Leading Contenders For The 2024 Open Championship

The countdown is on to this year's Open Championship, the 152nd edition, which will be hosted at Royal Troon in Ayrshire, with the world's best golfers ready to gather at one of Scotland's most historic links courses for a chance to get their hands on the Claret Jug and to become Champion Golfer of the Year.

Here is a look at the leading contenders to lift the famous trophy at the final men's Major Championship of 2024.

Scottie Scheffler

Reunited. #themasters pic.twitter.com/gozg0H6dUz

— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 15, 2024

World number one Scottish Scheffler has already won six tournaments in 2024, including the Masters at Augusta back in April. This year will be Scheffler’s fourth appearance in the Open Championship. The best he has fared so far in the tournament is a tie for eighth place, which he achieved on his debut in 2021 at Royal St George’s Golf Club. Scheffler will be keen to end the year strongly, not only to add to his major count but also to strengthen his position at the top of the world golf rankings. He is the 5/1 favourite in the outright betting for the tournament, and those considering backing the American should review the leading sign-up offers with UK betting sites. Highly rated bookmakers Spreadex and Parismatch UK are both offering new customers £40 in free bets when you place an opening bet of £10.

Rory McIlroy

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy fell agonisingly short of a fifth Major Championship in the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst. He ended the final round with three bogeys inside the final four holes to finish one shot behind the winner Bryson DeChambeau. McIlroy has a lot of positives to take away from the way he played over the four days at Pinehurst. Just like it will be at Royal Troon, the conditions made it tough, but McIlroy handled them well to put himself in contention for a second US Open trophy. This will be McIlroy’s second appearance at an Open Championship at Royal Troon. In 2016, when Henrik Stenson won the tournament, he finished in a tie for fifth place. An excellent final round of 67 shot him up the leaderboard on the Sunday. The 2014 Open Championship winner will have a home crowd supporting him at Royal Troon. He has jumped up one place to number two in the world rankings, and he has lots of opportunities to add more points before the season concludes.

Bryson DeChambeau

Fresh from his success at the US Open, DeChambeau will be bidding for more major glory when he makes the trip across to Scotland. The 30-year-old is now a two-time winner of the US Open, as he was also successful in 2020.

Twice as nice. ???? pic.twitter.com/myQmBQ6cm8

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 16, 2024

In the first and third rounds, DeChambeau shot a pair of 67s at Pinehurst. Those rounds set him up nicely on the final day, as he had a three-shot lead on the rest of the field. The American held his nerve in the closing stages, despite pressure from McIlroy. As one of the biggest drivers in golf, DeChambeau will be bidding to take advantage of the par five holes at Royal Troon. He finished inside the top 10 two years ago at St Andrews, so he has shown he has the game for links golf in the UK.

Xander Schauffele

A first Major Championship victory went Xander Schauffele’s way earlier this year when he won the US PGA Championship at Valhalla. That is unlikely to be his last, as the American has consistently been in contention in the big events since he made his debut in the US Open in 2017. Schauffele was unfortunate not to win another big prize in 2024 at the Players’ Championship. He led the field after 54 holes but ended just one shot short on the final day. The Olympic gold medallist has had a good season, and he will be hoping that continues at Royal Troon. Although he has yet to finish in the top-10 at the Open Championship, Schauffele showed his links golf skills at the Scottish Open in 2022 when winning the European Tour event at the Renaissance Club.

The 2024 Open Championship takes place between 14-21 July, and it will be the 152nd edition of the oldest golf tournament in the sport.

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