The fourth major of the year is upon us, and it’s always a wild four days at Royal Troon in Scotland. The weather is often dicey and birdies can be tough to come by at times.

Let’s look at the favorites and the dark horses to watch.

Scottie Scheffler

In 2024, Scheffler has won the Masters, Players Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage, Memorial Tournament and Travelers Championship. He’s earned record-breaking single season amount of approximately $27.7 million​.

At the Open Championship, Scheffler has not been as successful. He tied for eighth in his debut in 2021, finished tied for 21st in 2022 and tied for 23rd in 2023.

Rory McIlroy

In 2024, McIlroy won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic for the fourth time and later won the Zurich Classic and the Wells Fargo Championship. He also finished second at the Valero Texas Open.

At the Open, McIlroy won his first major in 2014 by finshing 17 under par. He has also finished third at St Andrews in 2010, tied for second at Carnoustie in 2018 and finished third again at St Andrews in 2022.

Xander Schauffele

In 2024, Schauffele won his first major at the PGA Championship, finishing with a 21-under 263.

At the Open, Schauffele tied for second at Carnoustie in 2018. He also tied for 15th at St Andrews in 2022 and tied for 17th at Royal Liverpool in 2023.

Collin Morikawa

Morikawa won the Open in his tournament debut in 2021 at Royal St George’s, becoming the first player to win both The Open and the PGA Championship in their first attempts.

Morikawa has struggled since, however. He missed the cut in 2022 at St Andrews and again in 2023 at Royal Liverpool​.

Ludvig Åberg

In 2024, Åberg finished second at the Masters and later became the first non-American to hold the outright 36-hole lead in the U.S. Open since 2014.

This week will be Åberg’s first Open Champinsip.

Bryson DeChambeau

In 2024, DeChambeau won the US Open for the second time.

At the Open Championship, DeChambeau tied for eighth in 2022, tied for 33rd in 2021 and a tied for 51st at Carnoustie in 2018.

Tommy Fleetwood

In 2024, Fleetwood won the Dubai Invitational in January, his first win since November 2022​, and tied for third at the Masters.

At the Open Championship, he was runner-up in 2019, tied for fourth at St Andrews in 2022 and a tied for 10th at Royal Liverpool in 2023.

Jon Rahm

Rahm won the Masters in 2023 and finished second at the PGA Championship this year.

At the Open, Rahm tied for second in 2023, tied for third in 2021, tied for 1th place at Royal Portrush in 2019.

Tyrrell Hatton

In 2024, Hatton notched his first LIV Golf League victory in Nashville.

At the Open, Hatton tied for fifth in 2016 and tied for sixth in 2019. He also finished 11th in 2022 and 20th in 2023.

Viktor Hovland

Hovland has shown strong performances at The Open Championship — 12th in 2021, fourth in 2022 and 13th in 2023.