The year concludes with the final men’s major championship and our ultimate full-field ranking.
This week, the Open Championship makes its return to Royal Portrush for the first time since 2019, when Shane Lowry secured his inaugural and only major title with a dominant performance.
Unlike the traditional Open venues such as St. Andrews or Muirfield, the Dunluce Course at Royal Portrush was designed in a later era. Esteemed architect Harry Colt performed a comprehensive redesign in the early 1930s. Notable alterations have occurred since, including the addition of two new holes in 2015, leading up to the 2019 Open, which was 68 years after the inaugural event there in 1951.
Royal Portrush features highly undulating and tricky greens, rewarding players not only for speed and accuracy but also for clever fairway placements to create optimal angles for approach shots. Success this week will hinge on precision and the ability to handle the terrain. In 2019, Lowry excelled by hitting the most greens, using both his fine approach skills and solid driving ability.
The par-71 course stretches over 7,381 yards, with five of the 11 par-4 holes measuring between 420 and 450 yards. Notably, Lowry used eight 7- or 8-irons during the final round back in 2019.
While historical performance in the Open is relevant, it should be considered with caution due to the unique layout of Portrush and a forecast showing fewer traditional Open conditions. The official weather predictions indicate generally light to moderate southwest to southeast winds, with some rain, especially early on, though not overly challenging weather is expected. Temperatures are anticipated to be in the mid-60s.
Regarding the player rankings, it’s advisable to keep it straightforward; world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler should be viewed as the frontrunner and a top pick in any drafts. Let’s delve deeper into the rankings, starting from No. 156 and descending down the list.
