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Open Championship 2026 underway at Royal Birkdale with Scheffler defending
Defending champion
Scottie Scheffler arrived at Royal Birkdale as the reigning Open champion after his 2025 victory, making him the benchmark the field is chasing this week. The tournament is still active, so there is no new winner yet, but his status remains central to the storyline.
Early leaderboard
The leaderboard has been volatile through the opening rounds, with players such as Jackson Suber and Lucas Herbert drawing attention early. That makes the event especially fluid and leaves the result far from settled.
Why it matters
Coverage around the championship is focusing on whether Scheffler can become a rare repeat winner. If he holds on, it would reinforce his current dominance and add another major title to his record.
What happens next
The most important development is simply that the tournament has not finished. The next headline will likely come from either a late-round surge or a collapse among the leaders.
