The China Mail - British Open: Five contenders to watch

Here, AFP Sport takes a look at five of the main contenders to win the 153rd edition of golf's oldest major:

Scottie Scheffler (USA)

World ranking: 1

British Open best: Tied seventh (2024)

-- The world number one is the pre-tournament favourite after rediscovering the form that brought him a staggering nine titles last season. Scheffler has not finished outside the top 10 at any event since the Players Championship in March. He lifted his third major title with victory at the PGA Championship and has won two other PGA Tour events this year.

His record at the British Open is weaker than at the other majors, but he showed signs of getting to grips with links golf last year at Troon, before a disappointing finish saw him end eight shots behind champion Xander Schauffele.

Rory McIlroy (NIR)

World ranking: 2

British Open best: Winner (2014)

-- Hometown hero McIlroy is expected to make a strong challenge for his second British Open title after ending his 11-year wait for a fifth major title by completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April.

McIlroy missed the cut the last time the tournament was held at Portrush in 2019 and will be desperate to make amends. He arrives in strong form following a second-place finish at last week's Scottish Open.

Xander Schauffele (USA)

World ranking: 3

British Open best: Winner (2024)

-- Schauffele backed up his maiden major victory at last year's PGA Championship with a two-shot win at Royal Troon, but has struggled to find his best so far this season.

But he managed just his second top-10 of 2025 in Scotland and will still be expecting to mount a strong title defence. Schauffele pulled away from a host of challengers 12 months ago with a brilliant, bogey-free final round of 65 to take the spoils.

Bryson DeChambeau (USA)

World ranking: 15

British Open best: Tied-eighth (2022)

-- The big-hitting American has struggled previously at the British Open, missing the cut for the third time last year, but has otherwise been one of the most consistent players at the biggest events. He has finished in the top six in five of the last seven majors, winning his second US Open title in 2024.

DeChambeau will be hoping to take advantage of any rain-softened conditions and boost his hopes of qualifying automatically for the US Ryder Cup team despite not gaining any points for LIV Golf events.

Jon Rahm (ESP)

World ranking: 72

British Open best: Tied-second (2023)

-- Rahm has come close on several occasions to becoming the first Spanish winner since Seve Ballesteros won the last of his three titles in 1988. The 30-year-old, a former Masters and US Open champion, is in excellent form.

He has two major top-10 finishes this season and his worst result in 10 LIV Golf events this year was a tie for 11th place in Dallas.

A.Sun--ThChM