For the first time since 2014, all eyes are on Hoylake.
The best players in the world have made their way to Royal Liverpool for the 2023 Open Championship, the final men’s major of the year.
Cam Smith, after his come-from-behind victory at the Old Course last season, enters the week as the defending champion. He admitted Monday that he was a bit emotional returning the Claret Jug.
The man he chased down at St. Andrews, Rory McIlroy, won the title of Champion Golfer of the Year nine years ago when the Open last came to this historic venue.
Both players won the last event they played in: Smith at LIV Golf London, and McIlroy at the Genesis Scottish Open.
More: 2023 British Open scoreboard, videos and more.
Golf course
Royal Liverpool | Par 71 | 7,383 yards
A view of the green on the par-4 1st hole for the 2023 Open Championship (plays as the 17th hole for the club routing) at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England. (Photo: David Cannon/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Championship history
#TheOpenChampionship field history since 2014.
-Includes average finish position and Strokes Gained average per round. Players are sorted by SG: Total.
-Also includes finish position on all other links courses going back to 2017. The number under the tournament name is the… pic.twitter.com/l4zFOWfO5H
— Ron Klos (@PGASplits101) July 17, 2023
Betting preview
| Player | Odds | Player | Odds |
| Scottie Scheffler | (+700) | Tommy Fleetwood | (+2800) |
| Rory McIlroy | (+700) | Jordan Spieth | (+3000) |
| Jon Rahm | (+1300) | Dustin Johnson | (+3000) |
| Cam Smith | (+1800) | Shane Lowry | (+3500) |
| Brooks Koepka | (+1800) | Collin Morikawa | (+3500) |
| Xander Schauffele | (+2200) | Justin Rose | (+5000) |
| Viktor Hovland | (+2200) | Tony Finau | (+5500) |
| Patrick Cantlay | (+2200) | Matt Fitzpatrick | (+5500) |
| Tyrrell Hatton | (+2500) | Max Homa | (+6000) |
| Rickie Fowler | (+2500) | Corey Conners | (+6000) |
Odds as of 8:40 a.m. ET Tuesday
Cameron Smith on the seventeenth green on preview day of The Open at the Royal Liverpool, Wirral. Picture date: Sunday, July 16, 2023. (Press Association via AP Images)
Winning the same major championship two years in a row is difficult, but Smith’s game perfectly fits links golf, and he’s coming into the week in good form.
He won the latest LIV Golf event in London, finished solo fourth at the U.S. Open and tied for ninth at the PGA Championship.
“It still doesn’t feel real, even a year down the road. But yeah, hopefully, I can get it back. I want that thing back so bad,” Smith said Monday during his pre-tournament press conference.
Viktor Hovland of Norway looks on from the 8th green during a practice round prior to the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 11, 2023, in United Kingdom. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
After a 2-over final round at The Renaissance, Hovland tied for 25th at last week’s Genesis Scottish Open. On top of his win at the Memorial, the Norwegian’s performance in the biggest events on the calendar has been impressive this season.
After tying for seventh at the Masters, Hovland was one of the runner-ups at the PGA Championship. A month later he finished solo 19th at the U.S. Open.
In two appearances at the Open, Hovland has tied for fourth at St. Andrews and for 12th at Royal St. George’s.
Dustin Johnson hits his tee shot on the fifth hole during a practice round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Liverpool. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The number was too good to pass up.
Johnson tied for sixth at the Old Course last year and for eighth the year before at Royal St. George’s.
As for recent performances, Johnson finished ninth at LIV Golf Andalucia before grabbing fifth in London. Outside of LIV, Johnson tied for 10th last month at Los Angeles Country Club.
At the 2014 Open, Johnson finished T-12.
Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the fourth hole during a practice round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Liverpool. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
McIlroy is returning to the site of his latest major win in fantastic form. The Northern Irishman has finished inside the top 10 in six straight starts, including a win at last week’s Scottish Open.
Are the stars aligning for McIlroy at Hoylake? We’ll have to wait and see.
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