The Open: Scottie Scheffler can flip narrative of 2026 season on its head with successful defense

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler heads to Royal Birkdale with an opportunity to defend his Open Championship title, which would be a significant milestone in his 2026 season despite a recent winless stretch. Scheffler, regarded as historically dominant in his game, is being viewed as a strong contender to successfully defend the major. A successful defense at The Open would represent a major narrative shift for Scheffler's 2026 campaign.