Scottie Scheffler Seeks Third Consecutive Major Win at British Open

Scottie Scheffler has one last chance to win a major in 2026, and it comes at the 154th British Open, returning to Royal Birkdale on Thursday along the Lancashire Coast in northwest England.

What's at stake for Scottie Scheffler?

The 30-year-old Texan is looking to make it three years in a row winning a major, a feat achieved by only eight other players in the modern era of majors since 1934. Scheffler became the "Champion of the Year" at Royal Portrush last summer with a command performance on golf's biggest stage.

Why it matters for Scottie Scheffler

Scheffler is not one to look back on all the trophies he has won in the last five years, but the silver claret jug at the British Open has caught his attention. "The perfect size trophy: not too big, not too small and you get to drink out of it," Scheffler said. "It will be very tough to hand it back on Tuesday, but I'll be fighting like heck to get it back on Sunday."

What comes next?

The British Open has 166 years of history behind it, and the pressure is not necessarily any greater for the 153 players who have their last chance at winning a major this year. "But every year you don't is another year you haven't," Justin Thomas said. The Royal & Ancient is expecting upward of 300,000 fans at Royal Birkdale, and Scheffler is ready to face the challenge.

Scheffler's last appearance at Royal Birkdale was a tie for fourth in 2017, but he has been working hard to improve his game. "The one thing that I like about Birkdale is there's usually sets of bunkers on both sides of the fairway. So, you're always having to challenge one set of bunkers to get to where you want your ball to finish," McIlroy said.

English hopes lie with Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick

English hopes lie with Tommy Fleetwood, who grew up a short walk from Birkdale, and Matt Fitzpatrick, whose three wins this year are more than Scheffler's and McIlroy's combined. McIlroy hasn't seriously contended for the British Open since 2022 in St. Andrews, but he loves the course and the challenge off the tee it presents.

The 154th edition of The Open Championship returns to Royal Birkdale on Thursday, and Scheffler is ready to put in the work to make it three years in a row winning a major. "I'll be fighting like heck to get it back on Sunday," Scheffler said.

category: match_report