Here’s our rundown of the key names who we think have a strong case for winning this year’s Open.
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Jason Day (AUS)
World ranking: 1; Age: 28
Last five Opens: T4-T58-T32-T30-T60
Recent form (last five starts): T3-T8-T27-W-T5
Best result in 2016: Winner (Players Championship, WGC-Dell Match Play, Arnold Palmer Invitational)
Top-10s in 2016: Eight; Starts in 2016: 13
The Australian did not have the best of records in the Open before finishing just one shot outside the play-offs last year. St Andrews really was the starting point of his remarkable run and he will be eager to show the world he can win on links courses too.
Dustin Johnson (USA)World ranking: 2; Age: 32
Last five Opens: T49-T12-T32-T9-T2
Recent form (last five starts): W-W-T5-T3-T12
Best result in 2016: Winner (US Open, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational), third (The Memorial, Shell Houston Open)
Top-10s in 2016: Nine; Starts in 2016: 14
The American is enjoying the form of his life. His long-hitting takes most hazards on the golf course out of play, and he also possesses remarkable touch on and around the green. There really is no reason why he can’t make it three wins in three starts. World No1 will be the bonus if he does.
"I always feel like I'm the best player in the world." @DJohnsonPGA confident going into #TheOpen at @RoyalTroonGC. pic.twitter.com/PpG3nvQHd3
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 13, 2016
World ranking: 3: Age: 22
Last five Opens: T4-T36-T44-DNP-DNP
Recent form (last five starts): T3-T37-T57-Best result in 2016: Winner (Hyundai Tournament Dean & Deluca Invitational)
Top-10s in 2016: Seven; Starts in 2016: Given his phenomenal short game skills, on any golf course. He is also leading the making 4.56 of them per round.
Join me during #TheOpen and take part in my Connected Fitness Challenge on @MapMyFitness pic.twitter.com/BBrEUOcPp7
— Jordan Spieth (@JordanSpieth) July 9, 2016
World ranking: 4; Age: 27
Last five Opens: DNP-W-MC-T60-T3
Recent form (last five starts): 3-MC-T4-W-T12
Best result in 2016: Winner (Dubai Duty Free Irish Open), Third (Open de France, WGC-Cadillac, AD HSBC Championship)
Top-10s in 2016: Nine; Starts in 2016: 14
The Northern Irishman was gutted last year when he was unable to defend his title at St Andrews because of the freak ankle injury. He spoke of getting into some bad habits with his swing during the Open de France, but finished third there and 10 days of practice would have helped further.
Enjoyed meeting the fans at #TheOpen Autograph Zone todayhttps://t.co/76fj5pWzVY
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) July 12, 2016
Rory McIlroy fully focused on the Claret Jug#TheOpen pic.twitter.com/frymhFJ8cA
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 13, 2016
World ranking: 12; Age: 36
Last five Opens: T6-T2-T21-MC-T9
Recent form (last five starts): T5-T5-W-T54-3
Best result in 2016: Winner (AT&T Byron Nelson Classic), Runnerup (The Honda Classic), Third (Open de Espana)
Top-10s in 2016: Six; Starts in 2016: 12
After Johnson won at Oakmont, it would somehow be fitting if Garcia could also shed the unwanted ‘best player not to have won a major’ tag at Troon. Nine of his 20 top-10 major finishes have come in the Open, including second in 2014. Garcia is enjoying some very good form right now.
.@TheSergioGarcia is #GearedForMore @TheOpen.
— adidas Golf (@adidasGolf) July 7, 2016
Shop his Gear: https://t.co/sZhJoRD8Yt pic.twitter.com/FMTo3Fvg2W
World ranking: 242; Age: 46
Best Open finish: Winner (2002, 2012)
Recent form (last five starts): 5-MC-MC-MC-MC
Top-10s in 2016: One; Starts in 2016: 20
The South African may have had four missed cuts before the Quicken Loans National, but at Congressional, he was the best putter in the field. A force on links courses, his game is turning around.
Great draw this week for first couple of rounds @theopen with @MickelsonHat and @WestwoodLee ⛳️
— Ernie Els (@TheBig_Easy) July 12, 2016
World ranking: 124; Age: 33
Best Open finish: T7 (2012)
Recent form (last five starts): T3-T22-MC-3-T22
Top-10s in 2016: Four; Starts in 2016: 17
There are distinct signs that the Belgian Bomber is slowly getting back to the form that earned him a Ryder Cup debut in 2012. Brilliant finish at Scottish Open means the momentum is with him.
Lee Westwood (ENG)World ranking: 39; Age: 43
Best Open finish: Second (2010)
Recent form (last five starts): T11-T32-T8-Top-10s in 2016: Three; Starts in 2016: In contention both at the Masters and the this year, the Englishman is showing he force. At peace with his personal life now, game is slowly getting back at its best.
Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood with different approaches to the 16th green today #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/U8z5GYFcfR
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 13, 2016
World ranking: 13; Age: 25
Best Open finish: T20 (2015)
Recent form (last five starts): T10-52-T39-MC-T8
Top-10s in 2016: Eight; Starts in 2016: 19
Throw the American a challenge and he is always eager to grab it. Played superbly over the weekend at the Scottish Open and then spoke of his delight on qualifying for Olympics. He is enjoying his golf.
Patrick Reed & Rickie Fowler will play at Rio 🇺🇸
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 10, 2016
Jordan Spieth is yet to make a decisionhttps://t.co/aCprwpLdQG pic.twitter.com/E2ydUuomLT
World ranking: 56; Age: 33
Best Open finish: T9 (2013)
Recent form (last five starts): 2-T8-T34-MC-T55
Top-10s in 2016: Four; Starts in 2016: 16
The younger Molinari enjoyed two fantastic weeks at Congressional and then at Open de France. He enjoys a huge advantage over others with his deadly accuracy off the tee, which will help at Troon.