The 154th Open Championship is officially underway at Royal Birkdale, featuring a strong contingent of Irish talent. Among the notable participants is the 2019 champion Shane Lowry, who is scheduled to begin his opening round just after 2:50 p.m. local time.
According to tournament schedules, Lowry is joined in the field by Rory McIlroy, who has a 3:15 p.m. start, and Padraig Harrington, who tees off at 1:20 p.m. The field also includes amateur champion Stuart Grehan, who began his campaign shortly after noon, and Tom McKibbin, who was among the early starters.
Beyond the professional standings, Lowry has emerged as a favorite among fans participating in the official Open Fantasy game. Data from The Open indicates that the 2019 champion has been selected for nearly one-third of all fantasy teams, with over 2,500 players backing him to perform well on the links-style course. The tournament continues to draw significant engagement through its interactive fantasy platform, which offers fans a chance to compete for prizes, including a trip to the 155th Open at St Andrews.