LIV Golf player preview for The Open at Royal Troon

BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU

Open starts: 6
Best finish: T8 (2022)
Exemption: U.S. Open wins in 2020, 2024
2024 major results: T6 (Masters), 2 (PGA), 1 (U.S. Open)

Notes: Can become first player since Tiger Woods in 2000 to win the U.S. Open and The Open in the same year … Has shot a collective 28 under in first three majors of the year.

Form: No player in golf has performed better in the first three majors. Hasn’t quite matched that form in LIV Golf, although he does have six top-10s, including a solo ninth last week at Andalucia.

Odds: 16/1

Related: DeChambeau says he doesn't think it's possible to overpower Royal Troon

TYRRELL HATTON

Open starts: 11
Best finish: T5 (2016)
Exemption: OWGR, 2023 Race to Dubai rankings
2024 major results: T9 (Masters), T63 (PGA), T26 (U.S. Open)

Notes: Making his 38th major start … One of just four players to shoot par or better in every round of 2016 Open .. Won recent LIV Golf Nashville by six strokes.

Form: In a word – excellent. Followed his Nashville win with a solo third at Andalucia, and is the only LIV Golf player to finish with points (top 24) in every tournament this season.

Odds: 22/1

JON RAHM

Open starts: 7
Best finish: T2 (2023)
Exemption: 2021 U.S. Open win, 2023 Masters win
2024 major results: T45 (Masters), MC (PGA)

Notes: Returning to major action after missing the U.S. Open with a foot infection … Has two top-3 finishes in last three Opens … 63 in last year’s Open remains his lowest score in 114 career major rounds.

Form: Has finished inside the top 10 in each of the nine LIV Golf tournaments he’s finished (he had to withdraw in the second round in Houston). He ranks second in the season-long points standings despite not having a victory.

Odds: 25/1

BROOKS KOEPKA

Open starts: 9
Best finish: T4 (2019)
Exemption: 2019, 2023 PGA Championship wins
2024 major results: T45 (Masters), T26 (PGA), T26 (U.S. Open)

Notes: Has won five times in just 41 major starts … Wasn’t in the field at Troon in 2016, only Open he’s missed in last 11 years … Has a LIV Golf-best four individual wins.

Form: Some rollercoaster results this season, topped by his victory at Singapore but has also suffered two finishes outside the top 40, including a recent T42 in Nashville. Meanwhile, he’s been a surprising non-factor in the majors in 2024.

Odds: 40/1

CAMERON SMITH

Open starts: 6
Best finish: 1st (2022)
Exemption: 2022 Open champion
2024 major results: T6 (Masters), T63 (PGA), T32 (U.S. Open)

Notes: Rallied from 4-shot deficit in final round, shooting a 64 to win his first major at St Andrews in 2022… Has made the cut in this year’s first three majors … Has 3 LIV Golf individual wins.

Form: Still looking for his first win of the season but has quietly put together a solid year with five top 10s, including a pair of runner-ups. Comes off a T6 at Andalucia.

Odds: 45/1

JOAQUIN NIEMANN

Open starts: 4
Best finish: T53 (2022)
Exemption: Won 2023 Australian Open, part of The Open Qualifying Series
2024 major results: T22 (Masters), T39 (PGA)

Notes: Making his 22nd career major start, with a best finish of T16 at the 2023 Masters.

Form: Tops the season-long points list and has a substantial enough lead that he will remain at No. 1 no matter the result at next week’s LIV Golf UK event. Had two early wins this season and added six other top-10s.

Odds: 55/1

LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN

Open starts: 16
Best finish: 1st (2010)
Exemption: 2010 Open champion
2024 major results: none

Notes: Became 4th player from South Africa to win the Open … Missed cut in his two Open starts at Royal Troon … Has finished runner-up in each of the four majors during his career … Making his 58th career major start

Form: Outside of Rahm, no LIV golfer has played better without a victory. Twice a runner-up this season, he comes off a T4 at Andalucia and ranks fifth in the season-long points race.

Odds: 60/1

DEAN BURMESTER

Open starts: 2
Best finish: T11 (2022)
Exemption: Won 2023 Joburg Open, part of The Open Qualifying Series
2024 major results: T12 (PGA), 69 (U.S. Open)

Notes: Playing in his 10th career major … Won LIV Golf Miami in a playoff in April for his first LIV Golf individual title.

Form: Ranks sixth overall in points this season, fueled by his win on the Blue Monster and a couple of T3s. Hasn’t finished inside the top 10 in his last four LIV starts.

