It is officially the Open Championship week! The fourth and final major of the men’s golf season in 2024 takes place at Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland. This will be the 10th time that Royal Troon has hosted the Open Championship and the first time since 2016 when Henrik Stenson claimed his first major championship victory in an epic performance that saw him shoot 20-under par. Royal Troon most recently hosted the 2020 Women’s Open Championship where Sophia Popov came out on top victorious.
As we head into the final major of the season there are a lot of storylines to look forward to. Below is a list of things to watch out for this week at the 152nd playing of the Open Championship.
CAN THE U.S. COMPLETE THE MAJOR SWEEP?
The last time all four majors in a season were won by American golfers was in 1982 (they were swept by Americans in 2020 but only 3 were held). The Amercians will have a chance to change that this week at Royal Troon. Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Bryson DeChambeau have taken the first three majors in 2024 and all will be looking to help complete the American major sweep. 2019 was the last chance the Americans had to sweep them but Irishman Shane Lowry came out on top to prevent a sweep.
WILL SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER CONTINUE TO BE…..SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER?
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 14: Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates on the 18th green after winning the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
He’s the best player in the world and there’s no question about it. So can he continue his hot 2024 and bookend the majors? In his last 10 starts he has won six times, including the Masters, and has two T2’s and a T8 to go with those six wins. We’ve all come to expect Scottie being in contention week in and week out so I expect some of the same from him at Royal Troon this week.
CAN BRYSON DECHAMBEAU’S TERRIFIC MAJOR SEASON CONTINUE?
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 16: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States reacts to his winning putt on the 18th green during the final round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 16, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Bryson DeChambeau has been the best golfer in major championships in 2024 and he’ll look to continue that this week. The now two-time U.S. Open champion has finished no lower than T6 in the majors and has a runner-up at the PGA Championship to go with his U.S. Open title. Can he claim a Claret Jug this week? Can he continue his terrific play at majors this season? Can he continue to endear himself to golf fans?
HOW WILL RORY MCILROY REBOUND FROM U.S. OPEN CHOKE?
PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 16: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after missing a par putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 16, 2024 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
How will Rory rebound from his U.S. Open choke last month? McIlroy has been major-less since 2014 and we are left wondering if he will ever win a major again. He came as close as he could last month at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 but he missed two short putts late on Sunday that cost him a chance at the title. It’ll be interesting to see how the 2014 Claret Jug winner performs this week.
COULD THIS BE ONE OF TIGER’S LAST OPENS?
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 15: Tiger Woods of the United States passes by the fans as he walks out the course prior to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 15, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Every major we reach I start to wonder if it’s the last time we see Tiger Woods playing in it. I certainly felt that way last month at the U.S. Open and I feel we are getting close at the Open Championship. This will be just his 6th Open Championship appearance since 2014 and he has been a non-factor in all of them outside of 2018 where he held the lead on the back nine on Sunday. It’s no secret that Tiger’s best days are far behind him so it feels like we need to cherish seeing him in majors because there aren’t too many left before he hangs them up.
WILL JON RAHM’S TOUGH 2024 CONTINUE
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY – MAY 17: Jon Rahm of Spain reacts after his shot on the fifth tee during the second round of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on May 17, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Rahm was the big fish that LIV landed for their 2024 season and he’s been a bit underwhelming in his first year on the LIV Tour as he’s yet to find the winners circle. His major season hasn’t been much better as his title defense at the Masters was a non-competitive T45, he missed the cut at the PGA Championship, and was forced to withdraw from the U.S. Open before it started with a foot injury. There’s no denying that this has been a tough year for Rahm but he can make a lot of things turn around with a win this week.
WILL ROYAL TROON BE MORE THAN A TWO MAN RACE ON SUNDAY?
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 17: Henrik Stenson of Sweden celebrates victory as he walks off the 18th green with Phil Mickelson of the United States after the final round on day four of the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon on July 17, 2016 in Troon, Scotland. Henrik Stenson of Sweden finished 20 under for the tournament to claim the Open Championship. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
The last time the Open Championship was hosted at Royal Troon it was a two man duel. Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson were seemingly playing on a different course from the rest of the field as the winner, Stenson, was 20-under par and the runner-up, Mickelson, cleared 3rd place by 11 shots! Every once in a while a golf tournament turns into a two-man race, but hopefully that isn’t the case at Royal Troon again and there’s more players competing for the Claret Jug on Sunday.
HOW WILL THE WEATHER BE?
TROON, SCOTLAND – JULY 15: Justin Thomas of the United States plays his second shot on the 18th hole prior to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 15, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
My favorite part about the Open Championship is the weather and the golf course conditions. I love watching the pros play in cold, windy, and rainy conditions. As of right now the weather looks like it’ll provide some wind in the teens and rain showers each day. Will those be the toughest of conditions? Probably not. But the weather will still help to provide a proper test of golf for the pros this week.
