However, Scheffler has also never had a bad performance with top 25s in each of his four British Open starts, ahead of the Open Championship 2025. His solid, but not exceptional, performances have done little to deter him per sportsbooks,

Backspin: His year was slowed by a rib injury that kept him out for two months. Padraig Harrington (2007-08), Tiger Woods (2005-06) and Tom Watson (1982-83) are the only back-to-back Open champions the last 50 years.

The British Open tees off on Thursday with not just the glory of lifting the Claret Jug on offer for the field at Royal Portrush but places in the Ryder Cup up for grabs for US and European players.A raft of other big US names could do with a big week in Portrush to further their chances including the out-of-sorts Koepka,

The world No. 2 finished runner-up at the Genesis Scottish Open, gaining momentum for next week's British Open in his native homeland.