Staff picks for the 2023 British Open at Royal Liverpool

Favorite: Collin Morikawa

He was poised to make a Sunday run at the Memorial when he had to WD. He proved he’s healthy and in good form at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. He has rediscovered his trusty fade, and his short game has never looked better. Major No. 3, here we come.

Sleeper: Talor Gooch

After feeling he was cheated out of a spot in the U.S. Open, Gooch has got a lot to prove. While he concedes he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer, the former Okie State pro who has cleaned up on LIV can flat out golf his ball.

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

Favorite: Rory McIlroy

It almost seems too easy to pick McIlroy. His worst finish in his past six starts is T-9, and he’s coming off a thrilling victory last week in Scotland. Can he become the first since Phil to pull off the European double? It seems as if everything for McIlroy has been building to this moment, the place he won his third major title nine years ago.

Sleeper: Talor Gooch

If you follow LIV Golf, then you’ll know Gooch won three times in five starts this season. He’s the only three-time winner on the circuit, and he’s also playing some of the best golf of any American right now. He could possibly earn a spot on the Ryder Cup team, but first, he’s looking to earn his biggest victory to date.

Cameron Smith on the seventeenth green on preview day of The Open at the Royal Liverpool, Wirral. Picture date: Sunday July 16, 2023. 73020995 (Press Association via AP Images)

Favorite: Cameron Smith

We haven’t seen a successful title defense at the Open since Padraig Harrington went back-to-back in 2007 and 2008 at Carnoustie and Royal Birkdale, but that changes this year.

LIV players have been in contention at all four majors and Smith has finishes of fourth at the U.S. Open and T-9 at the PGA Championship already this year. If the putter is rolling, Smith will raise the Claret Jug again.

Sleeper: Robert MacIntyre

Rory McIlroy had to hit one of the best shots of his career to steal the Genesis Scottish Open last week, but this week MacIntyre gets his revenge. He has two top 10s in his three Open starts, and with all the attention on McIlroy this week, it’s only fitting that MacIntyre steals this one.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tees off on the 16th hole prior to The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on July 18, 2023 in Hoylake, England. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Favorite: Rory McIlroy

Six straight top-10 finishes. A dramatic win in his last start at the Genesis Scottish Open in tough conditions. Returning to the site of his 2014 Open win.

There’s not much else to say. It’s time to get No. 5.

Sleeper: Brian Harman

Harman has had his A-game over the last month. He tied for second at the Travelers Championship, for ninth at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and for 12th at the Genesis Scottish Open. After struggling with this championship for most of his career, Harman tied for 19th in 2021 and for sixth at the Old Course last year.

Xander Schauffele of the United States walks off the 18th tee during the Pro-Am prior to the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 12, 2023 in United Kingdom. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Favorite: Xander Schauffele

Schauffele is 18-for-18 in cuts made this season with nine top-10s and a solo second at the Wells Fargo Championship. In fact, X has 29 consecutive cuts made, the longest active streak on the PGA Tour. His major finishes this year are all top-20s: Masters (T-10), PGA Championship (T-18), U.S. Open (T-10). He closed with a 74 last week at the Genesis Scottish Open but went 66-67 during the second and third rounds. He leads the Tour in approaches from 150-175 yards and here’s another good stat: he’s third on Tour in putts of 25 feet or more. That could be huge on the greens at Royal Liverpool this week.

Sleeper: Tyrrell Hatton

Since missing the cut at the Valero Texas Open the first weekend of April, Hatton has played nine times, made nine cuts, posted seven top-20s and four top-6 finishes, including a tie for sixth at last week’s Genesis Scottish Open, where he shot a 62 in Friday’s second round. He’s fourth in total putting and fifth in par-4 scoring on Tour this season. He missed the cut in the 2021 Open but was tied for sixth in 2019 and tied for 11th a year ago. He has just one PGA Tour win on his resume but this is the week he could claim his first major.