The narratives are off the charts for Rory McIlory heading into this weekend’s 151th Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. McIlory put on a clinic at the Scottish Open last week and forced his name to the top of the odds sheet. We know that Rory won the 2014 Open Championship at this very course which just adds to the lore of this weekend.  He has finished inside the Top 10 in 6 of his last 7 majors played. Rory will be my one and done selection because I specifically saved him all season for this tournament. I was actually hoping he would not win last week because it is incredibly hard to go back to back against this level of competition. So, here’s hoping he can keep the play rolling for 4 more rounds. Let’s get more detail on this tournament. 

The Open Championship returns to the iconic Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England, for the first time since 2014 but the course will play completely differently than it did that year. One of the biggest changes was the 17th hole being converted to a Par 3 from a Par 4. Also, number 10 switches from a 532 yard Par 5 to a just over 500 yards Par 4. It’s situated on the beautiful Wirral Peninsula, this historic links course provided a stunning backdrop for the event, blending tradition and modern styles seamlessly.

Royal Liverpool, often referred to as Hoylake, has a rich heritage in golf. It has had the honor of hosting The Open Championship 12 times prior to this year's edition. The course's unique character and challenging layout has tested the skills and strategic prowess of the world's top golfers. It stands as a Par 71 and stretches out 7,313 yards. It features undulating fairways, deep pot bunkers, and treacherous rough. It will demand players to be precise from all points on this golf course. 

There is so much history on this course. We’ve seen such legends as Tiger Woods, Bobby Jones, Rory McIlory, Walter Hagen, and Jack Nicklaus hoist the Claret Jug at Royal Liverpool only adding to the allure and prestige of the event.

The world's best golfers will be battling ever-changing weather conditions and tactical challenges posed by this links-style layout. The stunning coastal views and firm fairways have created an awe-inspiring atmosphere which will only enhance the drama and intensity of the competition.

We will see 49 of the Top 50 players in the official world rankings tee it up this weekend in England. Scottie Scheffler attempts to finish Top 5 for the 8th straight start while we see Jon Rahm play for the first time in a month. Patrick Cantlay, Viktor Hovland, Xander Schauffele, Max Homa, Tyrrell Hatton, Tony Finau, Sam Burns, Cameron Young, Tommy Fleetwood and Rickie Fowler all attempt to win their first major championship. 

We will see the weather that we all expect when it comes to the Open Championship being played on the British Isles. There is expected to be rain on and off throughout the mornings on Thursday and Friday. Once the weekend rolls around, we should see more consistent rainfall on Saturday and Sunday. We know that the winds are the main defense on this course and they should be relatively tame for being off a coastline. The temperatures should be in the mid to low 60s throughout the week.

It will be a fantastic weekend of golf and I wish you all the luck in the world.

ONE & DONE PICK OF THE WEEK: RORY MCILORY 

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