The Final PGA major championship of the year is set to kick off on July 18 with the 148th installment of the British Open, aka The Open Championship. Brooks Koepka, with the form he’s showing over the past several PGA tournaments, is expected to come out strong again. But the rest of the field is looking to catch up and make sure that there’s a new British Open champion in 2019. Will Woods add another big notch to his belt this season or will another rise to the occasion? Let’s find out.
It wouldn’t really take much to explain to people why Koepka is the best golfer right now. It’s almost as though that he’s monopolizing golf trophies at this point of his career, as he’s four of the last nine majors, including the 2019 PGA Tournament, the latest in his collection of majors wins. Although Koepka struggled in his last start, barely making the cut and finishing 65th overall at the 3M Open earlier this July, that’s a letdown performance that would barely make a dent in his still-growing reputation as a truly elite player. Koepka will enter The Open with his as arguably the most feared golfer in the field, partly because his caddie is from Portrush, which we are seeing as a key advantage, especially in a location most players in the event are not familiar with.
Speaking of people familiar with the landscape at Port Rush, McIlroy simply can’t be overlooked when discussing the favorites of the 2019 The Open. McIlroy is from Northern Ireland. As much as it would help Koepka to have a caddie who grew up playing at Port Rush, it’s another thing for a player himself like McIlroy to be the one who’s had actual experience and success at that course. McIlroy once set a course record of 61 there back when he was only 16 years old. McIlroy has made the top 10 in four of his last five starts with a win over that stretch at the RBC Canadian Open.
Don’t say you didn’t expect to see Woods’ name here. Some of the momentum from his memorable win at the 2019 Masters may have worn off, but the legendary golfer fared well in his follow-up start to that victory. Woods finished ninth at the Memorial Tournament last June. However, Woods slipped a bit at the tournament he joined after that, finishing 21st at the US Open in Pebble Beach, where most people expected him to fare better. Woods has won the British Open three times in his career, the last one coming in 2006.
Fleetwood has yet to win this 2019, and he’s latest form is not inspiring at all. However, he seems to be on the verge of picking himself up. After a 48th-place finish at the PGA Championship and a 65th-place at the US Open, Fleetwood went 13th at the Travelers Championship last June. Fleetwood is 25th among Tour players in putting (per hole) and 21st in greens hit in regulation.
If it’s a major tournament, expect to be out there keeping in step with the top players and in the mix to win. Since starting to compete at major events, Schauffele has finished inside the top 10 in five of 10 starts. Not only that, but Schauffele has also carved a space in the top three in five of his last major starts. Schauffele, who finished third at the 2019 US Open, went with a T2 last year at the British Open.
It’s been a rough year for Watson, who has zero wins to show this year. Moreover, he’s been cut four times in 16 starts on the season. He was cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic late last June, which came after a disappointing 54th-place finish at the Travelers Championship at the TPC River Highlands also last month. One good thing we can say about Watson is that he’s fifth in the Tour in putting (per hole).
For the first time in the PGA Tour 2019 season, Pepperell failed to make a cut, when he struggled at the PGA Championship last May. Pepperell isn’t the most active player on the Tour, as he’s also been spending time taking his talents to the European Tour. He finished with a T4 at the recently concluded Irish Open.
Writer’s Prediction
Brooks Koepka rules the field and wins his third straight British Open title.
