The Open: Top 50 gamers at Royal Troon, ranked by probabilities to win

The world’s greatest 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 file, 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. Only 17 gamers completed below par that week, a testomony to Troon’s issue and the way properly Stenson and Mickelson performed.

This week might not see scores that low, because the forecast requires inclement climate on Thursday and Friday. But 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 subject, 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 gained the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. But 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 problem these days, which explains why he missed the reduce finally week’s Genesis Scottish Open. But his putter let him down, too.

Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/R&A through Getty Images

49. Harris English

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

48. Thomas Detry

Thomas Detry has performed properly 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 be a terrific putter and could possibly be an important choose to complete within the prime 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 file within the British Isles, as evidenced by his current T-34 on the Genesis Scottish Open. But the Canadian is a stable putter, which all the time helps.

46. Tom Hoge

Tom Hoge, among the best 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 Travelers, after which did not 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 greatest end being a T-15 on the Memorial. Kim does every little thing properly 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 through the second spherical of the Genesis Scottish Open attributable to an undisclosed harm, which ought to trigger some concern. But the newest phrase is that he’ll play this week at Royal Troon. Before 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 share, which helps clarify why he has made 5 straight cuts. Poston can be a stable putter, so if he can hit his approaches nearer to the opening, he could possibly 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.

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41. Byeong Hun An

Byeong Hun An is among the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, however he has struggled to maintain it in play these days. Two missed cuts on the U.S. Open and the Genesis Scottish Open have An seeking to bounce again in a giant method 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 prime 10s this season and tied for sixteenth at Augusta, his greatest end in a significant this yr.

39. Min Woo Lee

Min Woo Lee lately tied for second on the Rocket Mortgage Classic 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 greatest end result being a T-23 on the John Deere Classic—a event that didn’t boast a powerful subject. Despite his current slide, Day has the sport to contend at, and probably win, The Open.

37. Cameron Young

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

Photo by Joseph Weiser/Getty Images

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 Hollow. His final three begins: a missed reduce on the U.S. Open, T-63 in Connecticut, and a T-70 on the Renaissance Club.

35. Denny McCarthy

An uncharacteristic week on the greens led to Denny McCarthy’s missed reduce on the Genesis Scottish Open. But hopefully, for his sake, he will get a greater understanding of the tempo at Royal Troon. Even the most effective putters on this planet 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 gained 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 Year loves enjoying 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. But 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 prime 10s however two missed cuts at Augusta and Pinehurst.

32. Davis Thompson

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

31. Aaron Rai

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

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30. Sungjae Im

If you are taking the key championships away, Sungjae Im has had a outstanding season. He has six prime 10s and 10 prime 25 finishes total, however he one way or the other missed the reduce in every of the three majors. Go determine. Yet, Im has an outstanding 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. Still, the newly minted Ryder Cup captain might have some hearth in his stomach, figuring out that he’s the person to guide the Americans subsequent yr.

28. Matthew Fitzpatrick

The Englishman tied for fifth on the Memorial, primarily attributable to a final-round 3-under 69, however has not performed properly 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 Year has performed properly as of late, tying for nineteenth on the U.S. Open and ninth on the Travelers Championship. He has additionally demonstrated the flexibility to go low, capturing a 62 at Valhalla and TPC River Highlands. Maybe one other low spherical—and a Claret Jug—is on the horizon for the Irishman.

26. Adam Scott

Adam Scott posted his greatest end in virtually three years on the Genesis Scottish Open, so maybe that can function a harbinger of issues to return this week. He almost gained 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 is properly prior to now, nonetheless, and Scott is as optimistic as ever concerning 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 prime 5 on the Travelers Championship and Rocket Mortgage Classic. 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 this planet on the Travelers Championship and in addition confirmed that he has the center to deal with strain down the stretch. He tied for second at Hoylake final yr and has made the reduce in any respect three majors this yr.

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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 possibly can 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 attributable to a putter that cooperated. If his flat stick can keep scorching, be careful for Theegala at Royal Troon. But if his driver will get erratic, he will probably be a non-factor—plenty of variance in potentialities right here.

21. Robert MacIntyre

Maybe Robert MacIntyre would rank larger on this checklist if not for his large celebration after his electrical Scottish Open victory. All jokes apart, MacIntyre has all the boldness on this planet 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 buddy Scottie Scheffler. But Burns has struggled in his three Open appearances, along with his greatest 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. But possibly his back-door prime 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 gained since he decimated Royal Liverpool a yr in the past. Still, 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.

Photo by Luke Walker/R&A through Getty Images

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. Still, Koepka is a 5-time main champion, and it will 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 greatest end result got here on the U.S. Open, the place he tied for ninth, however Conners arrives in Scotland searching for 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 well liked participant on this planet. However, the younger Chilean has struggled in main all through his profession, along with his greatest end result coming at The 2023 Masters, when he tied for sixteenth. Perhaps that adjustments 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. Otherwise, he has had a stable season, along with his greatest 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 among the best gamers on the planet one yr in the past when he gained the FedEx Cup in Atlanta. But 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 greatest 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 Travelers in his newest begin.

11. Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith has three prime 10s in majors since his triumph on the Old Course two years in the past. He has among the best brief video games on this planet, which may carry him to victory this week.

10. Tommy Fleetwood

A well-liked choose this week, Tommy Fleetwood has not missed a reduce for the reason that Arnold Palmer Invitational in early March. Fleetwood’s sport matches up properly with hyperlinks golf, as evidenced by his three prime 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 greatest profession end in a significant, tying for third at Pinehurst No. 2. He then posted a T-5 end on the Travelers Championship and arrives in Scotland recent and in kind.

8. Jon Rahm

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

Photo by Stuart Franklin/R&A through Getty Images

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. Still, 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 date this season, along with his greatest end being a T-9 at Augusta National. He additionally tied for fifth on the 2016 Open, the final time Royal Troon hosted, and arrives in Ayrshire recent off a LIV Golf win in Nashville and a T-3 end in Andalucía.

5. Collin Morikawa

Collin Morikawa has had an impressive season as his ball-striking seems to have returned to its top-tier kind—the shape that gained him a pair of majors in 2020 and 2021. That mentioned, 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 greatest 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 greatest Open Championship end got here two years in the past at St. Andrews, the place he tied for eighth. But now he arrives because the U.S. Open champion, seeking to win back-to-back majors. Nobody 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 gained The Masters, The Players, and 4 Signature Events. His final begin got here on the Travelers Championship, the place he bested his good pal Tom Kim in a playoff. Scheffler arrives in Scotland recent and able to vie for the Claret Jug.

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Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be certain to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.