Updated July 15, 2026, 7:23 p.m. ET
Will you be up early tomorrow? And which players will be? The 2026 Open Championship tees off on Thursday from Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England and the Golfweek team has identified a few players who may be sitting atop the leaderboard on Thursday evening. Here’s who could get off to a hot start this weekend.
Follow along with all the action this week with Golfweek and USA TODAY Sports for a live leaderboard, golfer rankings and money list.
More: Golfweek experts reveal sleeper picks for The OpenMore: Golfweek experts pick players to miss the cut at The OpenThe Open Championship first-round leader picksAdam Schupak: Gary Woodland
I’m guessing the leader comes from the morning wave and takes advantage of lighter winds. Woodland is off at 7:52 a.m. local time. He’s won a U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, a seaside course where the wind is a big defense and he’s a good low ball hitter. Woodland already has a win this season and he’s been one of the feel-good stories of the year.
Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!Cameron Jourdan: Matt Fitzpatrick (+3300)
Fitzpatrick is a popular pick to win this week, and he should be. He has three wins this season, was in contention last week and should feel at home in England. It’s long past due for an Englishman to win the Open, and perhaps a good start from Fitzy could help that happen this week.
Todd Kelly: Rory McIlroy (+2500)
McIlroy will send everyone into a tizzy after going low on Day 1 in the warm weather at Royal Birkdale. Thinking 63 here.
Nicholas Stavas: Matt Fitzpatrick (+3300)
I picked Matt Fitzpatrick to win this week and but I’m not just taking him here because of that. Fitz ranks No. 4 on the PGA Tour in first-round scoring average and the three guys ahead of him aren’t even in the field at the Open this week. I think we could see a second straight wire-to-wire major winner this year.
David Dusek: Matt Fitzpatrick (+3300)
We’re going wire-to-wire, baby!
Jason Lusk: Tommy Fleetwood (+2800)
Of course, it will be this Englishman. He knows the course, knows links golf and knows how to hang around on leaderboards.
Timothy Schmitt: Robert MacIntyre (+3500)
Never know what you’re gonna get from Bobby Mac, but coming out of the gate white-hot wouldn’t be a surprise.
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