​One hundred and fifty-six of the world’s best golfers are slated to play in the 154th Open Championship this week at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, marking the conclusion of the 2026 men’s major season.The last time Royal Birkdale hosted The Open was in 2017, when Jordan Spieth won his third and most recent major title. The now 32-year-old Spieth returns to Southport this week with only two victories in the nearly decade since he hoisted the Claret Jug.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”I’m quite frustrated with the results considering I know where my game is at,” Spieth said Monday. “It’s better than it was four or five years ago when I got back to top 10 in the world. It’s without a doubt better than it was then; it’s just not quite showing up in results.”Spieth might not top the list of contenders this week, but his is one of many storylines to follow. Another is the slew of Englishman playing on home soil. They will try to do one of two things come Sunday: win a major on home soil while England wins a World Cup title across the pond, or be the pride and joy of their nation if The Three Lions can’t pull it off.”That would be a great day,” Southport native Tommy Fleetwood said of the prospect.Another Englishman was the last man to earn a spot in the field on Monday: Joe Dean.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDean emerged victorious in the 12-man Last Chance Qualifier, hosted at Royal Birkdale. He will make his third start at The Open following a T-70 in 2017 and T-25 in 2024. He has his fiancée, Emily, caddying for him this week, and next Tuesday, they’re due to get married about two hours away in Worksop.From Spieth to Fleetwood to Dean and every other man in the field, here’s my full ranking:1. Rory McIlroy: McIlroy is in familiar territory at Royal Birkdale, where he finished T-4 in his last appearance in 2017. The reigning back-to-back Masters champion is coming off a T-7 at the Genesis Scottish Open, putting momentum on his side. His lone Open Championship came 12 years ago in 2014.2. Scottie Scheffler: Scheffler is coming off his first missed cut in nearly four years, but it was also the first time the world No. 1 has finished outside the top 25 in 15 starts this season. The cut also meant he got to get some extra practice time in at Royal Birkdale, and although he has never played the course, he is the reigning Open champion.3. Tommy Fleetwood: If there’s a story to root for this week, it’s this one. Fleetwood won his first PGA Tour title when he triumphed at the Tour Championship last August. Now he’s looking for his first major title in his hometown of Southport, England. Even better, if The Three Lions make it to Sunday’s World Cup final, England could have one of its best sporting days in history with a win from both Fleetwood and the soccer team. (Truthfully, there are quite a few Englishmen on this list who could make that happen this week.)4. Matt Fitzpatrick: Fitzpatrick is enjoying his best season on Tour yet, with three w