The Open Championship: English ers Poised for Historic Win

New Delhi, India Jul 14, 2026 ALN: No-one needs reminding how long it is since England won football's World Cup, but it is notable that a similarly long period has passed since an Englishman triumphed at an Open staged in his home country.

Tony Jacklin lifted the Claret Jug at Royal Lytham in 1969, just three years after Bobby Moore hoisted the Jules Rimet Trophy at Wembley. Since then, Sir Nick Faldo has been the only English winner of The Open, with all three of his victories (1987, 90, and 92) coming in Scotland. This prolonged drought of English winners at The Open, particularly when hosted in England, has become a point of reflection for fans and analysts alike.

Throughout the years, the championship has seen notable victories from players hailing from Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Scottish successes of Sandy Lyle (1985) and Paul Lawrie (1999), as well as Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke in 2011 and Rory McIlroy claiming the crown at Hoylake in 2014, serve as reminders of the competitive landscape in which English players find themselves. However, the absence of an English winner on home soil remains a significant narrative in the history of the .

As the championship unfolds on the parched fairways of Royal Birkdale, there is a palpable sense of anticipation that this year could mark the end of this drought. The course is renowned for its challenging links layout, and it has been a favorite among players for its picturesque views and demanding conditions. This week's championship offers surely one of the best prospects for an Englishman to finally break the streak.

No-one has won more tournaments on the PGA Tour this year than Sheffield's Matt Fitzpatrick, who has shown remarkable consistency and skill. Tommy Fleetwood, a local hero of world-class caliber, is also in the mix. Veteran Justin Rose returns to where it all began for him, and Wolverhampton's Aaron Rai has already demonstrated major winning form this year. Each of these players brings their own unique strengths and experiences to the competition, further heightening the expectations of fans and analysts alike.

Winning an Open at Birkdale 'the ultimate'

Fleetwood agrees that the lack of English success on home soil is an extraordinary anomaly. "I think so because we've had a lot of good players over the years," the world number nine told BBC. "We've had plenty of guys who've been close, but all runs have to come to an end sometime," he added with a smile. This sentiment reflects a growing belief among players and fans that the time for an English victory is nearing.

Fleetwood's form this year has been solid rather than spectacular, but The Open returning to the Southport area for the 11th time has long been circled in his diary. The notion that he could land his first major title around the corner from where he grew up is irresistible. "Playing an Open at Birkdale is something that is always going to be very, very special and sit on a pedestal for anybody from Southport," Fleetwood said. "I'd probably take that and not hit another shot. I'd take that very happily. That's the ultimate, right? That's like Mount Everest, you know, winning an Open at Birkdale."

He reflects on his early experiences, stating, "I'm fully aware of just being here, at an Open at Birkdale when I was an eight-year-old kid. And there are going to be thousands of kids here this week with that dream of just having the opportunity to play in an Open. I can't forget that and I can't forget to enjoy that." This connection to the course and the tournament adds an emotional layer to Fleetwood's pursuit of victory.

In 2017, the last time the event was played on this magnificent links on the Merseyside coast, Fleetwood battled superbly after a nervous start to make an Open cut for the first time. His growth as a player since then has been significant, with experiences in subsequent tournaments shaping his approach and mindset. Two years later, he was runner-up to Shane Lowry at Royal Portrush before finishing joint fourth at St Andrews in 2022 and posting another top 10 after a brilliant start that was loudly cheered by more north-west England locals at Hoylake.

The secret sauce to winning an Open?

According to Data, which measures performance across all tours, only three players are ranked higher than Fleetwood - defending champion Scottie Scheffler, McIlroy, and world number three Fitzpatrick. The competition among these elite players underscores the high stakes of the tournament. The 31-year-old Fleetwood has won three times on the PGA Tour this year and shared third place on the links turf of the Renaissance Club at last week's Scottish Open. "It's another confidence booster to bring into this week," Fitzpatrick told BBC. "It's the final major of the year, so you're going to give it a good push."

Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open winner, has used Birkdale on many occasions to hone links preparations for past Opens. He admits, however, to being unsure over what aspect of his game will be most vital this week. "I've played the course a lot, but I can't put my finger on what necessarily is needed," he said. "I feel like the fairways this year look a little bit tighter than most links courses. And I think for me, that's probably going to play the biggest part into it. I think if you can give yourself opportunities to hit the greens, that's going to be the most important thing."

English world number ones Lee Westwood and Luke Donald have come and gone from Opens without lifting 's most historic trophy. Rose is another to scale the top of the rankings but has not added a home major to his 2013 US Open victory. The 45-year-old comes full circle this week to the scene of his fourth-placed finish as a 17-year-old amateur in 1998, which was capped by a sensational hole out for birdie at the last. This memory serves as a poignant reminder of his potential and the weight of expectation that comes with being a seasoned competitor.

Remarkably, that finish then stood as his best Open performance for two decades before charging through the field to finish runner-up to Francesco Molinari at Carnoustie in 2018. Rose shared runner-up honors again two years ago and continues to challenge for the 's biggest titles. Could this be the year? What a story it would be were he to emerge victorious. The narrative of an Englishman reclaiming the Claret Jug on home soil adds to the excitement surrounding this year's event.

But what does it take to do that? Faldo puts it bluntly. "Guess the bottom line is…I could keep my focus and nerve all four days to finish it off," he messaged when I asked for the secret sauce. This insight emphasizes the mental fortitude required to succeed in such a high-pressure environment. Those were characteristics Rai showed in abundance only last May to become the first Englishman to win the US PGA in more than a century at Aronimink. Rai emulating Jim Barnes in 1919 proves Fleetwood correct; these longstanding records and anomalies can be broken.

Excitingly, among the biggest obstacles to English success are fellow UK players because the likes of McIlroy and Scotland's Robert MacIntyre are also strong contenders. The competitive nature of the tournament is heightened by the presence of additional English players such as Tyrrell Hatton and Alex Fitzpatrick, who are also capable of mounting strong challenges. Their presence adds layers of complexity to the tournament, as each player seeks to outshine the others while also grappling with their own expectations.

So whisper it, while England's semi-final reaching footballers are giving World Cup fans plenty to be excited about, here on Merseyside, the country's ers might do something similar. The intersection of national pride and individual aspirations creates a unique atmosphere at The Open, one that transcends the itself and resonates with fans across the country. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on these English contenders, hoping for a historic win that could reignite a long-standing legacy in the .