Contenders : The Open 2024

The countdown to the Open has well and truly begun with less than a week to go before the world's best golfers tee off at Royal Troon.

As a part of our buildup to the sport's oldest Major, we take a look at the top five contenders to win the prestigious title in Scotland.

🏌️Scottie Scheffler: Scheffler has played in three Opens, with his best finish of T-8 coming in his debut at Royal St George's in 2021. He has either wins and runners-up finishes in the other three Majors, so currently The Open is his worst Major.

But he travels to Royal Troon as the bookmakers' overwhelming tribute, who are backing him to win his second Major of the year and third overall.

🏌️Rory McIlroy: McIlroy won the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool in 2014 and nearly claimed it again at St Andrews in 2022. He has plenty of Open experience and a great record so all the signs point to him being able to bounce back from his Pinehurst agony and claim a fifth Major.

🏌️Bryson DeChambeau: US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau notched his only Open top-10 at St Andrews in 2022. His other five starts in the Major are underwhelming but he is far and away the best player in the three big men's events so far this year.

The LIV Golf star has the third highest odds to win the tournament.

🏌️Xander Schauffele: Schauffele has made the cut in each of the six Opens he's played in, and he may well go on to challenge this year now he has the added confidence of being a Major champion.

The American was T-2 at Carnoustie in 2018 while he has two top-20s over the last two years.

🏌️Collin Morikawa: Morikawa won The Open in his debut at Royal St George's in 2021 but has gone on to miss the cut in his next two starts.

His game looks very much back to its best this year, though, with T-3, T-4 and T-14 finishes in the three Majors in 2024 so he could definitely go on to win a second Claret Jug.