McIlroy Targets Open Glory as Scheffler Defends Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale

Posted : 15 July 2026

Rory McIlroy heads into this year's British Open determined to end his long wait for another Claret Jug, while world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler begins his title defence at Royal Birkdale hoping to rediscover his best form.

McIlroy has not lifted the Open Championship since his memorable victory at Royal Liverpool in 2014. The Northern Irishman ended his lengthy major drought by winning the Masters last year to complete the career Grand Slam before successfully defending the green jacket earlier this season. With his attention firmly on golf's biggest events, he has limited his PGA Tour schedule, playing only three non-major tournaments since April.

The four-time major champion arrives at Royal Birkdale after an encouraging performance at the Scottish Open, where he finished tied for seventh. Although pleased with aspects of his game, McIlroy admitted there are still areas requiring improvement before the opening round and believes fine-tuning his swing over the coming days will leave him ready to challenge for another major title.

Scheffler's preparations have been less convincing. The American suffered a rare setback at the Scottish Open after missing the cut, ending an impressive streak of 78 consecutive made cuts. Despite the disappointment, the world No. 1 hopes the extra rest before the year's final major will help him defend the title he claimed with a dominant display at Royal Portrush 12 months ago.

England's hopes will largely rest with Matt Fitzpatrick and hometown favourite Tommy Fleetwood. Fitzpatrick continued his consistent season with a tie for third at the Scottish Open, helping him climb to third in the world rankings, although he has yet to reproduce his best form in the majors since winning the 2022 U.S. Open.

Fleetwood, meanwhile, will enjoy strong local support at Royal Birkdale as he pursues his maiden major championship. The Englishman enters the tournament full of confidence after finally securing his first PGA Tour victory during last season's Tour Championship, a triumph that also earned him the lucrative season-ending bonus.

Another English contender is Aaron Rai, whose surprise victory at the PGA Championship established him as a genuine challenger for another major crown. The European contingent will be looking to halt American dominance after golfers from the United States claimed each of the last three Open Championships.

Alongside Scheffler, Cameron Young and U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark strengthen the American challenge, while Jordan Spieth returns to the venue where he captured the Claret Jug in 2017. Spieth remains confident he can add another major title to his impressive career.

Royal Birkdale, one of the Open Championship's most historic venues, has hosted the tournament more times than any course other than St Andrews. Its roll of honour includes legends such as Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson.

Although the course is among the shorter layouts on the PGA Tour calendar, its more than 100 strategically placed bunkers place a premium on accuracy rather than distance. Players are also expected to benefit from favourable conditions, with sunshine and warm weather forecast throughout the championship instead of the unpredictable winds and rain often associated with links golf.

McIlroy Targets Open Glory as Scheffler Defends Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale

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