5 groups worth watching this week at the Open Championship

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PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND – JULY 16: Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland tees off during a practice round prior to the 148th Open Championship held on the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 16, 2019 in Portrush, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jan Kruger/R&A/R&A via Getty Images) /

Henrik Stenson, Xander Schauffele and Graeme McDowell (9:14 a.m./2:15 p.m.)

The most important putt struck last month at the RBC Canadian Open had nothing to do with the eventual outcome. Graeme McDowell finished 12 shots behind winner and fellow countryman Rory McIlroy, but it was his 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th green that Sunday that got him inside the top-10 and with it a spot in the field at the Open Championship.

It’s not just any Open for McDowell, For the first time in nearly 70 years the tournament returns to Royal Portrush, a course the hometown hero grew up playing. He knew the importance of that putt, celebrating as he had just won the tournament. McDowell will have a true home course advantage this week and admits he doesn’t know what kind of nerves he’ll be feeling come Thursday.

“I’ve got to be honest. I got on the first tee at 11:40 this morning and I got a huge ovation when I walked down to the tee,” McDowell told the BBC on Tuesday. “The place was packed. I was a little nervous, I’ve got to be honest. I’m thinking to myself, what am I going to feel like on Thursday?”

Paired with McDowell for the first two rounds are Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and American Xander Schauffele. Stenson is no stranger to Open Championship success. Three years ago at Royal Troon, he and Phil Mickelson waged a memorable battle that ended with Stenson winning by three shots at 20-under, a tournament record. Stenson has the fifth-best Open scoring average in the past decade and has finished inside the top-10 in three of his last six majors, including a tie for ninth at the U.S. Open last month. He also was fourth at the Scottish Open last week, the traditional preparation for the Open.

Schauffele made the most of just his second Open Championship appearance a year ago. He came into the final round at Carnoustie tied for the lead and finished tied for second. The 25-year-old already has two wins this PGA Tour season and has a game suited to major championships, with five top-10s in just the last three years.

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