Rory McIlroy Aims to End British Open Drought

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 16, 2026

Rory McIlroy and world number one Scottie Scheffler are among the top contenders as the British Open returns to Royal Birkdale this week. With McIlroy seeking his first Claret Jug since 2014 and Scheffler aiming to defend his title, the tournament features strong challenges from English and American players on a historic and demanding links course.

Rory McIlroy is aiming to claim his first British Open title since 2014 as the tournament returns to Royal Birkdale in Southport this week. The world number one, Scottie Scheffler, will also be looking to reclaim the Claret Jug in his bid to defend the championship he won at Royal Portrush last year.

McIlroy secured his fifth major victory by winning the Masters in 2025, completing the career grand slam, and followed this with another Masters win in April. Despite these successes, the Northern Irishman has yet to add another British Open title since his breakthrough victory at Royal Liverpool. This year, McIlroy has strategically limited his schedule on the PGA Tour, focusing mainly on major championships and playing only three non-major tournaments since his April Masters win.

At last week’s Scottish Open, McIlroy finished seventh, a result that could have been stronger were it not for a weather-disrupted third round. He acknowledged areas for improvement ahead of the British Open. “There was some good in there today, but there was some bad as well,” McIlroy said. “I’m going to need to work a little bit over the next couple days to be ready for Thursday. At least I know what I’m doing. It’s a matter of trying to sort of rectify it.”

Scheffler’s season has been inconsistent by his standards. The American world number one’s streak of 78 consecutive made cuts ended at the Scottish Open, where he failed to advance after a disappointing performance at the Renaissance Club. Despite this setback, Scheffler’s previous dominant showing in winning the British Open at Royal Portrush last year suggested his game suited to seaside links golf. He expressed mixed feelings about missing the cut but welcomed the chance for extra rest heading into a major.

English players are also in contention for the title. Matt Fitzpatrick tied for third at the Scottish Open and currently holds the world number three ranking. While Fitzpatrick’s major performances since his 2022 U.S. Open victory have been mixed, he represents a strong candidate to become the first Englishman to win the British Open since 1989. Tommy Fleetwood, competing on his home course, remains in pursuit of his first major title. Last year, Fleetwood secured his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Tour Championship, ending a string of near misses.

Among other contenders, Aaron Rai carries momentum following his unexpected win at the U.S. PGA Championship, while Americans Cameron Young and U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark also aim to make their mark. Jordan Spieth, the last British Open winner at Birkdale in 2017, remains optimistic about his chances to add to his major tally.

Royal Birkdale is the second most frequent host of the British Open after St Andrews, having staged the tournament since 1954. The course has witnessed iconic victories by champions such as Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, and Tom Watson, underscoring the prestige and challenge that await the field this week.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.