The Open Preview: Englishmen look to break 34-year barren spell, Scheffler eyes repeat glory

McIlroy remains Scheffler's biggest threat as the Irishman chases his seventh major and a second Claret Jug but Scheffler’s own bid for a repeat Open victory sounds ominous for the rest of this quality field

HOME BOY: Tommy Fleetwood will look to win his first major at his home course this week. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

One of the beauties about The Open Championship is that it means so many different things to so many people and when there are 300,000 of them set to stream through the gates here for the 154th edition starting on Thursday morning that is a cornucopia of experiences.

For David Howard, the amateur qualifier and championship debutant from Cork’s Fota Island Golf Club, just being on the practice range earlier this week, in a bay between Ludvig Aberg and Rory McIlory, was “surreal”.

It is also an opportunity to spread the word for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, whose purple rose is pinned to the side of his cap as he embarks on the biggest tournament of his life, having lived with the debilitating and life-changing condition since the age of seven. As he told the Irish Examiner last week, Howard, 27, feels lucky, thanks to modern medicine, simply to be alive, never mind playing The Open.

Cork's David Howard will play his first open while wearing a purple rose on his hat for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. Pic: Ross Parker/Getty

At the other end of the scale though, there are more hard-nosed approaches, from a contingent of highly ranked Englishmen desperate to deliver a home victory in the Merseyside sunshine and end a barren spell for their nation dating back to Nick Faldo’s win in 1992.

Thirty-four years of hurt? The likes of Matt Fitzpatrick, the world number three, PGA champion Aaron Rai, perennial contender Justin Rose and hometown hero Tommy Fleetwood will each believe they can end that losing run.

Yet there are plenty of other contenders with equally strong as Royal Birkdale prepares for four days of calm, dry and exceedingly hot weather.

“It's going to play fast and firm and offer a true links test to our incredible field,” R&A chief executive Mark Darbon declared at his eve of championship press conference on Wednesday.

Yet just because the wind and rain looks likely to be absent this weekend, that test remains an exacting one, requiring a level of strategy, patience, precision and unique shot-making that only links golf can demand. And then there is mindset and who better to explain than 2008 Birkdale champion Padraig Harrington, two weeks on from winning his third US Senior Open.

“I think the course is fair, so it's not a question of, it doesn't necessarily suit long hitters, it doesn't shoot short hitters,” Harrington said.

“Personally, I'd love to hit the ball straight, just for ease of stress. Hit the ball straight, hit good long irons into the greens. It will depend on some of the pin positions on the greens, how awkward that gets, but I think this course will reward the good ball strikers, the guys who hit it well.

Former champions Padraig Harrington and Jordan Spieth chat during practice round. Pic: Jacob King/PA Wire

“Not necessarily the consistent, straight ball strikers, not necessarily the guys who crunch it, but guys who can hit the shot they're expecting to hit, let's say. He'll do very well there this week.” “It's very straightforward in a major, if you're going to choose, you want your head to be in the right place, you want your routines and your mental game to be very good, you want your putting to be on top form.

“I think at a major, you're then starting to question what's more important, good chipping or good tee to green play. Tee to green play always gets rewarded, but at a major, you're going to miss more greens than normal. So if you miss in the wrong place, do you go for the next shot and try and get up and down, or do you play safe?

“Again, when it comes to links golf, a lot of it will come down to commitment to your strategy, more so than even your strategy.” Harrington’s win in 2008 saw him retain the Claret Jug and that opportunity this time around falls to defending champion Scottie Scheffler, the world number one whose victory at Portrush a year ago was his second major of 2025 and one of six titles in a dominant season.

By comparison, it has been much quieter since with the American’s sole victory to date coming at the American Express Championship in his opening tournament of 2026. He finished runner-up to another defending champion in Rory McIlroy at the Masters and claimed fourth place behind Wyndham Clark at last month’s US Open, contributing to his nine top-four finishes this season.

Scottie Scheffler with the Claret Jug as he hands it to R&A chief executive Mark Darbon (right). Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

His world ranking as the best player on the planet remains undisputed and despite a missed cut at last week’s Scottish Open, his first in almost four years, he will be the man to beat in this week’s final major of the year.

Tellingly, Scheffler said finishing second in a play-off in his previous start at The Travelers Championship had been more painful than the missed cut and he even feels better for the rare weekend off.

McIlroy remains his biggest threat as the Irishman chases his seventh major and a second Claret Jug but Scheffler’s own bid for a repeat Open victory sounds ominous for the rest of this quality field.

“I got a couple days off, reset,” the defending champion said. “Reset the mind. Reset the body. And just kind of get back to feeling even and at peace. Going into this tournament, I really do.

“I've had a very solid year, frustrating at times because I've been close and I haven't been able to get it done like I have been in years past. Overall, I feel like I know what my ‘why’ is, why I'm out here playing, and I'm excited to try and defend my title this week.”