor weekend on the greens at Valhalla, Si Woo Kim has rallied to make 5 straight cuts, along with his finest end being a T-15 on the Memorial. Kim does every thing nicely from tee to inexperienced, however placing has been his downfall this season. He missed the reduce at Hoylake final yr.

44. Christiaan Bezuidenhout

The South African withdrew throughout the second spherical of the Genesis Scottish Open on account of an undisclosed harm, which ought to trigger some concern. However the newest phrase is that he’ll play this week at Royal Troon. Earlier than his WD, he made 4 consecutive cuts, which included a solo fourth end on the Memorial and a T-32 on the U.S. Open.

43. J.T. Poston

J.T. Poston ranks tenth on the PGA Tour in driving accuracy proportion, which helps clarify why he has made 5 straight cuts. Poston can also be a stable putter, so if he can hit his approaches nearer to the outlet, he may very well be a longshot contender this week.

42. Dean Burmester

Dean Burmester will play in his third straight main championship at Royal Troon after tying for twelfth at Valhalla and ending in solo 69th at Pinehurst No. 2. He didn’t qualify for final yr’s Open at Royal Liverpool however did so in 2021 and 2022, ending T-40 and T-11, respectively. Burmester can hit the ball a mile, however the query across the LIV golfer revolves round his accuracy and brief sport.

Photograph by Angel Martinez/Getty Photos

41. Byeong Hun An

Byeong Hun An is without doubt one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, however he has struggled to maintain it in play recently. Two missed cuts on the U.S. Open and the Genesis Scottish Open have An seeking to bounce again in a giant approach at Royal Troon.

40. Sepp Straka

A poor week on the Genesis Scottish Open has Sepp Straka trending downward, however he’s a really correct participant off the tee and into the greens—a should for Royal Troon. Straka has 4 high 10s this season and tied for sixteenth at Augusta, his finest end in a significant this yr.

39. Min Woo Lee

Min Woo Lee lately tied for second on the Rocket Mortgage Basic however couldn’t replicate that success on the Genesis Scottish Open, ending in 73rd. He has struggled along with his iron play and accuracy off the tee, but when he can keep away from Royal Troon’s bunkers and never make grave errors, Lee has the sport to vie for the Claret Jug.

38. Jason Day

The Aussie has struggled over the previous month or so, along with his finest end result being a T-23 on the John Deere Basic—a event that didn’t boast a powerful area. Regardless of his latest slide, Day has the sport to contend at, and probably win, The Open.

37. Cameron Younger

Two straight top-10 finishes for Cameron Younger have him trending in the appropriate course as he nonetheless eyes his first profession PGA Tour victory. However maybe it comes this week, as Younger has completed solo second and T-8 within the final two Opens. If he can gap some putts and preserve his focus, maybe the Claret Jug will head again throughout the pond in Younger’s possession.

Photograph by Joseph Weiser/Getty Photos

36. Max Homa

Max Homa has fallen off a cliff since tying for third on the Masters, posting just one top-10 end—a T-8 at Quail Hole. His final three begins: a missed reduce on the U.S. Open, T-63 in Connecticut, and a T-70 on the Renaissance Membership.

35. Denny McCarthy

An uncharacteristic week on the greens led to Denny McCarthy’s missed reduce on the Genesis Scottish Open. However hopefully, for his sake, he will get a greater understanding of the tempo at Royal Troon. Even the most effective putters on the earth have off weeks.

34. Louis Oosthuizen

Louis Oosthuizen has not performed in a significant but this yr, but right here he’s. In December, he received twice on the DP World Tour in his native South Africa. He additionally has 5 top-10s on LIV Golf this season, most lately ending fourth in Andalucía. The 2010 Champion Golfer of the 12 months loves taking part in hyperlinks golf, so it ought to shock nobody if he contends in The Open once more.

33. Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas had the golf world buzzing on Thursday after he started the Genesis Scottish Open with a bogey-free, 8-under 62. However then he stumbled over the weekend, ending the event at 4-under and in a tie for 62nd—a microcosm of Thomas’ season, which has featured 5 high 10s however two missed cuts at Augusta and Pinehurst.

32. Davis Thompson

Davis Thompson blitzed TPC Deere Run to win the John Deere Basic with a record-low rating of 28-under-par. However he got here again to Earth this previous week with a T-46 on the John Deere Basic.

31. Aaron Rai

Aaron Rai was not in The 152nd Open Championship area as of Sunday morning. However his sturdy T-4 end on the Genesis Scottish Open awarded him with a visit to Royal Troon, and rightfully so. Rai is trending in the appropriate course, posting 5 straight top-20 finishes, together with a tie for second in Detroit.

