With three majors already contested and just one remaining, the men`s professional golf season is building towards its final major championship: The Open Championship. This prestigious event is scheduled to take place from July 17-20 at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Portrush, Northern Ireland.
Leading up to The Open, players will compete in the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois, and the Genesis Scottish Open in North Berwick, Scotland. Many of the world`s elite golfers are making the trip to Scotland a week early to acclimatize to the unique challenges of links golf.
Key questions emerge as the final major approaches: Can world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler secure the third leg of his career grand slam? Will reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy overcome his past difficulties at Royal Portrush, where he previously missed the cut? Can the defending Open Championship winner, Xander Schauffele, rediscover his peak performance?
With the FedEx Cup playoffs on the horizon and the Ryder Cup following shortly after, there are limited opportunities left for players to impress the U.S. captain Keegan Bradley and European captain Luke Donald.
Here is an updated ranking of the top 25 players currently competing on the PGA Tour:
1. Scottie Scheffler
Scheffler took a break for a couple of weeks before traveling across the Atlantic for the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open. Remarkably, he has not finished outside the top 25 in any of his 14 starts this season. His recent form is exceptional, with nine consecutive top-eight finishes, including victories at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, the PGA Championship, and the Memorial Tournament. In his last appearance at the Renaissance Club in 2023, he finished tied for third, five strokes behind McIlroy.
2. Rory McIlroy
Perhaps a few weeks spent in the United Kingdom will help McIlroy recover from his post-Masters slump. He planned to spend time with his family at his new home in London before tackling this important two-week stretch of golf. He won the 2023 Genesis Scottish Open with a dramatic one-stroke victory over Robert MacIntyre. In last season`s event, he tied for fourth, four strokes behind MacIntyre.
3. Russell Henley
The 36-year-old is currently playing some of the best golf of his career, achieving eight top-10 finishes in 14 tour starts. He claimed his fifth PGA Tour title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March and was a strong contender at the Travelers Championship, where he nearly won again. Henley had his best major finish at last year’s Open Championship at Royal Troon, finishing solo fifth.
4. J.J. Spaun
The surprising winner of the U.S. Open followed his major triumph with a tie for 14th at the Travelers Championship. Earlier this season, he was a two-time runner-up at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches and The Players Championship. It would not be surprising to see him clinch another victory soon. Spaun has climbed to third in the U.S. Ryder Cup team points standings, trailing only Scheffler and Schauffele, making him seem like a near certainty for the team.
5. Sepp Straka
Straka, born in Austria, has already secured two PGA Tour wins this season at the American Express and the Truist Championship. Despite missing the cut in the first three majors, his overall play has been spectacular. He currently ranks sixth in the European Ryder Cup team standings, but is widely expected to be one of Captain Donald`s six picks even if he doesn`t automatically qualify. A strong performance at The Open would cap off his major season, especially after tying for second at Royal Liverpool in 2023.
6. Justin Thomas
JT`s results in the first three majors – a tie for 36th at the Masters and missed cuts at the PGA Championship and U.S. Open – are a notable blip in what has otherwise been a solid bounce-back season. He ended a nearly three-year winless streak by winning the RBC Heritage in a playoff and also finished runner-up at the American Express, Valspar Championship, and Truist Championship. His inclusion on the U.S. Ryder Cup team is unlikely to be questioned.
7. Keegan Bradley
`Captain America` previously stated he would only play in the upcoming Ryder Cup if he automatically qualified for the U.S. squad. He is currently ninth in points after winning the Travelers Championship, adding to his tie for eighth at the PGA Championship and seventh at the Memorial. Now ranked seventh in the Official World Golf Ranking, Bradley is clearly demonstrating form worthy of a spot among the top American golfers. Depending on results over the next seven weeks, Bradley might find himself compelled to pick himself.
8. Ben Griffin
Griffin`s hot streak has escalated into a red-hot summer. Now ranked 17th in the world, he teamed up with Andrew Novak to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event and then secured his first individual stroke-play title at the Charles Schwab Challenge. He has two top-10 major finishes this year, tying for eighth at the PGA Championship and 10th at the U.S. Open. Griffin also finished runner-up at the Memorial against a strong field. He is eighth in Ryder Cup points and would likely need a significant downturn in form to miss the roster.
9. Collin Morikawa
The past couple of months proved challenging for the two-time major winner, but he showed improved form with a tie for eighth at the Rocket Classic. While Morikawa hasn`t won since the Zozo Championship in October 2023, he has been a runner-up twice this season and recorded 10 top-25 finishes in 14 starts. He is currently seeking a caddie for the second time this season after parting ways with Joe Greiner before the Rocket Classic. He has not announced who will be on his bag for The Open.
10. Xander Schauffele
The reigning Open Championship winner can be excused for a less impactful summer after missing approximately two months due to a rib injury. He has performed reasonably well in the majors, tying for eighth at the Masters, finishing 28th at the PGA Championship, and 12th at the U.S. Open. He has one top-10 finish and six top-25s in 11 starts this season. Schauffele appears close to finding his best form and remains second in Ryder Cup points, having won two majors in 2024.
11. Tommy Fleetwood
Another frustrating near-miss at the Travelers Championship means the English golfer is still chasing his first PGA Tour victory. However, he has consistently played like one of the world`s best this year, with five top-10s and 11 top-25s in 14 starts. He ranks second in the European Ryder Cup points standings, only behind McIlroy. Statistics show he is third in strokes gained: total (1.414) and ninth in approach (.622), highlighting his strong all-around game.
