The 2026 British Open at Royal Birkdale promises an intriguing contest, with a field of 156 players and a course that has been meticulously redesigned. The event marks the first time the Southport links host the championship since Jordan Spieth's triumph in 2017, and the changes to the course will undoubtedly present unique challenges. With a focus on accuracy and scrambling, the tournament is set to test the skills of the world's best golfers.
One player who will be keen to make an impact is Scottie Scheffler, the reigning Open champion. Despite missing the cut at the Scottish Open, Scheffler's recent form and practice time around Birkdale make him a clear favorite. His approach play has improved, and the absence of adverse weather conditions will allow his elite ball-striking to shine. However, I remain unconcerned with Scheffler's missed cut, as he ranks number one out of 156 players in the rankings.
Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, and Rory McIlroy are also in top form and have strong course fits. Fitzpatrick's chipping and ability to navigate trouble make him a formidable contender, while Fleetwood's five Open showings of T-16 or better since 2017 make him a factor. McIlroy, returning to Birkdale after a T-4 finish in 2017, will lean on his driver, which has been lethal of late.
Viktor Hovland, Alex Fitzpatrick, and Jon Rahm are also in the mix, with Hovland driving it straighter and top 10 in strokes gained tee to green over the past month. Alex Fitzpatrick, with his top-10 tee-to-green play and T-17 finish at the 2023 Open, is another to watch. Rahm, coming off a missed cut at the U.S. Open, will be pressing to close the major calendar with a strong performance.
Xander Schauffele, Tom Kim, and Collin Morikawa are also in the top 10, with Schauffele's win and four straight T-17s at The Open, and Kim's T-2 finish at Liverpool. Morikawa, with a strong short game, is a major test that de-emphasizes length.
The next 20 players in the rankings include Tyrrell Hatton, Aaron Rai, and Eugenio Chacarra, who are all capable of contending. J.J. Spaun, Sam Burns, and Justin Rose are also in the mix, with Spaun's short game and Burns' major progression. Justin Thomas, Brian Harman, and Russell Henley are also in the top 20, with Thomas' short game and Henley's course fit.
The final 30 players include Shane Lowry, Patrick Cantlay, and Kurt Kitayama, who are all capable of making an impact. Si Woo Kim, Ben Griffin, and Ludvig Åberg are also in the mix, with Kim's top-10 approach play and Griffin's reliable performance in majors. John Parry and Tom McKibbin are also in the top 30, with Parry's great short game and McKibbin's top 20 off the tee and around the greens.
The final 40 players include Joaquin Niemann, Ryan Gerard, and Robert MacIntyre, who are all capable of contending. Keegan Bradley, Hennie Du Plessis, and Chris Gotterup are also in the mix, with Bradley's elite tee to green and Du Plessis' iron play. Corey Conners, Bryson DeChambeau, and Jordan Spieth are also in the top 40, with Spieth's recent form and DeChambeau's elite off-the-tee skills.
The final 50 players include Eric Cole, J.T. Poston, and Jordan Smith, who are all capable of making an impact. Brooks Koepka, Kristoffer Reitan, and Bud Cauley are also in the mix, with Koepka's course fit and Reitan's game. Kota Kaneko, Jackson Suber, and Rickie Fowler are also in the top 50, with Fowler's consistency in the Open.
The final 60 players include Sepp Straka, Min Woo Lee, and Rasmus Hojgaard, who are all capable of contending. Keita Nakajima, Peter Uihlein, and Michael Thorbjornsen are also in the mix, with Nakajima's recent form and Uihlein's short game. Antoine Rozner, Maverick McNealy, and Jason Day are also in the top 60, with Day's consistency in majors.
The final 70 players include Harris English, Sungjae Im, and Hideki Matsuyama, who are all capable of making an impact. Bernd Wiesberger, Daniel Berger, and Adam Scott are also in the mix, with Wiesberger's recent form and Scott's consistency. Sahith Theegala, Martin Couvra, and Ryan Fox are also in the top 70, with Theegala's recent form and Fox's short game.
The final 80 players include Gary Woodland, Haotong Li, and Laurie Canter, who are all capable of contending. Jacob Bridgeman, Max Homa, and Harry Hall are also in the mix, with Bridgeman's recent form and Homa's short game. Andrew Novak, Sami Valimaki, and Alex Noren are also in the top 80, with Novak's recent form and Noren's consistency.
The final 90 players include Francesco Laporta, Casey Jarvis, and Kazuma Kobori, who are all capable of making an impact. Adrien Saddier, Frederic Lacroix, and David Puig are also in the mix, with Saddier's recent form and Lacroix's short game. Jesper Svensson, Scott Vincent, and Keith Mitchell are also in the top 90, with Svensson's recent form and Mitchell's consistency.
The final 100 players include Matthew Southgate, Jayden Schaper, and Thomas Detry, who are all capable of contending. Matt Wallace, Stuart Grehan, and Travis Smyth are also in the mix, with Wallace's recent form and Smyth's short game. Angel Ayora, Nicolas Echavarria, and Billy Horschel are also in the top 100, with Ayora's recent form and Echavarria's consistency.
The final 110 players include Kazuki Higa, Michael Hollick, and Ryo Hisatsune, who are all capable of making an impact. Sam Stevens, Pierceson Coody, and Tim Wiedemeyer are also in the mix, with Stevens' recent form and Coody's short game. Johnny Keefer, Ren Yonezawa, and Daniel Hillier are also in the top 110, with Keefer's recent form and Yonezawa's consistency.
The final 120 players include Stewart Cink, Max Greyserman, and Michael Brennan, who are all capable of contending. Lucas Herbert, Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, and Daniel Brown are also in the mix, with Herbert's recent form and Neergaard-Petersen's short game. Matt McCarty, Nicolai Hojgaard, and Caleb Surratt are also in the top 120, with McCarty's recent form and Hojgaard's consistency.
The final 130 players include Jake Knapp, Marco Penge, and Josele Ballester, who are all capable of making an impact. Shaun Norris, Joakin Lagergren, and Naoyuki Kataoka are also in the mix, with Norris' recent form and Lagergren's short game. Lev Grinberg, Jack McDonald, and Francisco Molinari are also in the top 130, with Grinberg's recent form and Molinari's consistency.
The final 140 players include Fifa Laopakdee, Mason Howell, and Dan Bradbury, who are all capable of contending. Louis Oosthuizen, Baard Skogen, and Sam Bairstow are also in the mix, with Oosthuizen's recent form and Skogen's short game. Tiger Christensen, Henrik Stenson, and MJ Daffue are also in the top 140, with Christensen's recent form and Stenson's consistency.
The final 150 players include Alistair Docherty, Tom Sloman, and Austen Truslow, who are all capable of making an impact. Marcus Plunkett, Ryutaro Nagano, and Cameron John are also in the mix, with Plunkett's recent form and Nagano's short game. Jeongwoo Ham, Jiho Yang, and Darren Clarke are also in the top 150, with Ham's recent form and Yang's consistency.
The final 156 players include Alejandro de Castro Piera, Nevill Ruiter, and Jack Buchanan, who are all capable of making an impact. David Howard, David Duval, and the TBD (Last Chance Qualifier) are also in the mix, with Howard's recent form and Duval's consistency. This field promises an exciting and unpredictable championship, with a mix of experienced veterans and rising stars.
