You know what sounds awesome? Sunny skies, temps in the mid-70s, and winds barely gusting 10-15 mph. Sounds like a perfect day for a round of golf, right? Well, at Royal Birkdale this week for the 154th Open Championship, those picture-perfect conditions are actually kind of a bummer. This isn't what makes the Open the most unique major of the year, not by a long shot.
The Hometown Hero and the Swing Whisperer
Honestly, you just gotta hope the TV forecasters are totally wrong. We need wind, we need rain, we need some pure brutality to make its way north of Liverpool and wreak some havoc! But hey, while we wait for the weather gods to deliver, the picks are rolling in, and these guys are never wrong. Jay Busbee is going with his total heart pick: Tommy Fleetwood. This dude is a local lad, they've got a whole mural painted in his honor right there at Royal Birkdale. Talk about pressure! Can you imagine if Fleetwood wins the Open, and then, just a couple hours later, England wins the World Cup? The entire country wouldn't work for a week, unless you work at a pub, then you'd be working overtime. That's a party we all need to see! (Busbee's "head pick" for the record? Matt Fitzpatrick. Booooring.)
Then you've got Ryan Young, who's not making a fun pick, but a smart one: Rory McIlroy. Look, Scottie Scheffler is off his game, missing a cut for the first time in forever. But McIlroy? He claims he's identified the issue with his swing that was bugging him last week. So why overthink it? McIlroy ends the year with a win in the UK, and then we all get to start talking about a potential Masters three-peat even earlier. You love to see it.
The Money Bet: A Top-10 Machine
Finally, there's Jay Hart, and he's just being real: picking a tournament winner is basically a dart throw. But picking a guy for a top-10 finish? That's a whole lot easier, especially when you're talking about Xander Schauffele. This guy has notched a ridiculous 10 top-10 finishes in his last 15 majors. That includes actually winning The Open two years ago, and grabbing a T7 last year. His "worst" finish in a major this year was a T11 just a few weeks back at Shinnecock. So, will he lift the Claret Jug for a second time on Sunday? Who knows! But it's a super safe bet he'll be right there in the hunt, making things interesting.
So, the stage is set. Will the unusually gentle conditions change everything? Will it be the local legend, the revitalized superstar, or the consistent contender? This weekend is going to be wild, and we can't wait to see who steps up.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.