The last major of the season is soon approaching with The Open Championship providing a golden opportunity for the world’s best golfers to etch their names into folklore
Xander Schauffele will enter The Open as the defending champion(Image: R&A via Getty Images)
The Open Championship is set to return next month and will mark the last golf major of the season.
The historic event will be played at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in County Antrim, Northern Ireland for the third time ever and will feature the world’s best players including Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka and many more.
Ahead of the major, much has been made about speculation of Tiger Woods potentially taking on captaincy duty for Team USA at the Ryder Cup in September. While Woods isn’t expected to compete at Royal Portrush, LIV Golf star Jon Rahm is and the Spaniard has discussed his aspirations to claim a third career major.
Among the other key stories that The Mirror US has delved into surrounding the world of golf is Richard Bland turning his back on the U.S Senior Open for LIV as well as Viktor Hovland offering choice words to outgoing PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. Here’s all the latest.
Tiger Woods’ Ryder Cup doubts
Travelers Championship winner Keegan Bradley is set to lead Team USA into the Ryder Cup in September but his recent hot streak has led to questions whether he’ll be capable of handling a potential role of a player-captain.
Given it’s something that hasn’t been done since Arnold Palmer in 1963, Sky Sports Golf analyst Laura Davies believes it could prove too much for the 39-year-old. Speaking on talkSPORT, she said: “Back then, there was a lot less for captains to do. So, I could see a captain playing back in those days, but now with all the huge media coverage and all their commitments, and it’s huge commitments.
Doubt has been cast on Tiger Woods becoming the USA team captain at the Ryder Cup(Image: Getty Images)
“I’ve been a vice captain on the Solheim Cup a few times, and I see how much a captain has to do during the week. Obviously the buildup, that doesn’t matter, but during the week there’s so much going on. I don’t think you can play and be a captain.”
With speculation linking Woods to taking on the role of captain, Davies believes it’s not a situation she thinks the golf icon would want to take on, instead nominating vice-captain Jim Furyk. “I don’t think Tiger would like to be the captain in those circumstances,” she explained.
“The reason you have those vice captains, and you choose them carefully, is because you know that they can step in if need be, at any given time. Jim’s already been the captain once before. I’m assuming his other vice captains are the ones we’ve known before, Freddy Couples, possibly I don’t know who he’s chosen, but I know Jim’s there, and he would be the obvious one for me.”
Jon Rahm’s Open aspirations
Jon Rahm has proved to be a perennial winner in Ireland, having earned victories at the Irish Open in 2017 and 2019. However, The Open has continued to elude him with his best finish at the major coming in 2023 when he finished joint-second behind winner Brian Harman.
After earning a joint-seventh finish at the U.S. Open at Oakmont earlier this month, the Spaniard will compete at LIV Dallas this week hoping to earn more momentum heading into the major.
Jon Rahm admitted his aspirations to win The Open(Image: Getty Images)
“I like Royal Portrush,” said the former Masters champion. “Last Open there I did well. I played a British Am there and had nothing but a good experience. It’s a bit of a unique links because you don’t usually have elevation changes in links golf, and it’s not that it’s massive, but that first hole you have anywhere between a wedge to a seven-iron with a massive upslope and massive crosswinds.
“That’s not something you usually see, the fifth hole is severely downhill, even the seventh going up is not something you usually see. And then 16, 17, 18, with having to go over cliffs and falloffs and elevation changes, it’s not something you usually get to practice in links golf.
“Usually it’s perfectly flat, and there’s other elements to worry about. So that’s what makes Portrush to me a little bit more special. It’s a fantastic golf course where, like every other major, you have to do everything well. I’ve been lucky enough to play in Ireland and Northern Ireland, so I’m hoping that can carry on over into a major championship, as well.”
Defending champion skips major for LIV Golf
Despite the prestige of being able to defend his U.S. Senior Open at the Broadmoor, Richard Bland opted against it, rather committing to playing at LIV Dallas.
Richard Bland has opted against defending his U.S. Senior Open title in favour of competing at LIV Nashville(Image: Ryan Lochhead/PGA of America via Getty Images)
The 52-year-old took to social media to announce his intention to play in LIV’s 14-event schedule as he laid out his goal to finish in the top 24 which would see him claim a spot on Martin Kaymer’s Cleeks GC team.
Bland’s decision could also have huge financial ramifications. The winner’s purse for winning the U.S. Senior Open this week is $720,000 for the eighth year in a row compared to Tyrell Hatton cashing in $4 million for winning at LIV Nashville last year which Dallas has replaced in the league’s 2025 schedule.
Viktor Hovland’s take on PGA-LIV saga
The replacement of the outgoing Monahan was announced last week with Brian Rolapp set to replace the executive at the end of 2026. Monahan has been at the helm of the tour throughout the saga with LIV and his leadership and decision-making was criticised by Hovland prior to the Travelers Championship.
Speaking in an interview with Brendan Porath of the “Shotgun Start” podcast, the Norwegian golfer took umbrage that Monahan will remain in the job for over a year despite announcing his intention to leave the role.
Viktor Hovland had some choice words for Jay Monahan (Image: Getty Images)
“I don’t know how normal it is to announce that you’re leaving and still work for another 18 months,” the 27-year-old said. He then added: “Especially the messaging the last couple of years, certainly in the face of the LIV tour emerging, I think the PGA Tour didn’t really go with the best strategy, y’know?
“I think the Tour certainly had leverage in terms of just historical events, tradition. And I think they should have honed in a little bit more on that. Just playing the money game and the finances — that’s a tough one to compete against the Saudis. So I think they really should just hone in on the tradition.”
Patrick Reed’s uphill battle
Patrick Reed has had the honour of being on three Ryder Cup teams but the American star admits the likelihood of making a fourth looks bleak. Given his status as an LIV player, the opportunity to earn ranking points come far and few between as even winning The Open may not secure him a spot on Bradley’s 12-man squad in September.
“Anytime I get to represent our country, it means a lot to me,” he said on Wednesday. “For me personally, I’m always thinking about trying to make every team. Obviously, being a part of LIV where we don’t get points, it’s an uphill battle, but really, for me, it’s focused on playing some great golf and having a chance.
The American is facing an uphill battle to make the US team for the Ryder Cup in September(Image: David Cannon/Getty Images)
“It’s really going to come down to the Open Championship, having a chance to win there. You have a really good showing and play well there, then you just never know. It is looking like no matter what, it’s going to rely on a pick unless I go ahead and win the Open. Really, the only way I can focus on the Ryder Cup is that one week, go out and give all I have and have a chance to win.”
In the American Ryder Cup points standings, Reed is currently in 33rd with 2821.82 points. Harris English occupies the 10th spot with 7,666.52 points, so even if Reed should capture the Claret Jug, he’ll still require Bradley to choose him with a captain’s pick.