Photograph by Harry How/Getty Photos

30. Sungjae Im

When you take the key championships away, Sungjae Im has had a exceptional season. He has six high 10s and 10 high 25 finishes general, however he one way or the other missed the reduce in every of the three majors. Go determine. But, Im has an exceptional brief sport, a much-needed attribute for The Open.

29. Keegan Bradley

Keegan Bradley final made a reduce at The Open in 2018 however completed in 79th. Nonetheless, the newly minted Ryder Cup captain could have some hearth in his stomach, understanding that he’s the person to guide the People subsequent yr.

28. Matthew Fitzpatrick

The Englishman tied for fifth on the Memorial, primarily on account of a final-round 3-under 69, however has not performed nicely since then. He barely made the reduce on the U.S. Open and didn’t contend in Connecticut and in Scotland, however Fitzpatrick nonetheless has the sport to contend at Troon.

27. Shane Lowry

The 2019 Champion Golfer of the 12 months has performed nicely as of late, tying for nineteenth on the U.S. Open and ninth on the Vacationers Championship. He has additionally demonstrated the power to go low, capturing a 62 at Valhalla and TPC River Highlands. Possibly one other low spherical—and a Claret Jug—is on the horizon for the Irishman.

26. Adam Scott

Adam Scott posted his finest end in virtually three years on the Genesis Scottish Open, so maybe that may function a harbinger of issues to come back this week. He practically received the 2012 Open at Royal Lytham and St. Anne’s however bogeyed the ultimate 4 holes to lose to Ernie Els by a stroke. That’s nicely prior to now, nevertheless, and Scott is as optimistic as ever in regards to the state of his sport now.

25. Akshay Bhatia

Since tying for twenty second on the Memorial, Akshay Bhatia has performed splendidly. He tied for sixteenth on the U.S. Open and completed within the high 5 on the Vacationers Championship and Rocket Mortgage Basic. A 3-putt on the 72nd inexperienced sealed his destiny in Detroit, however Bhatia has the sport to vie for an Open title.

24. Tom Kim

Tom Kim virtually took down the top-ranked participant on the earth on the Vacationers Championship and in addition confirmed that he has the heart to deal with stress down the stretch. He tied for second at Hoylake final yr and has made the reduce in any respect three majors this yr.

Photograph by Warren Little/Getty Photos

23. Russell Henley

Russell Henley has quietly put collectively a stable season however has not threatened the winner’s circle. Henley has struggled in The Open all through his profession, however you may by no means say by no means. He has a terrific brief sport.

22. Sahith Theegala

Sahith Theegala most lately tied for fourth on the Genesis Scottish Open, primarily on account of a putter that cooperated. If his flat stick can keep sizzling, be careful for Theegala at Royal Troon. But when his driver will get erratic, he will probably be a non-factor—a whole lot of variance in potentialities right here.

21. Robert MacIntyre

Possibly Robert MacIntyre would rank increased on this checklist if not for his huge celebration after his electrical Scottish Open victory. All jokes apart, MacIntyre has all the arrogance on the earth going into Royal Troon, so who says he couldn’t go back-to-back?

20. Sam Burns

After three weeks off, Sam Burns arrives in Scotland feeling refreshed and able to go, very like his good good friend Scottie Scheffler. However Burns has struggled in his three Open appearances, along with his finest end being a T-42 at St. Andrews in 2022.

19. Wyndham Clark

Wyndham Clark has had a poor main marketing campaign in 2024, lacking a pair of cuts earlier than tying for 56th on the U.S. Open. However possibly his back-door high 10 on the Genesis Scottish Open, the place he shot a remaining spherical 8-under 62, will give him a spark.

18. Brian Harman

Brian Harman has not received since he decimated Royal Liverpool a yr in the past. Nonetheless, the previous Georgia Bulldog has had a stable run since his missed reduce at The Masters. He most lately tied for twenty first on the Scottish Open and in addition tied for ninth at Pinehurst.

Photograph by Luke Walker/R&A through Getty Photos

17. Brooks Koepka

Brooks Koepka has 4 top-10 finishes at The Open, however he tied for sixty fourth a yr in the past and missed the reduce the yr earlier than final at St. Andrews. Nonetheless, Koepka is a 5-time main champion, and it could shock no one if he hoisted the Claret Jug on Sunday.

16. Corey Conners

Corey Conners has performed regular golf all season, making each reduce. His finest end result got here on the U.S. Open, the place he tied for ninth, however Conners arrives in Scotland in search of extra. He has the sport to win a Claret Jug, and after making three straight cuts at The Open, possibly that is his week.

