Open Championship 2024 preview: Full schedule and how to watch golf major action live

The 152nd Open Championship takes place at Royal Troon in Scotland from 18-21 July.

Brian Harman was the surprise victor at Hoylake 12 months ago, converting a five-shot midway lead into a six-stroke winning margin for his first major title.

Another American, world number one Scottie Scheffler, goes into the event as the favourite after six triumphs this season including a second major title at the Masters and back-to-back PLAYERS Championships.

Rory McIlroy is again among the contenders as he seeks to end a decade-long major drought. The Northern Irishman endured more heartache at last month’s US Open as three bogeys in the last four holes saw him finish one shot behind Bryson DeChambeau at Pinehurst.

Reigning Olympic golf champion Xander Schauffele is another challenger after breaking his major duck at May’s PGA Championship.

Having missed the cut at Pinehurst, Tiger Woods will play what he says is his last tournament of the year at Troon. The golfing great continues to struggle with injury and is expected to address speculation surrounding his future at a press conference on the Tuesday before the event.

This is the 10th time the Open has come to Troon with Henrik Stenson winning an epic duel with Phil Mickelson in 2016 to become Sweden’s first men’s major winner on its last visit. Americans had won the previous six Troon Opens with Todd Hamilton a surprise victor in 2004.

Troon is very much a course of two halves. The front nine is usually downwind with a number of birdie opportunities, including at the par-5 6th which at 623 yards will be the longest hole in major history. Two holes later is the famous par-3 ‘Postage Stamp’ which could be as short as 99 yards in one round making it one of the shortest in majors.

The back nine is among the most feared in all golf with the 11th, also known as The Railway, simply fiendish. The railway line is in play for both the tee-shot into a sloping fairway and the approach with par always a good score.