The Open 2023 Preview, Picks, Analysis, TV Guide
By: Derek Clements | Mon 17 Jul 2023
RORY McILROY will NEVER have a better chance to end his nine-year major drought than at this week’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
This was the course where he won the Claret Jug in 2014 so he will return with plenty of positive memories. And with the knowledge that his game is in a really good place after his runner-up finish to Wyndham Clark at the recent US Open and victory at the Scottish Open.
It is McIlroy’s last chance of a major in 2023 and I am confident that he will grab it with both hands - unless the wind blows. He will also know that after all the recent dry weather he will be able to largely leave his driver in the bag.
When Tiger Woods won here in 2006 he repeatedly reached for an iron from the tee, knowing that all he had to do was keep in the ball in play to have his best chance of winning. McIlroy should do the same thing. The rough at Hoylake will be punishing so he needs to stay away from it.
Twelve months ago McIlroy went into the final round at St Andrews with a golden opportunity on a course that is made for his game. He played well enough but couldn’t buy a putt as Cameron Smith produced a stellar 18 holes to win the title before defecting to LIV Golf.
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
Make no mistake however - if McIlroy is to finally win his fifth major he is going to produce his very best golf. And there are a host of golfers who will be determined to stop him.
Spain’s Jon Rahm started the year like a train, winning The Masters. But he has lost momentum of late and may find Royal Liverpool to be a frustrating test.
World number one Scottie Scheffler is a different kettle of fish. There are those who question his technique but his results over the past couple of years speak for themselves.
Since February 2022 the American has won six times, including last year’s Masters. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. He has six runner-up finishes to his name, eight third places and 30 top-fives.
He hasn’t missed a single cut during the 2022-23 season with just one finish outside the top 15. He has won twice and since finishing 11th at the RBC Heritage has recorded a tied fifth at the Byron Nelson, tied second at the US PGA, tied third at the Charles Schwab, third at The Memorial, third at the US Open and tied fourth at the Travelers.
It is an incredible level of consistency and nobody else in the game right now can come close. Be sure of one thing - he will be there or thereabouts. Scheffler has no weaknesses. He hits the ball a long way, is a terrific iron player, a wonderful putter and has a fabulous temperament.
Tommy Fleetwood is a links specialist, having learnt the game at Hillside. He has a decent record in The Open, finishing second to Shane Lowry in 2019 and tied fourth at St Andrews last year.
He returned to the winners’ circle when he claimed the Nedbank Challenge last year and his form throughout 2023 has been highly encouraging. He finished in a tie for fifth at the US Open, tied fourth at the CJ Cup, tied third at the Valspar and tied fifth at the Wells Fargo. And he came within a whisker of finally landing his first PGA Tour when he lost in a playoff at the Canadian Open.
Fleetwood loves links golf and will hope that the wind blows.
And Brooks Koepka has also put himself back in the equation this season. After finally putting his injury woes behind him, Koepka is fit and playing some sensational golf. He won the US PGA Championship in May and has continued to produce sparkling performances on the LIV Golf tour.
This is a golfer who now has five majors to his name and he will seriously fancy his chances at Hoylake.
Tournament Winners
It was won in 2015 by Zach Johnson, in 2016 by Henrik Stenson, in 2017 by Jordan Spieth, in 2018 by Francesco Molinari, in 2019 by Shane Lowry, in 2021 by Collin Morikawa and in 2022 by Cameron Smith. There was no tournament in 2020 because of the pandemic.
The Course
Royal Liverpool, also known as Hoylake, is a traditional links course. It is a par 72 measuring 7,218 yards. There are plenty of bunkers which need to be avoided and the fairways wend their way between dunes.
Form Guide
Rory McIlroy (7/1) is a former winner here. He was runner-up at the recent US Open, won the Scottish Open and will arrive here with plenty of positive memories. He is the joint-championship favourite on Betway. And it is impossible to ignore Scottie Scheffler (7/1), who seems to contend every time he tees it up.
To Win:
Rory McIlroy. A huge week for the Northern Irishman (7/1)
Each Way:
Scottie Scheffler. Has no weaknesses (7/1)
Each Way:
Brooks Koepka. Looking for his sixth major (19/1)
Five to Follow:
Rory McIlroy. Time to end that drought (7/1)
Scottie Scheffler. Will fancy his chances here (7/1)
Brooks Koepka. Brilliant ball striker (19/1)
Tommy Fleetwood. Adores links golf (21/1)
Tyrrell Hatton. Patience is the key (21/1)
Five Outsiders to Watch:
Matthew Jordan. Knows this course better than anybody in the field (151/1)
Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Hugely impressive South African (251/1)
Thomas Detry. Playing consistently well on the PGA Tour (201/1)
Thriston Lawrence. Glorious short game (251/1)
Robert MacIntyre. Links specialist (51/1)
How to Watch The 152st Open
- Monday, July 17th
The Open, Live at the Range, 10am, 2pm
- Tuesday, July 18th
The Open, Live at the Range, 10am, 2pm
- Wednesday, July 19th
The Open, Live at the Range, 10am, 2pm
- Thursday, July 20th
First round, Sky Sports Golf, 6.30am, highlights, BBC2, 8pm
Radio 5 Live, reports from 1pm; talkSport, regular live updates
- Friday, July 21st
Second round, Sky Sports Golf, 6.30am, highlights, BBC2, 8pm
Radio 5 Live, reports from 1pm; talkSport, regular live updates
- Saturday, July 22nd
Third round, Sky Sports Golf, midday; highlights, BBC2, 8pm
Radio 5 Live, reports from 1pm; talkSport, regular live updates
- Sunday, July 23
Final round, Sky Sports Golf, 11am; highlights, BBC2, 8pm
Radio 5 Live, reports from 1pm; talkSport, regular live updates
This 151st Open Preview Article Was Written in Collaboration With Betway
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Tags: The Open Championship The Open Royal Liverpool daily picks
