Open Championship 2026 Player Guide: Profiles and betting angles of the top 50 in the field

Scottie Scheffler

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 8-21-23-7-1

Last year's Open was pure Scheffler. He started the week with a discussion about the lack of fulfilment in the business of winning, a line of thought that was largely misinterpreted because he did not mean that he didn't care. He then ended the week winning the Claret Jug in a style so comprehensive it was a little boring. Ahead of this year's championship he's experiencing a more normal lack of fulfilment: he hasn't won since January and ahead of the Scottish Open he'd been 2nd or T2 with 18 holes to play five times in his previous seven starts without converting.

Angle? He missed the cut in Scotland last week - the first in four years - but remains a major championship machine with 18 top 10s in his last 24 starts.

First round record? He's 5-for-5 at sitting T20 or better after 18 holes at the Open.

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Rory McIlroy

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 42-47-3-25-60-MC-1-5-4-2-MC-46-3-6-MC-7

Memories of the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale might cause the back-to-back Masters champion to wonder 'What if?' because he sat outside the top 50 after 18 holes before charging thereafter into a share of fourth. He did, however, record his joint worst Greens in Regulation ranking in any of the Open he's made the cut in. He'll need to improve on that. After a few days with his family in Cornwall with the Lowrys and the Donalds (including a linksland warm up at St Enodoc), he opened the Scottish Open with a 65 and closed it with a 64 for T7.

Angle? He's recorded seven top 10s in his last 10 Opens. 

First round record? In 16 Open first rounds, he has two outright leads, a second, a third, but he's three times been T129 or worse.

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Tommy Fleetwood

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-MC-MC-27-12-2-33-4-10-MC-16

Back in 2023 the Englishman said: "Winning a major is a dream, but winning the Open is a huge dream and I've pictured it a lot." To win it this week, in his home town and after four near-misses, would be the perfect way to break his major championship drought. It would, in fact, be a joyous occasion and might be his greatest hurdle: overcoming what would be immensely emotional four-day pressure, but he did get a glimpse of the likely stress levels when in the hunt at Royal Liverpool in 2023.

Angle? This week would also be the ideal time to break a run of 10 major championship since he last recorded a top 10 finish.

First round record? He tied the 18 hole lead in 2023 and was top 10 in 2019 and 2021, but he's 5-for-11 at sitting outside the cut mark on an Open Thursday evening.

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Matt Fitzpatrick

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 44-MC-44-MC-20-26-21-41-50-4

The Englishman came out with a great line about links golf last year. Did he like it, he was asked. "Unsure," he answered. "I like it when it's fair. I don't like it when it's unfair." In this championship, he was probably thinking of his past record which had seen him play nine times and fail to finish better than T20. But he broke that underwhelming spell in style, tying the first round lead and hanging around all week on his way to finishing in a share of fourth. He's a three-time winner this year, won the 2023 Dunhill Links Championship and contended in last week's Scottish Open.

Angle? He's 5-for-40 at ending any Open round in the top 10 - and four of those occurred last year alone.

First round record? He's been top 10 after 18 holes in three of the last six majors.

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Xander Schauffele

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 20-2-41-26-15-17-1-7

The Californian made his championship debut at Royal Birkdale in 2017 when a final round of 65 helped him to T20. Twelve months later he was the 54-hole co-leader at Carnoustie, a position he couldn't convert. His success came at Royal Troon two years ago and he put up a good defence last year. It makes for a very fine championship record and his straightforward suitability in the majors was revealed after he finished T11 in the US Open last month. His method? "Keep grinding," he said. "Just keep grinding and move on."

Angle? He remains a remarkable accumulator of major championship quality finishes: 29 top 20s (19 of them top 10s) in 27 starts.

First round record? He's 12-for-29 at ending a first round in the top 10 in the American majors but just 1-for-8 in the Open.

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Jon Rahm

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 59-44-MC-11-3-34-2-7-34

It's an oddity that the Spaniard's three finest Open performances were all recoveries from slow starts. He was T74 after 18 holes in 2021 before finishing T3. He was T89 in 2023 and raced into T2. And T42 in 2024 when ultimately T7. In weird contrast his two best starts saw him trip up: T8 in 2018 before a missed the cut and T3 in 2019 slipping to T11. He was T44 at Royal Birkdale in 2017 when, like McIlroy, he recorded his worst Greens in Regulation ranking at an Open. He was a good T2 in this year's PGA Championship but missed the cut in the US Open.

Angle? He has 16 top 10 finishes in his last 33 major championship starts.

First round record? He hasn't broken 70 on an Open Thursday since 2019.

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Ludvig Aberg

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-23

The elegant Swede has impressed in two of his three Scottish Open appearances, including holding a 36 and 54 hole lead in 2024. But The Renaissance is not a true links and the Open has proved a harder nut to crack, with a missed cut at Royal Troon and T23 at Royal Portrush. He's been top three with 18 holes to play three times this season - at the Players Championship, Texas Open and PGA Championship - but he went backwards on the leaderboard on Sunday every single time.

Angle? They are small samples but he's 5-for-9 at finishing top 10 in the American majors - and 0-for-2 in the Open.

First round record? Another small sample but his Open first rounds have been 75 and 73.

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Collin Morikawa

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 1-MC-MC-16

Common wisdom demands that Americans need to get to grips with linksland golf. It's not a thought that stands up to a lot of scrutiny, but winning on Open debut is still a surprise and Morikawa pulled it off at Royal St George's in 2021. Oddly, the experience hasn't helped him since because he's missed three cuts since then. Form-wise he closed with a 61 at the Travelers Championship, but injury worries persist. He said at the US Open: "It's still a little uncomfortable. I can't hit every shot that I want to hit."

Angle? His first 18 major championships reaped eight top 10s but his last nine have added just one to that top 10 tally.

First round record? He opened his Open debut with a 67 in 2021 but hasn't broken 72 in his four first rounds since then.

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Tyrrell Hatton

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-MC-MC-MC-5-MC-51-6-MC-11-20-MC-16

After finishing strongly for T7 in the US Open at Shinnecock Hills, Hatton noted: 'There's a heat wave in England over the next week or so, hopefully it stays fairly dry. It would be quite fun to play the Open when it's baked out.' It looks like he'll have his wish and he'll be encouraged that he has five top 20s in his last seven major championship starts including T16 in last year's Open. Don't forget either that he's also a three-time winner of the Dunhill Links Championship. 

Angle? He celebrated becoming a first-time dad with victory at LIV Andalucia last month, a first win since the start of 2025.

First round record? In 13 Open Thursdays he's been top 10 twice, but T90 or worse six times.

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Justin Rose

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 4-MC-30-22-MC-12-70-13-MC-44-MC-MC-23-6-22-54-2-20-46-MC-2-16

"I still feel I can win an Open," he said ahead of the 2024 Open and proved it with a superb performance for a share of second. He also tied second at Carnoustie in 2018. They are his two finest performances and it is somewhat odd that they have come in his - whisper it - golfing dotage because it was at Royal Birkdale in 1998 that he holed out from 80 yards for a closing birdie when a 16-year-old amateur. It took longer than expected for him to flower, but he has done and he will receive a lot of love from the galleries this week.

Angle? If he maintains recent trends expect a long weekend or an early wave goodbye: he has nine top 20s and six missed cuts in his last 15 major starts - nothing in-between.

First round record? He's gone sub-70 (and been T20 or better) in four of his last five Opens.

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Cameron Young

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 2-8-31-MC

Take a look at that record, ponder its oddly regressive nature and consider that it's even worse if you dig deeper. His first Open round was a 64 for a first round lead on the Old Course and he finished the week one back of the winner. In 2023 he was second with 18 holes to play when ultimately T8. At Royal Troon in 2024 he never got into contention and last year he never looked like making the cut! A two-time winner early in the year and flying, he's struggled for form in recent weeks.

Angle? He remains boom or bust in the majors: 21 starts, seven top 10s, 11 times outside the top 40.

First round record? Since that 64 in 2022 he's failed to break 72 on an Open Thursday three times.

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Robert MacIntyre

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 6-8-34-71-50-7

After finishing T7 in last year's Open the Scot compared the state of his game against how he was in 2019, then he first landed an Open top 10. "I'm a far better equipped golfer," he explained. "I feel like it's a matter of time in the majors if I just keep piecing it all together." He was also inspired to say those words by his performance in the US Open weeks before, when he finished second to JJ Spaun. His strong links pedigree is revealed in victory at the 2024 Scottish Open and last year's Dunhill Links Championship - and he contended in last week's Scottish Open, too.

Angle? He finished second at the 2019 British Masters which took place next to Birkdale at Hillside.

First round record? His first Open Thursday reaped a 68 but he's not gone sub-70 in five attempts since.

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Wyndham Clark

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 76-33-MC-4

Twelve months ago, the Colorado man was struggling for form and had stained his character by trashing his locker at in the US Open at Oakmont. "I was in a negative, dark place. Career, reputation, ranking - everything was dwindling," he said. His Open best performance of T4 followed and he has ridden the wave since. He worked hard in the winter, found his long game, found a new putter this spring, and won both the CJ Cup and the US Open this summer.

Angle? He has a sneaky record by the sea but it's all tropical (Bahamas, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic). Last year he contended in the Scottish Open ahead of the Open and the forecast says it will be hot and sunny so who knows? Tropical Southport?

First round record? He has one solo and one shared first round lead in his last five PGA Tour starts.

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Viktor Hovland

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 12-413-MC-63

It might be said that not many golfers would win three times on the PGA Tour and star in the Ryder Cup in the same year - and then change coach and go looking for a new swing. That happened to the Norwegian in 2023 and he's had multiple challenges since. But it's also true that almost no golfer has dealt with such trials in the way Hovland has. He's been frustrated, yes, but away from the game he remains smiley and fun. It's why so many were pleased when he won last month's Travelers Championship (defeating Scheffler in extra holes).

Angle? His first Open Sunday was on the Old Course and was a 66. Elsewhere he has carded a 74 and two 73s.

First round record? A solid starter. He's 19-for-27 at sitting inside the top 30 after 18 holes of a major championship (3-for-5 in the Open).

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Chris Gotterup

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 3

The Maryland native has a fine habit of proving folk wrong. He won an opposite field birdie fest in 2024 and was pegged as a battering ram. Then he won last year's Scottish Open and it was said it isn't a proper links test. No matter, a week later he was third in the Open at Royal Portrush. Since then he was won at Waialae (flat, tight, breezy, by the sea), TPC Scottsdale (in the desert) and at TPC Deere Run (inland, tree-lined, undulating). He's more rounded than many initially thought - and possessed of an apparently laconic nature, too.

Angle? In addition to last year's Open he was T3 at halfway in this year's PGA Championship.

First round record? Opened with a 72 for T45 in last year's championship but then carded 65-68-67.

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Patrick Cantlay

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 12-41-MC-8-33-25-MC

It is now nearly three years since the Californian last won on the PGA Tour, shortly before the 2023 Ryder Cup rumpus about him playing for money. He stood up to stress well that week, but you wonder about the long term impact. There is also a very straightforward problem for him in the major championships: he doesn't get into contention often enough. Winners of majors tend to have gained experience in the heat of battle and Cantlay has been top six with 18 holes to play just twice in 38 of them. He also contrived to shoot 65-74 to tie the first round lead and miss the cut last week.

Angle? His pal Schauffele has 10 top 10s in 27 majors. Cantlay has five in 38. 

First round record? He's yet to break 70 on an Open Thursday but did open last week's Scottish Open with a 65.

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Sam Burns

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 76-42-MC-31-45

The Louisiana man got lucky with the weather two years ago at Royal Troon, carding a Saturday 65 to find himself T2 but a Sunday 80 followed. In last year's US Open he led after 54 holes and then carded 78. In this year's Masters he was T3 and one shot back after 54 holes - and tumbled to T7. He admitted he struggled in all three but in last month's US Open he hunted down the leader Wyndham Clark on Sunday only to come up one short. "Last year I lost the golf tournament," he said. "I certainly don't feel that way today." He's learning but how will he react from the latest hurt?

Angle? Putting four good rounds together at the Open has so far been beyond him. 

First round record? He's yet to break 70 on an Open Thursday (but is 4-for-5 at doing so on Friday).

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Joaquin Niemann

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-59-53-MC-58-MC

With just one major championship top 10 in 27 starts ahead of last month's US Open you'd have been hard pushed to predict another was coming, even more so after he carded an 11 on the par-4 6th in his first round 78. He'd knocked his ball out of bounds on two occasions and was fined two-strokes for tossing his club as well. All power to him for his response, powering through the field for T7 but adding, when asked what might have happened without the fine: "If my grandmother had tyres, she'd be a car."

Angle? Six starts and not one top 50 is a record that will surely be improved upon, but can he leap from that sort of form to contending?

First round record? Incredibly, given that poor championship form, he's 3-for-6 at sitting top 20 after 18 holes.

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Shane Lowry

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 37-32-9-MC-MC-MC-MC-1-12-21-MC-6-40

For a golfer with such a fine linksland pedigree the Irishman has struggled to build on his triumph in 2019 at Royal Portrush and it might be said that his experience two years ago at Royal Troon is a little too familiar. Because he was two shots clear at halfway but then drifted out of contention. This year he led the Dubai Invitational and Cognizant Classic in the final round and didn't win. And he was two shots off the 54 hole lead in the Masters before carding a Sunday 80. 

Angle? Since finishing T6 at Royal Troon two years ago he's gone seven majors without a top 20.

First round record? He's been T3 or better three times after 18 holes but his 13 Open starts have also seen him T48 or worse eight times.

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Hideki Matsuyama

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 6-39-18-MC-14-MC-MC-68-13-66-16

The Japanese star has five top 20s in his 11 Open starts and that includes T14 at Royal Birkdale in 2017 when he claimed his best 54 hole position too - T5 after a Saturday 66. He's never putted better at an Open than that week, but he's been poor with the flat stick this season after a bright start in February and he hasn't logged a top 10 finish since February either.

Angle? He's landed just one top 10 finish in his last 12 major championships.

First round record? He was T10 after 18 holes in 2014 - his only top 10 18 hole position in 11 appearances.

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Bryson DeChambeau

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-51-MC-33-8-60-MC-10

After a first round 78 left him T144 in last year's Open, the big-hitter rebounded with rounds of 65-68-64. Asked if he now understood links golf he was cautious. "Look, it has been fair conditions the past few days," he said. "I still have to crack the code when it's raining and windy. But I feel like we're getting close to some solutions." If that's the good news, the bad news is that he's missed the cut in the year's first three major championships and, what's more, he did so in chaotic fashion each time.

Angle? It's pure major championship A game or E game in his last 11 starts with six top 10s and five missed cuts.

First round record? He's 1-for-8 at sitting inside the Open top 70 after 18 holes. 

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Russell Henley

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 73-MC-20-MC-37-MC-MC-62-MC-5-10

"I had a chance most of the day," Henley said after contending two years ago. "It was great to feel like I was in control of my game under pressure, feeling comfortable in a style of golf I haven't really played well in before. Gives me a lot of confidence." He proved it by adding T10 in last year's Open and, in all, he has five top 10s in his last nine major championship starts, and he also won the Charles Schwab Challenge in May.

Angle? He ranked first for Greens in Regulation at Royal Birkdale in 2017.

First round record? For all that good recent form in the last nine majors, he's usually made slow starts and was only top 10 after 18 holes the once (it was the 2024 Open though).

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Brooks Koepka

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-67-10-6-39-4-6-MC-64-43-MC

Between 2015 and 2021 the American played the Open very well, recording four top 10s in five starts. But his first two appearances and his last four were a much bigger struggle - in fact he only once cracked the top 60 and even them only with T43. He's logged six top 20s on the PGA Tour this year but could manage rounds of only 73-77 at the US Open.

Angle? Six of his 11 second rounds have failed to better 73 strokes.

First round record? He tied the first round lead at Royal Birkdale in 2017 with a 65 and opened last week's Scottish Open with a 66.

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Jordan Spieth

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 44-36-4-30-1-9-20-2-8-23-25-40

"It'll be really cool to just go out there and play the course again," the Texan said of his return to the scene of his 2017 Open triumph. "It'll be cool to relive the memories. The final five holes were probably the best, most clutch stretch of golf that I ever played. Anytime I'll go back there it will come right back to me." Those vibes might prompt a good week but victory? He hasn't won since the 2022 RBC Heritage and his last top 10 anywhere was in last June's Memorial Tournament.

Angle? His major record is down in the dumps, too: no top 10 since the 2023 Masters.

First round record? He's 7-for-12 at sitting inside the top 20 after 18 holes in the Open and tied the lead when winning nine years ago.

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Aaron Rai

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 19-MC-75-34

A stellar PGA Championship winner in May, Rai responded well to add T11 in the US Open and will surely be looking forward to an Open on home soil. "I've had a lot of good performances on links golf over the years," he said last year. "I'll keep building on those experiences, keep trying to improve each tournament." It sounds boring but it works and he won the 2020 Scottish Open at Renaissance and last year's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links. They are modern links, but good hints.

Angle? Perhaps beware that he's always struggled with his putting at the Open.

First round record? He was T10 after 18 holes in last year's championship.

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Sepp Straka

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-2-22-52

"I've not had a whole lot of success with links golf in the past," the Austrian admitted after finishing T2 at Royal Liverpool in 2023. He followed that effort with a solid T22 in 2024 and T7 in last year's Scottish Open, but he's never entirely convinced in this form of the game. His form is also a little shaky with just one top 10 - T4 in May's Cadillac Championship - since he was T8 in the Players Championship.

Angle? His major record has hit a rough patch: just one top 40 in his last 10 starts and a best of T22. 

First round record? Yet to go sub-70 in an Open first round and carded an 81 in 2022.

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Justin Thomas

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 53-MC-MC-11-40-53-MC-31-34

The Kentucky man repeats every year that he is a fan of links golf and then leaves frustrated because he's yet to put that theory into practice. The problems always come early because in five of his nine appearances he has carded a score of at least 77 before the weekend. And his failure to record even one top 10 is poor. His form is solid, but one PGA Tour win since May 2022 is below expectations.

Angle? Last year was not too bad, but his variance in pre-cut Open rounds is just insane: 67-77, 67-80, 69-77, 71-70, 72-67, 72-70, 82-71, 68-78, 72-69. 

First round record? He was actually T6 after a 67 at Birkdale in 2017, but then missed the cut after a second round 80.

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Patrick Reed

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-20-12-MC-28-10-MC-47-33-MC

It's been a very odd year for the 2018 Masters champion. He began it by winning twice in the Middle East and adding a play off defeat in-between. Then, between 9 March and 21 June he played just three times and always in the American majors when he finished T12 in the Masters, T10 in the PGA Championship and then missed the cut in the US Open. T45 in the Italian Open and a MC in the BMW International Open followed, adding to the sense of lost momentum.

Angle? A best Open finish of T10 in 10 starts is underwhelming and he carded 73-75 at Birkdale in 2017.

First round record? He's only 3-for-10 at breaking 70 in an Open first round. 

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Brian Harman

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 26-MC-MC-MC-MC-19-6-1-60-10

The club-waggling little left-hander's Open record is neatly split between his first five starts and last five. In that initial spell he missed four cuts and had a best of T26. The last five show four top 20s including victory at Royal Liverpool in 2023. He put up a good performance last year as well - he was top 10 all week and T3 at halfway after a Friday 65. He remains a sneakily fine linksland performer.

Angle? There's a good chance he'll improve on his missed cut at Royal Birkdale in 2017.

First round record?  He's been top 10 in three of the last five Opens after 18 holes.

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Tom Kim

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 47-2-MC-MC

The Korean carried an ankle injury when T2 at Royal Liverpool in 2023. "I played as good as I could just to make the cut, then played well on Sunday," he explained. He was also T3 in the US Open last week when he said: "I came into this week and I felt so calm and so confident for some reason." It was a reminder of his quality and he also capped a fine long term record at The Renaissance with victory there in last week's Scottish Open.

Angle? Focus on the imagination because this form of the game excites his brain and brings out his best golf.

First round record? Feast or famine on an Open Thursday: two 69s and two failures to break 74.

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Alex Fitzpatrick

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 17

Matt's younger brother is one of the great success stories of 2026. He won a first DP World Tour in India, added a pairs victory with his big brother in April and is now a settled PGA Tour performer who was T23 in the US Open.

Angle? On debut at Royal Liverpool a third round 65 had him T9 on the 54 hole leaderboard. He's also finished T9 at Royal County Down.

First round record? The last time he was T5 or better on an 18 hole leaderboard was last August - but that was on the links in Aberdeen.

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Corey Conners

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-15-28-52-25-10

The Canadian was T4 with 18 holes to play when ultimately T15 at Royal St George's in 2021 and closed with two 66s for T10 last year at Royal Portrush. He was also T7 at halfway at Royal Troon before a third round 80 derailed him.

Angle? His T7 in last month's Travelers Championship was a first top 10 anywhere since last August.

First round record? He's 1-for-6 at breaking 71 in an Open first round.

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Cameron Smith

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-78-20-33-1-33-MC-MC

The Aussie's T7 in May's PGA Championship was a nice return to form in the major championships, but a missed cut at the US Open was a swift return to recent ways. In fact, he's missed the weekend in seven of his last eight major starts.

Angle? His last four scores in the Open read an eye-watering 80-74-72-78 (average: 76.00).

First round record? His last eight major championship first rounds have been 80-71-78-75-72-74-69-75 (average: 74.25).

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Sungjae Im

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-81-20-7-52

The Korean has taken to the Masters with three top 10s in seven starts. But, in the three nomadic major championships, he has just one top 10 in 21 appearances. It was in the Open in 2024 at Royal Troon, but it's a caution.

Angle? He has moved on Moving Day: backwards in 2022 with a 74 and since then forwards with two 67s and a 66.

First round record? He is yet to break 70 in any round before the weekend at the Open.

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Jason Day

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 60-30-32-58-4-22-27-17-MC-MC-2-13-MC

The Aussie's Open record is solid with seven top 30s in 13 starts including finishing one shot outside the play off in 2015 and a distant T2 at Royal Liverpool in 2023. The worry is form: no top 30 since he was T12 at the Masters.

Angle? His back is always a concern, but the expected heat should help it.

First round record? He was T2 in the 2015 Open, but it's the only time he was better than T20 after the first round.

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Si Woo Kim

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-67-MC-15-MC-43-MC

Let's look on the bright side: the Korean always misses the cut in an odd year and always make it in the even years so he's due weekend action, at least. But his poor Open returns are typical of a poor major record with just one top 10 in 37 starts.

Angle? If he makes the final round, beware (he's carded two 73s and a 74).

First round record? His last two Open Thursdays have seen him card a 76 and a 74.

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Kris Reitan

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 30

The Norwegian's 18 month transformation from struggling HotelPlanner Tour journeyman to PGA Tour winner has been remarkable - can he achieve more? Last year's Open debut was neat (72-68-68-72) and his Truist Championship win in May was converted in style.

Angle? In addition to the Open debut, his links returns last year were very good: T13 at Renaissance, T3 at Trump Aberdeen, T5 in the Dunhill Links

First round record? He's yet to go low in a major first round but well capable.

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Maverick McNealy

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-MC-23

It's been a solid but unspectacular season for the Californian. In 16 appearances, he has registered 14 top 40 finishes but with a best of only T10. His best golf has been in the majors: T18 in both the Masters and the PGA Championship.

Angle? Beware of him on an Open Friday (he's so far carded two 74s and an 81).

First round record? They're heading in the right direction: 78-71-69.

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Rickie Fowler

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 14-5-31-MC-2-30-46-22-28-6-53-23-71-14

The ever-popular Californian's Open record is wonderfully consistent with 10 finishes of T31 or better in 14 starts. But the hard truth is that he hasn't been a genuine contender since he was T2 at Royal Liverpool in 2014. 

Angle? He's managed just one major championship top 10 since mid-2021. 

First round record? Four 69s in his 14 first rounds but yet to go lower. 

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Min Woo Lee

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-21-41-MC-MC

The Aussie was T12 at halfway in 2022 on the Old Course and T4 at the same stage at Royal Liverpool a year later, but those are his Open highlights. Both times he went backwards at the weekend, and his other three starts were abbreviated.

Angle? He's won the Scottish Open at Renaissance and was second there last week. So he can play by the sea.

First round record? Opened with a 74 last year (and his last three Open rounds read 80-74-73).

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Marco Penge

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-MC-MC

The Englishman is a stellar driver of the ball which doesn't necessarily translate as a useful skill set on the links. The numbers below highlight his Open troubles, but he was T2 at last year's Scottish Open on the modern links at Renaissance.

Angle? Six Open rounds in and he's yet to break 72. It's unlikely to stay that way, but beware.

First round record? Surely he'll improve on 76-74-74?!

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Jacob Bridgeman

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): Debut

The 26-year-old Californian started the year in sensational form with eight top 20s on the trot which peaked with a first PGA Tour victory at the Genesis Invitational. Since that run ended, however, he has added just one more top 20.

Angle? An Open debut and his major best finish is T39 in five starts.

First round record? His major championships first rounds have included a 75, a 74, a 73, a 72 and a 71. What's next? 70 or 76?

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Akshay Bhatia

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-30

The Californian has won by the sea in the Bahamas, is also a champion in both windy Texas and Florida, and has an imaginative game. In theory, therefore, he has links potential, but he might need a little more experience first.

Angle? Did he learn something after his first round last year? Before then he averaged 74.00 per round, since then his mean is 69.00.

First round record? A small sample but a 76 in 2024 and a 73 last year.

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JJ Spaun

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 23

After last year's Open debut at Royal Portrush the 2025 US Open champ was impressed by his introduction to the seaside and said: "I got a taste of it all - the venue, the crowds, the culture, the weather. I grade it an A+ for my first Open." 

Angle? Since the start of April he's finished top 25 in every regular tour week and missed the cut at every major.

First round record? See above - he might be conservative on Thursday and look to build a base.

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Haotong Li

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 3-39-MC-MC-MC-4

His Open debut concluded in sensational fashion with a 63 for T3 at Royal Birkdale and he played the final round with Scheffler last year when T4. He was also a brief contender at Augusta National this April (T7 after 54 holes). 

Angle? He was T2 at halfway in the Canadian Open in mid-June and opened last week's Scottish Open with a 68. Sneaky outsider potential?

First round record? The first round co-leader 12 months ago.

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Harris English

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 54-15-MC-68-46-46-MC-MC-50-2

The doleful-looking Georgian said after last year's championship: "Losing to Scottie twice in two majors, the only guy to beat me at the PGA and this week, I'm playing some good golf." He was right but did he peak or is there more in him?

Angle? He's consistent in the major championship with four top 20s since the start of 2025.

First round record? He was the first round co-leader last year with a 67. It was his first sub-70 Open Thursday in 10 tries.

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Ben Griffin

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-MC-MC

One of the great tales of 2025, breaking through with three PGA Tour wins just a few years after briefly quitting the paid ranks. He struggled in early season but has settled down since. That Open record is poor but he did finish top 20 in this year's US Open and PGA Championship.

Angle? Got to be a good chance he makes an Open weekend soon, but surely unlikely to challenge deep into the weekend.

First round record? He's carded 75-79-74 on an Open Thursday - and his best position was T97.

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Jake Knapp

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): Debut

An Open debut for the 32-year-old Californian who won the Mexican Open last year and started this season with an electric run of seven top 12s in eight starts that concluded with T11 at the Masters. 

Angle? His first links start was last year's Scottish Open when he was T3 with 18 holes to play before a closing 74 left him T22.

First round record? See above - he tied the first round lead last year at Renaissance.

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Eugenio Chacarra

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): Debut

The Spaniard was one of the first LIV golfers to become disillusioned with the circuit and has won three times on the DP World Tour since leaving, including back-to-back in June. He's also won on a modern links at Fairmont St Andrew's.

Angle? A third major start this week after a missed cut in the 2024 US Open and 2025 PGA Championship.

First round record? He's been top three after 18 holes nine times in his career - alas, Southport is not in his sweet spot because seven of them were in Asia.

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Rasmus Hojgaard

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): MC-60-16

Should we be expecting more of the elder of the Danish twins? Rasmus has five DP World Tour wins and has played in a Ryder Cup but his T16 in last year's Open at Royal Portrush is his only major championship top 30 in 12 starts.

Angle? His victory in the Irish Open at Royal County Down in 2024 highlights his links potential.

First round record? He's 3-for-12 at breaking 70 on a major championship Thursday.

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Alex Noren

Open Championship record (most recent result on the right): 19-MC-MC-9-WD-46-6-17-11-MC-23-13

The Swede returned from long-term injury late last summer to win the British Masters and BMW PGA Championship, and he's added two classy top 10s in the Cadillac Championship and Memorial this summer on the PGA Tour.

Angle? He has six top 20s from 11 completed Open starts including two at Royal Birkdale - T19 in 2008 and T6 in 2017.

First round record? He's been top 10 after 18 holes in three of his last four Open starts.

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Now read Dave Tindall's Open betting trends