The stage is set for another British Open Championship, and one of the biggest storylines will begin at 15:15 BST on Thursday when Rory McIlroy tees it up at Royal Birkdale. The world number two and six-time major champion has been handed one of the marquee groups of the opening two rounds, playing alongside world number three Matt Fitzpatrick and defending Open champion Xander Schauffele.
Their pairing guarantees plenty of attention from the opening tee shot. McIlroy continues his pursuit of another major title, Fitzpatrick arrives as one of England’s leading contenders, and Schauffele returns looking to defend the Claret Jug after lifting it in 2024. The trio will head back onto the course for their second round at 10:09 BST on Friday.
Scheffler Leads the Morning Wave
The other half of the draw features another blockbuster group led by world number one Scottie Scheffler. The defending champion begins his campaign at 09:58 on Thursday alongside Bryson DeChambeau and England’s Tyrrell Hatton before returning for a 15:04 Friday tee time. With three of golf’s biggest names grouped together, spectators will have no shortage of must-watch action throughout the opening two days.
British Open fans will also have their eyes firmly fixed on Tommy Fleetwood. The Englishman has been paired with Ryder Cup team-mate Jon Rahm and 2017 Open champion Jordan Spieth. It is a notable reunion with Royal Birkdale, where Spieth produced one of the most memorable victories in recent Open history. Fleetwood, still chasing his first major championship, will hope familiar conditions and home support provide the spark for a deep run.
Royal Birkdale Brings Back British Open Memories
Another player with fond memories of Royal Birkdale is Justin Rose. The English veteran first captured the golfing world’s attention as a 17-year-old amateur when he finished fourth at the course in 1998 after famously holing out from the rough on the final hole. Rose begins his championship at 09:36 on Thursday alongside Russell Henley and Viktor Hovland before teeing off at 14:42 on Friday.
Elsewhere in the draw, several high-profile groups add further intrigue to the championship. Justin Thomas is paired with Alex Noren and Jason Day, while Shane Lowry, Aaron Rai, and Brooks Koepka form another strong trio. Cameron Young, Wyndham Clark, and Ludvig Aberg are grouped together, and Collin Morikawa will play alongside JJ Spaun and Nicolai Hojgaard.
Fans will also be watching former champions including Cameron Smith, Henrik Stenson, Francesco Molinari, Stewart Cink, Darren Clarke, and Padraig Harrington as they attempt to turn back the clock. Rising talents such as Tom Kim, Akshay Bhatia, Min Woo Lee, Sahith Theegala, and Joaquin Niemann add another layer of competition to an already deep field.
Strong Field Ready for the Claret Jug
Royal Birkdale has long been regarded as one of the toughest and fairest tests in championship golf, rewarding precision, patience, and strong course management. With the field split between morning and afternoon starts over the first two rounds, weather conditions could become a significant factor as players battle not only each other but also whatever the Southport links delivers.
From McIlroy’s headline-grabbing pairing with Schauffele and Fitzpatrick to Scheffler’s heavyweight showdown with DeChambeau and Hatton, the opening rounds promise compelling competition from the first tee shot. By Friday evening, the battle to make the cut will be complete, and the chase for the Claret Jug will be well underway.
