The 154th edition of the Open Championship, or British Open, will tee off extremely early Thursday morning Central and Eastern time and is being played this year at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England. The Englishmen and women were a little interested in a soccer game that was happening. It’s a little tournament called the World Cup with The Three Lions of England, the nickname has something to do with the King Henry’s, playing Argentina. Argentina just won, 2-1, so it’ll be Argentina and Spain playing right after the Open is over at 2 P.M. CT/3 ET on FOX at the Meadowlands, New Jersey Stadium, known as MetLife Stadium here in the U.S.

“La Roja,”which stands for the Red, Spain, defeated World Cup favorite France yesterday, 2-0 to advance to the final.

It’ll still be a classic on Sunday, even though the Brits will be mourning the defeat, and so will this Open at a course that is hosting it for the 11th time. The last time the Open was held at Royal Birkdale was in 2017. Jordan Spieth was the best player in the world then and won it with some spectacular play on Sunday. It’s been a long, arduous road for the Texan ever since. He’s won two tournaments since then. He won the Valero Texas Open in 2021, and the RBC Heritage in 2022. But besides that, nada. I don’t see that changing at Royal Birkdale, either. He’s got a better chance than several guys, but he’s just not where he needs to be with his game. Chances are slim.

The course was redone for the 2026 Open and has terrific holes. The opening hole is a Par-4, 447 yards and is regarded as one of the toughest on the course. The competitor will have to be accurate on his tee shot as there is trouble on both sides. On the right is out of bounds, and on the left is a bunker and one of Birkdale’s several mounds. Very tight tee shot. The greens are slower in Europe, so that’ll make it more challenging, especially for the U.S. players. They’ll be stimping at roughly 10 1/2 to 11 1/2, slower than the other majors, which go at 13 or 14.

No. 3: 219 yards, Par-3. The players will hit from an elevated tee to a green around 30 feet below. The green runs 40 yards front to back. Club selection is critical with different pin placements each day. There is no bunker in front of the green like they’re used to be, so players may try to run it up to the pin.

No.6: 514 yards, Par 4. The 6th was the most difficult hole on the course in 2017. There are two bunkers on the right side of the fairway and a third for the guys who try to bomb it beyond that. The winds are looking at 10-15 each day, so the pro there said if that’s the case, it’ll be the toughest hole on the course.

No. 14: 602, Par-5. The wind will make it tough. There are several bunkers and an undulating green. Bunkers are on both sides of the fairway and there is run off area to the left of the green for errant draws. The green is small.

No.15: 241, Par-3. It’s a deceptively large green, but the players seem concerned most about this hole. There are two bunkers on the left and a large run off on the right. With windy conditions, getting the ball to stop will be a major challenge. This’ll be a beast of a hole with pressure ratcheting up on Sunday.

No.17: 566, Par 5. A serious penultimate test that is framed by two towering sand dunes. It’s the most asthetically interesting hole on the course. Very cool looking hole. Accuracy off the tee and to the green are paramount with the fairway lined with bunkers and a mound on the right, and a large mound with a couple of bunkers on the left. It’s a narrow green that is surrounded by bunkers. A mistake on the approach could cost the player the tournament on Sunday.

No.18: 508 yards, Par-4. This hole is extremely demanding. There are several fairway bunkers, so it’s recommended to hit it short of the bunkers and have a longer second shot into the green. Very challenging, nerve wracking hole to finish off the tournament.

The defending champion is Scottie Scheffler. Rory won the Masters this year, Aaron Rai won the PGA at Aronimink Golf Club, just outside Philly, and Wyndham Clark, with a putter that was through the roof hot, won at Shinnecock Hills at the U.S. Open.

Weather

Thursday: Partly cloudy, 77, Wind 12 MPH, N. Friday: Partly cloudy, 74, wind 13 MPH, N. Saturday, 71, Partly cloudy, Wind 13 MPH, NNW. Sunday: 70, Partly cloudy, 13 MPH, NNW. Minimal chances of rain as it’s been very dry in Europe recently. Wimbledon didn’t have one rain out day, which is highly unusual. Good conditions for the players, though the course will be very firm and very fast and good shots could still be penalized with shots running through the fairway and into the bunkers or the rough, that is not that high, but thick.

TV

Thursday-Friday, 12:30 A.M.-3 A.M. CT/1:30-4 East, NBC Sports Network/Peacock. 3 A.M.-2:30 P.M. CT/4-3:30 ET, USA Network. My brother in law says he’s been waking up at 3 A.M. lately, so he’ll be able to catch most of it.

Saturday, 4-6 A.M. CT/5-7 A.M .ET, USA. 6 A.M.-2 P.M. CT/7-3 ET, NBC /Peacock

Sunday, 3-6 A.M. CT/4-7 ET, USA. 6 A.M.-1 P.M. CT/7-2 ET, NBC/Peacock.

Scheffler, as always, is the favorite at 6/1. Rory is next at 8/1. Jon Rahm is 16/1. Matthew Fitzpatrick is 21/1. Tommy Fleetwood is 21/1. Xander Schauffele is 22/1. Cam Young is 28/1. Chris Gotterup is 28/1. Collin Morikawa is 31/1. And Ludvig Aberg is 31/1. Those are the leading contenders.

Here are my six possibilities to win the Open along with my ultimate winner.

1. Matthew Fitzpatrick, 21/1. Great game, won twice this season. On his home turf in England.

2. Jon Rahm, 16/1. He’s leading the LIV Tour in compensation for 2026, and he finished second to Aaron Rai at the PGA. I feel like he’ll get an Open soon.

3. Rory. 8/1. Of course.

4. Russell Henley, 54/1. Really accurate off the tee and won at Colonial in Fort Worth. If his putter is hot, he’s got a real strong shot.

5. Tyrrell Hatton, 37/1. At home in England. He’s been playing well on LIV and finished tied for third at the Masters. He’s a hot head, but if he can control his emotions, which is a long shot, he can win.

6. Wyndam Clark, Really good shot with the way he strikes it off the tee and the way he can putt

I’ll put one more guy in there: the winner of the Genesis Scottish Open, Tom Kim.
The 24 year old is back to being stellar. Putting is the clincher for everybody like it always is. Scottie Scheffler is just not putting well enough right now. Even though he is the betting favorite, I don’t see it.

Winner

I’ll take the 45 year old from Johannesburg, South Africa, who has lived in London most f his life. He’s been banging on the door the last two years in Majors and has won a couple of regular tour events, and this is his home turf. He’s got the mental and physical game to knock the door down. I’ll take:

Justin Rose