The 151st Open Championship preview
It’s incredible that The Open Championship is the final major of 2023. Royal Liverpool is the venue for this week’s Open Championship and this is the first major to be staged at Hoylake since 2014. In 2014, Rory McIlroy was the victor at Royal Liverpool. Cameron Smith is the defending champion and is looking to win The Open for a second year in a row. Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa and Rory McIlroy are all attempting to win their second Open Championship this weekend.
It’s nine years since Rory McIlroy has won a major. 2017 The Open was staged at Royal Birkdale and McIlroy played well as he finished in a tie for fourth. Carnoustie hosted The Open in 2018 and it was another successful event for the Northern Irishman as he finished fourth. 2022 was a disappointing finish for McIlroy as he had to settle for third. McIlroy showed that he can play in a strong wind as he played the back nine in four under to win the Genesis Scottish Open. I have predicted this before and got it wrong but I think McIlroy will win The Open.
Viktor Hovland is currently ranked number five in the World Golf Rankings. Hovland had a successful 2021 The Open Championship as he finished in a tie for 12th. Hovland played with McIlroy in the final group at St Andrews in 2022 were the Norwegian finished fourth. The Norwegian is continuing to be in the mix at the majors as he finished seventh at The Masters and a second at the PGA Championship. Muirfield Village is always a tough course and Hovland was very impressive as he won The Memorial in a play-off. I believe that Hovland will finish in the top five at The Open.
Collin Morikawa has won two majors as a professional which were the PGA Championship in 2020 and The Open Championship in 2021. Morikawa started the year with a big disappointment as he let a big lead slip to lose the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Morikawa showed positives in his game as he finished inside the top 15 at the US Open in Los Angeles Country Club. The 2021 Champion Golfer Of The Year has returned to form as he shot four rounds in the 60s to enter a play-off at the Rocket Mortgage Classic which he unfortunately lost to Rickie Fowler. Morikawa skipped the Genesis Scottish Open and is fresh going into The Open. I think Morikawa will finish in the top five at The Open.
Brian Harman finished tied sixth at The Open Championship in 2022. Harman shot two fantastic rounds of 64 over the weekend at the Travelers Championship to finish in a tie for second. Harman played in the Genesis Scottish Open and shot three rounds in the 60s to finish in a tie for 12th. I think Harman will continue his good form and finish in the top 10 for a second year in a row at The Open.
Robert MacIntyre finished seventh at Royal Portrush in the 2019 Open Championship. MacIntyre had another successful The Open in 2021 as he finished in a tie for eight. The Scotsman hit an unbelievable second shot to shoot a final round of 64 to finish second at the Genesis Scottish Open. MacIntyre is motivated to make Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team and I think he will finish in the top 10 at The Open.
Francesco Molinari won The Open Championship at Carnoustie in 2018. Molinari had an amazing 2018 Ryder Cup at Paris National as he won all five matches. Molinari finished in a tie for 15th at The Open in 2014 which was also played at Royal Liverpool. I know it’s a long shot as he is 300 to one with the bookies but I think Molinari will finish in the top 15 at The Open.
The two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas is struggling as he is ranked 75 in the FedEx Cup rankings. The last prediction is for Justin Thomas to miss the cut.
It’s going to be a fantastic tournament as there is so many world class players that can win The Open which includes Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler. Hope you enjoy The Open over the weekend.