By Peter Moore
The fourth and final major of the golfing year tees off on Thursday 20th July 2023. The 2023 Open Championship will be held at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.
Defending champion Cameron Smith heads a quality field, all of which will be looking to get their hands on the coveted claret jug.
If Smith is successful with his defence of the title, he will become the first golfer to win the Open in successive years since Padraig Harrington completed this feat back in 2007-08.
Rory McIlroy will start as a very strong favourite after his victory at the weekend in the Scottish Open and is back at the venue of his third major title.
The Irishman is attempting to win a major for the first time in nine years and finally is beginning to start looking back to his best.
American Jordan Spieth, a three-time major champion is a proven winner on the PGA Tour having picked up 13 career victories, which includes winning the Open back in 2017 at Royal Birkdale.
However, Spieth has struggled recently, having missed the cut three times since the beginning of May.
Collin Morikawa is a golfer who always tends to save his best for major championships.
A two-time major champion, including lifting the claret jug at Royal St. George in 2021, the likeable American comes into the event off a second placed finish at the Rocket Mortgage Classic earlier this month.
Although he hasn’t won a PGA Tour event since 2021 and only recorded five top-10 finishes during the 2-22-23 season, he commands respect on a course that should suit his game.
The most consistent golfer of the year, Scottie Scheffler takes his place in the field and is after his second major title in the past two years.
Masters winner Jon Rahm. PGA champion Brooks Koepka and a host of other top golfers will all be attempting to become the 14th different Champion Golfer of the year since 2008.
With the likes of Dustin Johnson, Tony Finau, Patrick Cantlay and Rickie Fowler flying the flag for America along with homegrown golfers Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick and Tyrell Hatton also to be considered, then this promises to be a cracking four days in the North West.