The Open 2024 preview: Everything you need to know as the season’s final Major edges closer

The Open Championship 2024: Everything you need to know

The Open Championship tees off at Royal Troon from July 18-21. Today’s Golfer previews golf’s oldest tournament as the 152nd edition gets underway on the Ayrshire links.

Less than 100 days after Scottie Scheffler sank the winning putt at Augusta National at the opening Major of the season, golf’s elite tee off at Royal Troon for the last. It’s an intense and congested Grand Slam season where hitting form at the right time is critical for those with aspirations of claiming one of the sport’s greatest prizes.

Scheffler, Schauffele, and DeChambeau have already etched their names into 2024’s history books with one remaining slot open for the new ‘Champion Golfer of the Year’. Brian Harman plotted and putted his way to that accolade in 2023, cruising to a commanding six-shot victory in the most miserable of conditions at Royal Liverpool.

• Royal Troon weather forecast for The Open.

Those lucky enough to have a ticket for Troon will be hoping for another golfing spectacle akin to last month’s US Open showdown where the best of both tours went head to head down the stretch in one of the most memorable Majors in recent years before Bryson DeChambeau emerged victorious.

Inevitably, the narrative around Rory McIlroy’s readiness to bounce back and end a near-decade wait to win a fifth Major will be one of the week’s biggest stories. McIlroy was only four shots adrift of Ryder Cup teammate Robert MacIntyre at the Scottish Open but will have the added weight in Troon of dealing with World No.1 Scottie Scheffler who returns to action in search of a first Open title.

The stage is now set for the 152nd Open Championship, here’s everything you need to know…

Where is The Open played?

Royal Troon on Scotland’s Ayrshire coast hosts The Open Championship for a tenth time, returning eight years after Henrik Stenson wrestled the Claret Jug from Phil Mickelson in a gripping to-and-fro battle in 2016. Stenson’s maiden Major title ended a run of six consecutive American winners that included the great Arnold Palmer (1962) and Tom Watson.

Troon can be described as a traditional out-and-in seaside links with the opening nine holes playing downwind and a brutal back nine coming back to the clubhouse in the opposite direction. A par 71, Troon will play 7,058 yards with three par 5s, eleven par 4s, and four par 3s including the iconic 123-yard ‘Postage Stamp’ that could play as short as 99 yards. Conversely, at 623 yards, the par 5 6th hole is set to be the longest in Major championship history. Troon played to a stroke index of 73.16 in 2016.

• Read Colin Montgomerie’s Royal Troon course guide.

What format is The Open?

The Open follows a standard 72-hole strokeplay format across four days of competition. A cut after 36 holes is made with the top 70 players and ties going on to play the weekend. If there is a 72-hole tie, a three-hole aggregate playoff is held to determine the winner, followed by sudden death if the lead is still tied.

Who is in the field for The Open?

Richard Mansell, Aaron Rai, and Alex Noren claimed the final three spots at the Genesis Scottish Open, completing the field for Royal Troon. Of those 156 players, 12 amateurs go in search of a career-launching Silver Medal, as achieved by an illustrious group of past winners that includes Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, and Matt Fitzpatrick.

LIV Golf will be represented by a cohort of 16 at Troon with several big names missing out, most through choice after electing not to play Final Qualifying. Sergio Garcia and Graeme McDowell were among the few that did but failed to make it through ‘golf’s longest day’.

And yes…Tiger Woods will be making a 23rd appearance at The Open, going in search of a fourth Claret Jug that on the basis of recent Major performances seems highly unlikely. That said, there’s no doubt the man in Sun Day Red will still draw the biggest crowds when play gets underway.

• Your complete guide to every player at The Open.

Who will win The Open?

Experience counts when it comes to winning an Open Championship. Collin Morikawa bucked the trend in 2021 but nine of the other 10 most recent winners had already recorded a top 20 finish in the Open and eight of them a top 10. Familiarity with contending in the majors is also crucial. Every single one of those last 10 winners had already finished tied second or better in a major, and nine had a top 12 finish in their last four major starts. It has also traditionally been the best major for older golfers with seven of the last 10 champions being 28 or older (six of those in their 30s or 40s).

• Read TG Writer Matt Cooper’s comprehensive analysis of The Open’s most likely contenders.

Selected odds (correct 15 July, 13.00):

Scottie Scheffler 9/2

Rory McIlroy 15/2

Ludvig Aberg 11/1

Xander Schauffele 12/1

Bryson DeChambeau 14/1

Collin Morikawa 16/1

Jon Rahm 22/1

Tommy Fleetwood 25/1

Robert MacIntyre 25/1

Shane Lowry 35/1

Brooks Koepka 35/1

How much will The Open winner receive?

The winner of the 152nd Open Championship is set to receive a $3.1 million cut of the record-breaking $17 million purse announced by the R&A. The prize fund has increased by an additional $500,000 from 2023 and jumps up $3 million from the $14 million purse in 2022.

• What else does The Open winner receive?

Who has won The Open?

Here are the last 10 winners of The Open Championship:

• Every Open Championship fact and stat you’ll ever need.

How to watch The Open?

UK viewers can watch all four rounds live plus comprehensive build-up to The Open Championship on Sky Sports Golf. Read our guide on how to watch The Open for the full broadcast schedule.

All times BST

Thursday 18th July: Sky Sports Main Event | The Open: Day One Live, 06.30

Friday 19th July: Sky Sports Main Event | The Open: Day Two Live, 06.30

Saturday 20th July: Sky Sports Main Event | The Open: Day Three Live, 09.00

Sunday 21st July: Sky Sports Main Event | The Open: Day Four Live, 08.00

US viewers can watch the action unfold on Peacock.

All times EDT

Thursday 18th July: Peacock, 01.30

Friday 19th July: Peacock, 01.30

Saturday 20th July: Peacock, 04.15

Sunday 21st July: Peacock, 03.15

The Open: Tee Times

Round 1:

Round 2:

About the author

Ross Tugwood

Senior Digital Writer

Ross Tugwood is a Senior Digital Writer for todays-golfer.com, specializing in data, analytics, science, and innovation.

Ross is passionate about optimizing sports performance and has a decade of experience working with professional athletes and coaches for British Athletics, the UK Sports Institute, and Team GB.

He is an NCTJ-accredited journalist with post-graduate degrees in Performance Analysis and Sports Journalism, enabling him to critically analyze and review the latest golf equipment and technology to help you make better-informed buying decisions.