The 152nd Open: DP World Tour Fantasy Ones to Watch 

Feel closer to the action on the DP World Tour by competing against golf fans from around the world in our official Fantasy game as the Closing Swing continues with the 152nd Open at Royal Troon.

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This week sees the world's best assemble for the final men's Major Championship of the year as Royal Troon plays host for the first time since Henrik Stenson's memorable victory in 2016.

The Major season this year has already seen World Number One Scottie Scheffler win the Masters Tournament for a second time, Xander Schauffele win his first Major of the year at the US PGA Championship, and Bryson DeChambeau claim his second U.S. Open victory. Will we see a clean sweep of American winners at the Majors this year?

Robert MacIntyre will lead home hopes following his victory at last week's Genesis Scottish Open, but eyes will also be on Rory McIlroy, who looks to claim his first Major title in ten years after his runner-up finish to DeChambeau at Pinehurst No. 2 last month.

Meanwhile, Scheffler makes his first appearance since claiming his sixth win of the year at the Travelers Championship last month, World Number Four Ludvig Åberg will compete in his final Major debut, and Brian Harman returns to defend the Claret Jug he claimed 12 months ago at Royal Liverpool.

If you have not done so already, you can sign up to play the official 2024 DP World Tour Fantasy game here and submit your six-man team before round one gets under way on Thursday.

The 2024 season-long winner will win a trip to the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai next year, enjoy a lesson with a DP World Tour professional and a round of golf on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates. For more information on this amazing prize and others, read here.

Fantasy Insight: As it stands, Ludvig Åberg is the favourite among players of our Fantasy Game this week, featuring in 74% of teams. Other popular players include Collin Morikawa (59%) and Bryson Dechambeau (56%).

Rory McIlroy, who this year marks the tenth anniversary of his Open victory, is the fourth most picked player, featuring in 50% of Fantasy teams.

Here, we pick out three players in action this week who are worth considering for your Fantasy team selections.

The Favourite - Rory McIlroy

While there is a definite consensus among the betting markets that Scottie Scheffler is a man to keep eyes on this week, a four-week break in his schedule ahead of The Open and no experience of Royal Troon has us instead highlighting Rory McIlroy.

The Northern Irishman, who celebrates the tenth anniversary of his Open victory this week, has one of, if not the most impressive record in this championship of anyone in the field. He finished tied third at St Andrews in 2022, which he followed with a tie for sixth last year, and has six top tens in the last ten years of this tournament - including victory in 2014 and tie for fifth at Royal Troon in 2016.

Searching for his first Major championship in ten years, the World Number Two has two victories to his name already this season but took a few weeks off after coming up one putt short of realising a fifth Major title at the U.S. Open, won by Bryson DeChambeau. Yet he showed little signs of rust on his return, with a tie for fourth at last week's Genesis Scottish Open that saw him lead the field in strokes gained tee to green.

Speaking afterwards, McIlroy seemed confident, acknowledging that if he can get the speed of the greens right at Royal Troon, he'll be well placed to contend.

"I think just getting a good strategy on what I'm going to do off the tees, and then it's in and around the greens," he said.

"You know, the bunkers at Troon are very penal. Trying to employ a strategy where you can navigate your way around them, and then as I said, my ball-striking is there. So if I can get the putter to cooperate and get the speed of the greens down, more so than hitting my lines, I feel like I'm hitting my lines but more so getting the speed of the greens, I feel like I'll be in a really good spot."

Form Horse - Ludvig Åberg

With an honourable mention to Tommy Fleetwood - who is the only player to have a top ten in three of the last four years at The Open - our form horse this week is Open Championship debutant Ludvig Åberg

Completing the Major set with his first appearance at The Open, the World Number Four has already proved that to be little obstacle after a second-place finish on his Masters debut and a tie for 12th at the U.S. Open - where he led after 36 holes.

While he has only been a professional for just over a year, he already has wins on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, was part of the winning European Ryder Cup team and has excelled this season - with seven top tens in 2024 alone.

Åberg now arrives at Royal Troon following a tie for fourth at the Genesis Scottish Open. He went into the final day with the 54-hole lead and struggled off the tee on his way to a closing 73, but the Swede still arrives to Royal Troon with plenty of confidence and a great perspective.

"I feel like I'm playing good golf," he told media on Monday.

"I still felt like there was a lot of good things last week, and if you put it in a bigger perspective, I'm obviously very happy with a top-5 finish."

"I've learned a lot that I like being in that situation. I think that's the main thing. I try not to shy away from it. I enjoy the pressure. I think it's -- I think that's what you want. To be in that situation is just cool.

"Anytime you are in that situation, you discover things about yourself, whether that's emotions that shows up or anything that shows up really that you can take away. I've been fortunate to have had a few of those experiences over the last couple of months. I think anytime you are there, it just gets easier."

Wild Card - Matthew Southgate

A definite wild card for this week, but Matthew Southgate is one to watch this week having topped the standings at Royal Cinque Ports on six under to progress from Final Qualifying for the fifth time.

Southgate has a great record in The Open, and on links courses in general. In addition to a tie for 12th the last time this Major was staged at Royal Troon, he finished tied sixth at Carnoustie in 2017 and tied for 23rd last year at Royal Liverpool. A strong lover of links golf, Southgate has also finished as the runner-up at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on two occasions - in 2023 and 2019 - as well as having a runner-up finish at Portstewart in 2017 at the Irish Open and a fourth place at The K Club in 2016.

And while the Englishman hasn't had the most consistent of seasons, the combination of past experience in this championship and a tie for fourth at the recent BMW International Open on the DP World Tour show there are good signs in form for the man who is currently in just 0.8% of teams picked by our Fantasy Users.

Looking back - Genesis Scottish Open

Picked by 26.91% of Fantasy users and registering a return of 242 points, Robert MacIntyre delighted home fans with a final-hole birdie to become the first Scottish winner of the Genesis Scottish Open in 25 years.

Of our pre-tournament selections, Rory McIlroy, the Favourite, earned 190 points for the 28% of Fantasy users who selected the New Zealander in their team, while our Form Horse Tommy Fleetwood had a disappointing weekend but still finished tied 34th, earning 145 points for the 40%.

Elsewhere, our Wild Card Jordan Smith missed the cut following his runner-up finish at the BMW International Open..

Season so far - 2024 DP World Tour Fantasy Top 10 player rankings