By Rahul Banerji
Defending champion Cameron Smith and 2022 runner-up Rory McIlroy line up for the 151st edition of The Open with wins at their respective previous outings but this looks to be anybody’s tournament.
While Smith opens his title defence at Hoylake on Thursday alongside Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Xander Schauffele and US Open champion Wyndham Clark, McIlroy is paired with Justin Rose and Jon Rahm.
The mullet-haired Australian warmed up with a one-stroke win at LIV Golf’s London tournament two weeks ago, while McIlroy put in a last-gasp effort at North Berwick to clinch his first Scottish Open.
“I’ve had a few close calls recently so to get over the line and get this bit of confidence going into next week and the rest of the season is huge,” McIlroy said after his win on Sunday.
“Hopefully this breaks the seal for me and we can go on from here,” he added. McIlroy’s first major came at the same event and at the same venue nine years ago.
Smith though, is in no mood to give up his hold on the Claret Jug.
Telecast on Eurosport/Discovery plus from 10.30 pm IST on day 1 and 2; 2.30 pm on day 3 and from 1.30 pm on day 4.
“I thought I was going to be alright handing it back, but I was holding back some tears. It was a bit of a moment that crept up on me,” he said while returning the famed trophy. “It still doesn’t feel real a year down the road but I want it back so badly.
“I’ve been saying to my mates ‘it will only be a week and we will be drinking out of it again’. Hopefully it’s another week like last year and I can come back with the trophy.”
Open field
Plenty of hopefuls, however, are lining up to have a crack at the year’s final major too.
World number one Scottie Scheffler had a good Scottish Open, taking third place while Spain’s Rahm, with four titles already this season, says Carlos Alcaraz’s victory at Wimbledon was inspirational.
“I think when you have the right people to look up to, it’s a little bit easier to get to that,” the world number three was quoted as saying.
“Rafa obviously had a few major tennis champions to look up to when he was coming up and he did what he did, so it’s obvious for Carlos to grow up watching Rafa do what he did.
“Not that it’s easier, but it makes you want to be the next … When it comes to golf, we have massive references as well,” the 28-year-old added.
Scheffler has won twice in the 2023 season and has been close quite a few times. He has an impressive 15 top-10 finishes and will be keen to have a say on Sunday, which is more than likely given his consistent recent record.
“It’s really fun winning, not as fun finishing third,” the world’s top-ranked golfer said at Hoylake. “It’s great to have good results and I’m very proud of how I have competed all year.
“Looking back on the year, I feel like I’ve been on the outside looking in during a few tournaments going into Sundays.”
Asian challenge
Asia’s challenge at Royal Liverpool rides on Korean shoulders, while Shubhankar Sharma will want to improve on his record at the Open. But recent form points more to the likes of Si Woo Kim, Byeong Hun An, Joohyung Kim, and Sungjae Im amongst others.
Byeong Hun took a solid tied third alongside Scheffler at the Scottish Open while Si Woo is keen to launch a title tilt following a three-week break, saying his game has been the most consistent it has been this season.
The four-time PGA Tour winner will make his fifth appearance at the Open where a tied 15th finish at St Andrews last year helped him believe he could challenge the best.
“This is the most consistent year, I think, for me. Only missed cuts in a few events, and made a lot of cuts,” said Kim, who has earned over $4.8 million this season, a career-best since his tour debut in 2016.
“My iron play is more consistent now compared to the last few years. Hitting more greens and less percentage to make bogey. That’s why it’s helped,” Kim said.
“I’ve been working on my irons, step by step. A couple of years ago, I wasn’t quite ready for great ball-striking and I’ve been trying to build it up with my coach and it’s been helpful since I started to work full time with him this year.”
Kim won the Players Championship in 2017, often regarded as a tournament with the deepest field in the game, but he knows that winning a major is a different challenge.
No Asian golfer has won The Open, with Chinese Taipei’s Lu Liang-huang coming closest by finishing runner-up to Lee Trevino in 1971.
“Always hard to win a major. These guys hit it far but I think there’s a chance for Asian players on this kind of golf course as we don’t have to hit it far,” Kim pointed out.
Game management
“It’s more course management and short game. I think I can have more of a chance to win here than a US Open or PGA Championship.
“Links course is more doable. I always like to play on links courses. Love to play the low trajectory shots. Everything feels great now. Feeling fresh and body is feeling good.”
Also, a pack of LIV golfers will line up beside Smith with more than a good chance of winning.
Brooks Koepka won the PGA Championship and shared second place with Phil Mickelson at the Masters, Patrick Reed was tied for fourth at Augusta, and Bryson DeChambeau also tied for fourth at the PGA Championship.
And there’s always the danger from home players like Justin Rose, Tyrell Hatton, and the like.
So recent form notwithstanding, one has to say all bets are off as things stand on Open-eve.
Also read: McIlroy nails birdie-birdie finish for maiden Scottish Open title
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