12. Harris English
English has had a very successful season, particularly in the tour`s bigger events. He claimed his fifth PGA Tour win at the Farmers Insurance Open and finished tied for second at the PGA Championship. He also secured top-25 finishes at the Genesis Invitational, Truist Championship, Memorial Tournament, and Travelers Championship. Ranked 10th in Ryder Cup points, his excellent putting skills position him well for consideration for the U.S. team.
13. Viktor Hovland
Hovland continues to work on refining his swing, but he did win the Valspar Championship earlier in the season and finished solo third at the U.S. Open. He withdrew from the final round of the Travelers Championship due to a neck injury, despite having shot a 7-under 63 the previous day. Hovland is included in the field for the Scottish Open.
14. Maverick McNealy
The 29-year-old former Stanford standout might need a strong finish to the FedEx Cup season to secure his first Ryder Cup team spot. After earning his maiden PGA Tour victory at the RSM Classic in November, he was runner-up at the Genesis Invitational and achieved top-five finishes at the Valero Texas Open, RBC Heritage, and the Memorial. However, he finished outside the top 30 in all three of the season`s majors so far.
15. Ludvig Åberg
It has been a surprisingly inconsistent FedEx Cup season for the talented Swedish golfer. Following his second tour win at the Genesis Invitational and a seventh-place finish at the Masters, Åberg has not recorded a top-10 finish in his subsequent seven starts. While he remains effective off the tee, his short game statistics are a concern, ranking 147th in strokes gained: around the green (-.255) and 125th in putting (-.141).
16. Shane Lowry
The Irish golfer likely welcomed a break after missing the cut at the U.S. Open and tying for 45th at the Travelers Championship. His iron play has been exceptional this season, ranking second in strokes gained: approach (.932). However, his performance on the greens has struggled, placing him 122nd in strokes gained: putting (-.138). He is returning to familiar and favorable territory, including Royal Portrush Golf Club, where he famously lifted the Claret Jug in 2019.
17. Andrew Novak
After a blistering run that included tying for third at the Texas Open, losing in a playoff to Thomas at the RBC Heritage, and winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with Griffin, Novak has cooled slightly over the past couple of months. However, he still managed a tie for 17th at the Truist Championship and 11th at the Charles Schwab Challenge, indicating his game is still strong.
18. Corey Conners
Conners was in excellent form until a wrist injury forced his withdrawal before the final round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. He has not played in a PGA Tour event since that time. Prior to the injury, Conners had accumulated five top-10s and 10 top-25s across 16 starts this season.
19. Brian Harman
Harman, the defending 2023 Open Championship winner, could benefit from another strong stretch of play to climb into the top six of the U.S. Ryder Cup points standings or at least make Captain Bradley`s captain`s picks decision more difficult. He is currently 12th in points after winning the Valero Texas Open and tying for third at the RBC Heritage. Harman`s solo eighth finish at the Travelers Championship suggests his form might be returning.
20. Robert MacIntyre
MacIntyre`s game has been improving recently, marked by a solo second finish at the U.S. Open and a tie for 17th at the Travelers Championship. Now, the Scottish golfer gets to return home for the Scottish Open, where he is both the defending champion and was the runner-up in 2023. He also tied for sixth in the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush as a 22-year-old, showing his comfort on this course.
21. Sam Burns
Burns` late struggles in tough final-round conditions at the U.S. Open somewhat overshadowed his impressive performance at Oakmont overall. His game had been trending positively for several weeks prior. He lost in a playoff to Ryan Fox at the RBC Canadian Open and tied for seventh at the U.S. Open. He has four top-10s and 10 top-25s in 18 starts this season.
22. Patrick Cantlay
It seems highly probable that Cantlay will be a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, but he needs to produce some notable results to strengthen his case for inclusion. His tie for fourth at the Truist Championship is his only top-10 finish since mid-February. His ball-striking statistics are strong, suggesting his results should be better: he ranks 10th in approach (.598), eighth in tee to green (1.028), and 12th in total strokes gained (1.122).
23. Ryan Fox
After securing his first PGA Tour victory in a playoff at the OneFlight Myrtle Beach Classic, Fox didn`t have to wait long for his second. He won another playoff at the RBC Canadian Open, achieving two victories in four starts. This strong run has seen him climb to 29th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
24. Hideki Matsuyama
When the former Masters champion won the season-opening Sentry in Hawai`i in January, it appeared he was poised for a strong season. However, surprisingly, that remains his only top-10 finish in 17 starts this year. He tied for 21st at Augusta National, missed the cut at the PGA Championship, and tied for 42nd at the U.S. Open. Matsuyama`s primary challenges have been with his driver, ranking 128th in strokes gained: off the tee (-.166) and 127th in driving accuracy (hitting only 56.2% of fairways).
25. Daniel Berger
Berger looked like a strong candidate for the Ryder Cup team earlier in the season, but he needs to regain form after a recent slow stretch. He missed two cuts and tied for 46th at the U.S. Open and 42nd at the Travelers Championship. He is currently ranked 18th in the Ryder Cup points standings.
Players just missing the top 25 include: Sungjae Im, Nick Taylor, Jason Day, Thomas Detry, Aldrich Potgieter, Cameron Young, Michael Kim, Jacob Bridgeman.
