Credit Northern Ireland. Links golf here is not like links golf in Scotland and England. It’s lusher and denser, full of emerald and gold. The dunes are bigger and the grasses longer. The ball bounces as much up and down as forward, and the greens, at least at Portrush, bob and weave in a way that would make most British courses seasick.

Open Championship heads to Royal Portrush - We focus on some of the stars who are likely to be contending for the Claret Jug.

The Open Championship takes place July 17-20 at Royal Portrush in Portrush, Northern Ireland. Here’s a look at the current players in the field and how they qualified based on the R&A’s order of exemption criteria (several players would have qualified via multiple categories; a = amateur).

It is a special feeling holding the Claret Jug, to look up at the massive yellow scoreboards that flank the 18th fairway and green at The Open and see your name on it.

Viewers watching next week’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush are set to be closer than ever to the action as spidercam technology makes its debut.

Nine players as well as officials from the R&A will take part in formal press conferences ahead of the Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

The American is one of 19 players from the Saudi-backed series taking part in the event at Valderrama as part of their build-up. While many of the sport’s top names are at the Genesis Scottish Open, fine-tuning their game on links turf ahead of Royal Portrush, the LIV contingent are preparing on very different ground in Spain.

Royal Portrush Ladies’ Captain Naoimh Quigg believes the next generation of Irish golfers will be inspired by seeing the world’s best players in the flesh at The Open Championship.