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Harman looks to defend title at 152nd Open Championship

Returning to Royal Troon for the first time since 2016, the 152nd Open Championship gets underway July 14-21 in the final major tournament of the season.

Returning to Royal Troon for the first time since 2016, the 152nd Open Championship gets underway July 14-21 in the final major tournament of the season.

Founded in 1878, Royal Troon is a links-style course reminiscent of the iconic Old Course at St. Andrews, complete with pot bunkers, gusting winds, and tall, wispy grass.

American Brian Harman returns to Scotland looking to defend his title and capture his second Claret Jug in a row, while the FedExCup leader and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler sets his sights on his first.

Scheffler, 28, has six victories on tour this season and most recently defeated Tom Kim in a playoff to win the Travelers Championship in June.

The New Jersey native has a pair of major wins to his name, both coming at the Masters (2022, 2024), but has yet to an Open Championship. Scheffler's best showing at The Open came in 2021, when he finished tied for eighth at 7-under.

Coming off a crushing defeat at the U.S. Open at North Carolina's Pinehurst No. 2, Rory McIlroy remains on the hunt for his first major title in a decade.

McIlroy dominated the 2014 season, winning The Open by two strokes (17-under) over Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia at 15-under and the PGA Championship by one stroke (16-under) over Phil Mickelson (15-under), but has not won a major championship since.

The 35-year-old son of Northern Ireland has a pair of wins on tour this season (Wells Fargo Championship, Zurich Classic of New Orleans) and finished second at the U.S. Open to Bryson DeChambeau. McIlroy tied for 22nd place at the Masters and tied for 12th at the PGA Championship.

The 152nd Open will feature four Canadians: Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Moose Jaw's Adam Hadwin, Hamilton, Ont., native Mackenzie Hughes and Winnipegger Nick Taylor.

A Canadian has never won an Open Championship.

Three-time Open Champion (2000, 2005-06), Tiger Woods will tee it up at Royal Troon looking to make the cut and contend for his 16th major title as he chases Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major wins.

Woods played in four PGA TOUR events this season, making the cut at the Masters. He finished 60th at 16-over.
The 48-year-old Californian's last major championship was in 2019 at the Masters, defeating Dustin Johnson by a single stroke

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