The PGA Tour this week features the 2026 British Open Championship starting on Thursday at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.
My PGA Tour field ranking for British Open Championship looks at the top 10 players in this 156-player field that brings together the best in the world for the oldest tournament in golf.
The British Open Championship marks the return of the PGA Tour to England for the final major championship of the men’s calendar.
Royal Birkdale is a venue that produces ballstrikers as champions above all else, and you don’t have to be super long to play well at this club (or really most any Open venue). It’s going to be firm and fast, and there should be a lot of imagination required to win.
Just a reminder that I make my expert picks looking at all fantasy leagues and formats. Whether you’re playing in a fantasy golf leagues, betting on golf, or competing in a DFS (DraftKings, FanDuel) event, our picks highlight the top PGA Tour golfers to watch this week from our 2026 British Open Championship rankings.
2026 British Open Championship expert picks and rankings
1. Scottie Scheffler: Scheffler just missed his first cut in four years, and he’s the annoyed defending champion with one last chance to get another major this year.
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2. Rory McIlroy: McIlroy worked on his game over the weekend to line up path and club face, and it seems the Sunday result was good.
3. Tommy Fleetwood: Fleetwood has been playing great, and winning the Open in his hometown could be incredible.
4. Matt Fitzpatrick: Fitz is going to get a lot of love this week coming off a good Scottish Open week, and the host should work for him.
5. Wyndham Clark: Clark has been brilliant the last two months-ish, but he will have to play somewhat controlled, like he did at Shinnecock, to do well.
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6. Viktor Hovland: Can Hovland keep it together for four rounds in a major and get this done? I think he can.
7. Chris Gotterup: Gotterup was great last week in his defense at the Scottish Open, so it can continue another week. He was excellent last year at The Open.
8. Justin Rose: Rose is going to be a sentimental favorite this week at Birkdale, but he’s been playing well of late, so it’s earned.
9. Collin Morikawa: Already an Open winner, Morikawa was 3rd last time out at Travelers and seems to have worked out of a bit of a funk.
10. Tom Kim: Kim just ended a 1,001-day winless drought, and now his ballstriking could pay off again in a big way.