The Open 2024 LIVE: Golf leaderboard and scores as Rory McIlroy suffers nightmare first round

The final major of the year has begun with the running of the 152nd Open Championship . The tournament is being held at Royal Troon in Scotland , eight years after a memorable final-round duel between Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson captured the excitement of the crowds the last time it was held here.

Brian Harman returns as defending champion following a surprisingly dominant six-shot victory at Royal Liverpool last year, with the American now having the chance to become the first player since Padraig Harrington to win back-to-back editions of The Open.

World No 1 and two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler is the pre-tournament favourite. He plays his first competition since his Travelers Championship victory last month and is chasing a seventh win in 11 starts. Rory McIlroy leads the British hopes after his US Open heartbreak and insists he is ‘closer than ever’ to a fifth major title.

The last six men’s majors have all been won by Americans, with PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele and US Open victor Bryson DeChambeau also in the mix.

Follow live coverage of the 152nd Open Championship below: