BRITISH OPEN '26: Players who can contend at Royal Birkdale
Scottie Scheffler tees off the first playoff hole of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Monday, June 29, 2026, in Cromwell, Conn. Credit: AP/Jessica Hill
A capsule look at 10 leading contenders for the British Open, the final major of the year to be held July 16-19 at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England (listed in predicted order of finish):
Scottie Scheffler
Age: 30.
Country: United States.
World Ranking: 1.
Worldwide wins: 23.
Majors: Masters (2022, 2024), PGA Championship (2025), British Open (2025).
2026 wins: The American Express.
Tommy Fleetwood, of England, celebrates after a birdie on the second hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., Sunday, June 21, 2026. Credit: AP/George Walker IV
2026 majors: Masters-2, PGA Championship-T14, U.S. Open-T4.
British Open appearances: 5.
British Open moment: Winning at Royal Portrush to claim the third leg of the career Grand Slam.
Backspin: Scheffler won his first tournament of the year, and that remains his only win of the year. He has had a reasonable chance on Sunday at every major.
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, watches his tee shot on the ninth hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., Sunday, June 21, 2026. Credit: AP/Seth Wenig
Tommy Fleetwood
Age: 35.
Country: England.
World Ranking: 9.
Worldwide wins: 9.
Majors: None.
2026 wins: None.
2026 majors: Masters-T33, PGA Championship-Cut, U.S. Open-T11.
British Open appearances: 11.
British Open moment: Enormous crowd support when he played in the final group on Saturday at Royal Liverpool, about 45 minutes from his hometown.
Backspin: This will be the second time Fleetwood plays a major in his hometown, and he is more equipped to handle that than he was in 2017.
Rory McIlroy
Age: 37.
Country: Northern Ireland.
World Ranking: 2.
Worldwide wins: 42.
Majors: Masters (2025, 2026), PGA Championship (2012, 2014), U.S. Open (2011), British Open (2014).
2026 wins: Masters.
2026 majors: Masters-Won, PGA Championship-T7, U.S. Open-T32.
British Open appearances: 16.
British Open moment: Winning at Royal Liverpool in 2014 with both parents there.
Backspin: The Masters champion now emphasizes the biggest events on the calendar, and this is the last big one of the year.
Wyndham Clark
Age: 32.
Country: United States.
World Ranking: 8.
Worldwide wins: 5.
Majors: U.S. Open (2023, 2026).
2026 wins: The CJ Cup Byron Nelson, U.S. Open.
2026 majors: Masters-T21, PGA Championship-Cut, U.S. Open-Won.
British Open appearances: 4.
British Open moment: A 66-65 weekend at Royal Portrush to tie for fourth, his first top 10 in the Open.
Backspin: The U.S. Open champion has been on a heater since May. The question is how long it lasts.
Jon Rahm
Age: 31.
Country: Spain.
World Ranking: 11.
Worldwide wins: 24.
Majors: Masters (2023), U.S. Open (2021).
2026 wins: LIV Golf-Hong Kong, LIV Golf-Mexico.
2026 majors: Masters-T38, PGA Championship-T2, U.S. Open-Cut.
British Open appearances: 9.
British Open moment: Playing in the final group at Royal Liverpool facing a six-shot deficit.
Backspin: Rahm can be dangerous when he feels he has something to prove, and he is coming off a missed cut in the U.S. Open.
Justin Rose
Age: 45.
Country: England.
World Ranking: 10.
Worldwide wins: 25.
Majors: U.S. Open (2013).
2026 wins: Farmers Insurance Open.
2026 majors: Masters-T3, PGA Championship-T10, U.S. Open-T11.
British Open appearances: 16.
British Open moment: Chipping in on the 18th at Royal Birkdale to tie for fourth as a 17-year-old amateur.
Backspin: The only player in his 40s in the top 10 in the world, he has not shown any signs of slowing, with nothing worse than a tie for 11th in the majors.
Chris Gotterup
Age: 26.
Country: United States.
World Ranking: 7.
Worldwide wins: 5.
Majors: None.
2026 wins: Sony Open, WM Phoenix Open, John Deere Classic.
2026 majors: Masters-T24, PGA Championship-T10, U.S. Open-T43.
British Open appearances: 1.
British Open moment: A 68-67 weekend at Royal Portrush in his Open debut to finish third.
Backspin: He has as many wins as Scottie Scheffler over the last 12 months. The next step is serious contention in a major.
Xander Schauffele
Age: 32.
Country: United States.
World Ranking: 14.
Worldwide wins: 12.
Majors: PGA Championship (2024), British Open (2024).
2026 wins: None.
2026 majors: Masters-T9, PGA Championship-T7, U.S. Open-T11.
British Open appearances: 8.
British Open moment: Winning the claret jug at Royal Troon in 2024.
Backspin: For someone still trying to get on track following a rib injury last year, he’s at his best in the majors and has featured in all three of them.
Matt Fitzpatrick
Age: 31.
Country: England.
World Ranking: 4.
Worldwide wins: 14.
Majors: U.S. Open (2022).
2026 wins: Valspar Championship, RBC Heritage, Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
2026 majors: Masters T-18, PGA Championship T-14, U.S. Open-22.
British Open appearances: 10.
British Open moment: Finally cracking the top 10 for the first time in the Open last year in his 10th appearance.
Backspin: He has had momentum on his side since March but has yet to convert it in the majors.
Jordan Spieth
Age: 32.
Country: United States.
World Ranking: 54.
Worldwide wins: 16.
Majors: Masters (2015), U.S. Open (2015), British Open (2017).
2026 wins: None.
2026 majors: Masters-T12, PGA Championship-T18, U.S. Open-T56.
British Open appearances: 12.
British Open moment: Making bogey from the driving range right of the 13th at Royal Birkdale and following with a birdie, eagle, birdie to win in 2017.
Backspin: Returning to Royal Birkdale is a stark reminder it has been nine years since he last won a major.
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