Tranlate this title Scottie Scheffler defends his number one title in spanish

The 154th Open—scheduled for July 16-19 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, with Francesco Molinari and Francesco Laporta on the course—brings down the curtain on the 2026 Majors. Following Rory McIlroy’s victories in the Masters, Aaron Rai’s victory in the PGA Championship, and Wyndham Clark’s victory in the US Open, there are many contenders for the Claret Jug, which Francesco Molinari lifted to the sky in 2018.

Scottie Scheffler, results

 Among the most anticipated of the 156 participants, Scottie Scheffler steals the show as the defending champion and world No. 1. The 30-year-old from Ridgewood, New Jersey, has one victory this year (The American Express) and eight top-four finishes (2nd at the Masters, 4th at the US Open). A total of 20 titles on the PGA Tour, including four majors and Olympic gold in Paris in 2024. In a stellar field, Rory McIlroy, world number 2, after donning the legendary Green Jacket at Augusta in the first major of 2026, is aiming for success in the fourth and final major of the season. The Northern Irishman, who won The Open in 2014 (six major victories), will take the field alongside Xander Schauffele, winner of the Claret Jug at Royal Troon two years ago, and Matt Fitzpatrick, winner of the 2022 US Open.

This will be the eleventh edition of The Open at Royal Birkdale, the last of which, in 2017, saw Jordan Spieth win. In Southport, not far from Liverpool, the fans will be all for the home favorite: Tommy Fleetwood. The 35-year-old, ranked number 9 in the world, has yet to win a major in his illustrious career and dreams of doing so right where he took his first steps as a golfer. The last Englishman to win an edition of The Open in England was Tony Jacklin in 1969.

Francesco Molinari, 43, from Turin, tees off as a past winner, thanks to his historic 2018 success at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland, where he became the first Italian to win a major. This will be Chicco’s 384th appearance on the European circuit and his 18th appearance at The Open. Among the other majors, Francesco – confirmed as vice-captain of Team Europe at the Ryder Cup for the third consecutive year, along with his brother Edoardo – has played in 12 Masters (5th in 2019), 14 US PGA Championships (2nd in 2017, 6th in 2018, 10th in 2009), and 14 US Opens. Francesco Laporta, 35, from Castellana Grotte (BA), will make his debut in the elite golfing world, having earned his spot with a second-place finish at the Investec South African Open in March. As a pro, he has played 190 matches on the DP World Tour and 152 on the HotelPlanner Tour (where he won three titles and won the Order of Merit in 2019).

Among many internationally renowned champions, 10 amateurs who qualified through the most important amateur tournaments and the Final Qualifying rounds will compete at Royal Birkdale. Their dream is to receive the Silver Medal as the best amateur of the tournament. In 2022, Filippo Celli achieved this honor, becoming the second Italian to hold this title – established in 1949 and previously won by great champions such as Tiger Woods (1996), Justin Rose (1998), Rory McIlroy (2007), and Matthew Fitzpatrick (2013) – thirteen years after Matteo Manassero.