Odds: 125/1

ABRAHAM ANCER

Open starts: 5
Best finish: T11 (2022)
Exemption: Final qualifying at Burnham and Berrow (via playoff)
2024 major results: none

Notes: Playing his first major of 2024 and 19th of his career … Won LIV Golf Hong Kong in a playoff in March for his first LIV Golf individual title.

Form: Has been solid throughout this season, stringing together four top-10s at one point. Comes off a 26th-place finish at Andalucia, his first non-points result since the season opener.

Odds: 150/1

DUSTIN JOHNSON

Open starts: 14
Best finish: T2 (2011)
Exemption: 2020 Masters win
2024 major results: MC (Masters), T43 (PGA), MC (U.S. Open)

Notes: Has five top-10s in the Open, including T9 in 2016 at Troon … Making his 26th consecutive major start and 61st overall … Has three LIV Golf individual wins, including Las Vegas in 2024.

Form: He started the year with a T5 and a victory, but since then, it’s been an perplexing mix of mostly indifferent results, including a T51 in Nashville. Same for his major finishes this year.

Odds: 150/1

ADRIAN MERONK

Open starts: 2
Best finish: T23 (2023)
Exemption: Top 30 in 2023 Race to Dubai
2024 major results: MC (Masters), MC (PGA), MC (U.S. Open)

Notes: Best result in nine previous major starts is his T23 in last year’s Open … Playing in his eighth consecutive major … Named 2023 DP World Tour Player of the Year.

Form: His season was highlighted by a recent runner-up finish in Houston, but he wasn’t able to carry that momentum into the last two tournaments. The majors have been a disappointment with three missed cuts.

Odds: 200/1

PHIL MICKELSON

Open starts: 29
Best finish: 1st (2013)
Exemption: 2013 Open champion
2024 major results: T43 (Masters), MC (PGA), MC (U.S. Open)

Notes: His first-round 63 in 2016 Open is his lowest score in 450 career major rounds … Considers his 2013 Open win as the golf achievement he’s most proud of … Making his 125th major start.

Form: Tied for sixth early in the season in Jeddah but otherwise has made little noise, ranking 44th in points.

Odds: 250/1

Related: Stenson, Mickelson look back at epic duel at 2016 Open

HENRIK STENSON

Open starts: 18
Best finish: 1st (2016)
Exemption: 2016 Open champion
2024 major results: none

Notes: Remains the only male Scandinavian golfer to win a major … Final-round 63 in 2016 remains his lowest score in 219 career major rounds … Making his 66th career major start.

Form: Has one top 10 this season and hasn’t made much noise beyond that.

Odds: 250/1

JOHN CATLIN

Open starts: 2
Best finish: MC (2021, 2022)
Exemption: Top 5 International Federation ranking
2024 major results: none

Notes: Playing in his 10th career major … Currently sits in first place on the International Series.

Form: Has been impressive as a reserve, player replacing Charles Howell III in the Crushers GC lineup for the last three LIV Golf tournaments. As the International Series points leader, he’s on track to earn a spot as a full-time LIV Golf member in 2025.

Odds: 300/1

SAM HORSFIELD

Open starts: 2
Best finish: T67 (2021)
Exemption: Final Qualifying
2024 major results: none

Notes: Playing in his first major since 2022 Open and making his ninth career major start … Finished solo second at recent LIV Golf Nashville, his best result in any LIV Golf event.

Form: Found his game in Nashville and followed that by qualifying for the Open, so he’s feeling pretty confident right now. Has finished inside the points in his last three LIV Golf starts.

Odds: 300/1

DAVID PUIG

Open starts: 0
Best finish: N/A
Exemption: Top 5 International Federation ranking
2024 major results: MC (Masters), 55 (U.S. Open)

Notes: Making his fourth career major start and first at the Open … Won Malaysian Open in February … Second-youngest player (age 22) in 2024 LIV Golf League.

Form: Outside of a T3 in Houston, his LIV Golf results haven’t been great. But he’s played well in his non-LIV results – two wins and four other top 10s during a seven-start stretch. Hasn’t made any noise in his two major starts this year.

Odds: 300/1

ANDY OGLETREE

Open starts: 0
Best finish: N/A
Exemption: Top 5 International Federation ranking
2024 major results: MC (PGA)

Notes: Making his fourth major start (third since turning pro in 2020) … Three-time International Series winner on Asian Tour and 2023 points leader.

Form: Produced a T3 at LIV Golf Adelaide, but that’s his only points finish of the season.

Odds: 500/1