John Rahm (Spain)
It is currently an indifferent season for John Rahm who has not been as consistent as he would have liked in the big tournaments. Still, as the reigning US Open champion from 2021, he cannot be written off at St Andrews. Having entered 10 tournaments this year he has a second-place finish in the Sentry Tournament of Champions and a third-place finish at the Farmers Insurance Open. These occurred during two of his first three 2022 tournaments. He finished in 27th place at The Masters and at the time of writing is leading after two rounds in the Mexican Open. A world ranking position of number 2, he has also had two top ten finishes this year. Last year John Rahm finished the Open Championship tied in third place.
Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)
A winner of four majors Rory might finally be coming back into some decent form. This was highlighted by an excellent second place finish in The Masters 2022. In his last round at The Masters, he recorded a 64 total and seven under par that reminds us of his capabilities going forward to the Open Championship. With seven events completed this year he also has one third place finish at the Dubai Desert Classic and a top ten finish at The Genesis Invitational currently ranking him as number seven in the world. Is Rory on the way back?
Scottie Scheffler (USA)
Ranked number one in the world Scottie Sheffler has a cool head on his young shoulders at the age of 25. This year he has taken a major step in his career by winning the green jacket of The Masters and he now has an opportunity to become one of the greats. This was his first major and he will be relishing taking part in the 150th Open Championship. Having played eight events so far this year he has won four tournaments including The Masters, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Phoenix Open.
Tiger Woods (USA)
Let’s have a quick mention of Tiger. Having returned to action in The Masters you have to give him credit although he did land his worst score of 13 over par, finishing tied in 47th place. Quite understandable considering he had a horrific car crash last year. That said the three times Open champion has twice won at St Andrews and he is quoted as saying it is his favourite course in the world. It will be great to see him at the Open Championship St Andrews!
Collin Marikawa (USA)
Reasonably consistent during 2022, Colin Marikawa is the current Open Champion winning at Royal St George’s. Last year he finished ahead of Justin Speith by two strokes. Out of nine events played this year he has finished tied second in the Genesis Invitational and had three other top ten finishes.
Zach Johnson (USA)
A mention for Zach Johnson bearing in mind he was the last player to win the Open Championship at St Andrews. He was three shots off the lead going into the final round in 2015 and won in a three-hole play-off against Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman. His current form now sees him ranked 228 in the world and has made the cut five times in 10 tournaments in 2022. Just like Tiger, can the ‘Old Lady’ St Andrews create a spark and bring out the best in their golf.
Cameron Smith (Australia)
Ranked number four in the world, Cameron Smith is in great form this year and played well in The Masters finishing tied third. He has won The Sentry Tournament of Champions and The Players Championship. In seven tournaments played in 2022, he has also had one further top 10 finish. Last year in the Open Championship he finished tied 33rd place. His form suggests he can do better at St Andrews this time round.
Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa)
A golfer that loves the majors having been a runner-up in all four but went one better in 2010 when he won the Open Championship at St Andrews. He recorded the lowest ever Open Championship score over the first 36 holes at St Andrews with a two-day total of 132. Currently ranked at world number 15, his form in 2022 has not been good. However, St Andrews may bring out the best in him and he was a runner-up in the PGA Championship last year.
Patrick Cantlay (USA)
In nine tournament events in 2022, Patrick Cantlay has won the RBC Heritage and WM Phoenix Open. In addition, he has had three top 10 finishes. At The Masters he could only finish tied 39th. His best finish in a major was tied third at the 2019 PGA Championship. He has yet to make a top ten finish at the Open Championship.
Marc Leishman (Australia)
In the Open Championship Leishman has finished tied runner-up in 2015 and tied fourth in 2014. This year in The Masters he finished tied 30th but last year he finished tied in fifth place. His last win came at the Farmers Insurance Open in 2020 and he has only one top ten finish in 2022 at the Sentry Tournament of Champions leaving him ranked at number 46 in the world.
Viktor Hovland (Norway)
The Norwegian is currently ranked sixth in the world and has been consistent in 2022. In ten tournaments he has finished first in the Dubai Desert Classic and tied second in the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a further three top ten finishes. Earlier in the year at The Masters he was tied 27th and last year at the Open Championship he finished tied in 12th place. With his form this year he will be hoping to perform well in the Open.
Justin Thomas (USA)
A former world number one Justin Thomas is currently ranked eighth in the world. In 2017 he won the PGA Championship and this year he finished The Masters tied in eighth place. His best finish in the Open Championship was tied in eleventh in 2019.
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