Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy stand out in star-studded field for British Open
American world No 1 aims to end a tournament trend and become the first player to defend the title since Padraig Harrington 18 years ago
American Scottie Scheffler will set out to end a British Open trend and become the first player to defend the title for 18 years at Royal Birkdale this week.
Ireland’s Padraig Harrington was the last player to retain the Claret Jug in back-to-back years when he won at Carnoustie in 2007 and Birkdale in 2008, and the trend since then has favoured first-time winners.
South African Ernie Els was the most recent repeat champion, at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2012, after winning his first in 2002 at Muirfield.
Several players will be favoured to snap the sequence of first-time winners, though, with world No 1 Scheffler and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy the favourites despite both coming in with question marks about their form.
Scheffler produced a links golf masterclass on the Antrim coast last year, with a processional four-stroke victory at Portrush adding a fourth major to his collection.
The 30-year-old has not won since his first event of the season and his preparation suffered a jolt at last week’s Scottish Open when he missed his first cut in four years.