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British Open 2019: Power ranking the top ten golfers at Royal Portrush

By Mike Randleman

PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - APRIL 2: The Claret Jug is pictured at Royal Portrush Golf Club during a media event on April 2, 2019 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush for the first time since 1951 this summer between 18-21 of July. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - APRIL 2: The Claret Jug is pictured at Royal Portrush Golf Club during a media event on April 2, 2019 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush for the first time since 1951 this summer between 18-21 of July. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) /
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The British Open and the Claret Jug Royal Portrush 2019
PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – APRIL 2: The Claret Jug is pictured at Royal Portrush Golf Club during a media event on April 2, 2019 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush for the first time since 1951 this summer between 18-21 of July. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) /

The British Open returns to Northern Ireland for the first time in 68 years at Royal Portrush.

Links season continues on. Isn’t it great? We started with gorgeous Lahinch two weeks ago for the Irish Open, ventured to the Renaissance Club for the first time last week at the Scottish Open and now head to Royal Portrush for the 148th British Open.

Royal Portrush has two Harry Colt-designed courses, Dunluce and Valley. The Dunluce links are in play this week.

The course transformed beginning in 2015 by the guide of Martin Ebert. New are five greens, eight tee boxes, 10 bunkers and creation of two holes, 7 and 8, using land from the Valley course.

Ebert also added 130 yards to extend this par-72 to 7,317 yards.

The breathtaking venue has long been clamored for by golf nuts to muscle its way into the Open rota. The infrastructure in the small town of Portrush, population 6,454, makes logistics tricky, but the golf itself should make it worth it.

Early reports from Royal Portrush indicate a stern test could be on the way. There is a lot of out of bounds in play and the rough is thick in spots.

Greens have a way of falling off back to front, so running up shots may not be as easy as it is in most Opens.

Given the daunting views off the tee and a reasonable length course, less-than-driver will be common off the tee. A lot of rain is in the forecast this week, so players with length may have a bit more of an advantage.

It’s one of the more anticipated Opens in recent history, and that’s without mentioning the field.

Rory McIlroy is looking to win in his home country. Brooks Koepka is seeking his first Open win. Tiger is looking to inch closer to Jack Nicklaus’ major championship record. Rickie, Rahm, Bryson and more are fighting for their first major title.

Royal Portrush hosted the Irish Open in 2012, so that’s one bit of course history we can lean on. Along with that, success on other links courses and past Opens should portend well.

More so than any major, if you’re setting a lineup or placing wagers this week, be sure to check out the forecast to see which wave will get the more favorable draw.

Here’s a look at 10 who fit the bill to win 2019’s final major:

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