15. Joaquin Niemann

Earlier within the yr, Joaquin Niemann was arguably the most popular participant on the earth. Nonetheless, the younger Chilean has struggled in main all through his profession, along with his finest end result coming at The 2023 Masters, when he tied for sixteenth. Maybe that modifications this week.

14. Hideki Matsuyama

Hideki Matsuyama couldn’t discover a groove on the greens, which explains why he missed the reduce on the Genesis Scottish Open. In any other case, he has had a stable season, along with his finest main end being a solo sixth at Pinehurst. Matsuyama additionally tied for thirteenth at Royal Liverpool final yr.

13. Viktor Hovland

Viktor Hovland seemed like top-of-the-line gamers on the planet one yr in the past when he received the FedEx Cup in Atlanta. However he has struggled along with his brief sport this season, which has produced a scatterplot of outcomes. He missed the reduce at Augusta and Pinehurst however one way or the other sandwiched a T-3 in between at Valhalla.

12. Tony Finau

A terrific ball striker, Tony Finau’s finest end at The Open got here in 2019 at Royal Portrush, the place he completed solo third. He missed the reduce at Royal Liverpool final yr however lately posted a T-3 end result at Pinehurst No. 2. He then tied for fifth on the Vacationers in his newest begin.

11. Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith has three high 10s in majors since his triumph on the Outdated Course two years in the past. He has top-of-the-line brief video games on the earth, which might carry him to victory this week.

10. Tommy Fleetwood

A preferred decide this week, Tommy Fleetwood has not missed a reduce because the Arnold Palmer Invitational in early March. Fleetwood’s sport matches up nicely with hyperlinks golf, as evidenced by his three high 10s within the 4 earlier Opens. He tied for tenth at Hoylake final yr.

9. Patrick Cantlay

After lacking the reduce on the Memorial, Patrick Cantlay posted his finest profession end in a significant, tying for third at Pinehurst No. 2. He then posted a T-5 end on the Vacationers Championship and arrives in Scotland contemporary and in kind.

8. Jon Rahm

After lacking the U.S. Open on account of a foot harm, Jon Rahm returns to main championship golf after a pair of high 10s on LIV Golf. He missed the reduce at Valhalla and tied for forty fifth at Augusta Nationwide, so something in need of that this week will little question frustrate the Spaniard and result in extra questions on his resolution to hitch LIV final December.

Photograph by Stuart Franklin/R&A through Getty Photos

7. Ludvig Åberg

Ludvig Åberg held the 36 and 54-hole lead on the Genesis Scottish Open however struggled on Sunday to tie for fourth. Nonetheless, he has the sport to contend and win on any course, as nothing appears to faze the 24-year-old.

6. Tyrrell Hatton

The Englishman has made the reduce in any respect three majors to this point this season, along with his finest end being a T-9 at Augusta Nationwide. He additionally tied for fifth on the 2016 Open, the final time Royal Troon hosted, and arrives in Ayrshire contemporary off a LIV Golf win in Nashville and a T-3 end in Andalucía.

5. Collin Morikawa

Collin Morikawa has had an excellent season as his ball-striking seems to have returned to its top-tier kind—the shape that received him a pair of majors in 2020 and 2021. That stated, he has struggled to shut out tournaments in 2024, however Morikawa can simply win a second Claret Jug this week.

4. Xander Schauffele

Xander Schauffele stays in stable kind two months after his main breakthrough at Valhalla. He has posted 4 straight top-20 finishes, along with his finest end result coming on the U.S. Open, as he tied for seventh. Schauffele most lately completed T-15 on the Genesis Scottish Open.

3. Rory McIlroy

After his heartbreaking end on the U.S. Open final month, Rory McIlroy rebounded properly on the Genesis Scottish Open. If his putter can cooperate all through the week, McIlroy will probably be an element in the long run.

2. Bryson DeChambeau

Bryson DeChambeau’s finest Open Championship end got here two years in the past at St. Andrews, the place he tied for eighth. However now he arrives because the U.S. Open champion, seeking to win back-to-back majors. No one has performed higher within the majors this yr than DeChambeau.

1. Scottie Scheffler

A win at Royal Troon would cap a historic season for Scottie Scheffler, who has already received The Masters, The Gamers, and 4 Signature Occasions. His final begin got here on the Vacationers Championship, the place he bested his good pal Tom Kim in a playoff. Scheffler arrives in Scotland contemporary and able to vie for the Claret Jug.

Photograph by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photos

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. Remember to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.