It’s time for the final men’s major championship of the year, with the best in the world heading to Royal Troon for what should be a thrilling conclusion to the run of the biggest four events in golf.

Mickelson, to his credit, shot a Sunday 65. He was a full 11 shots better than J.B. Holmes, who finished third.

“It’s probably the best I’ve played and not won,” Mickelson said at the time.

Six of the last seven champions at Royal Troon (save for Stenson) have been American, and the defending champion for 2024 is looking to have that run of American success at Troon continue this year. Brian Harman won last year’s Open Championship in seemingly out-of-nowhere fashion (his pre-tournament odds were about 125-1), topping a foursome of golfers by six shots.

Harman finished at 13 under at Royal Liverpool for his first win anywhere in six years. He shot a second-round 65 which beat the scoring average that day by more than eight shots. He had a five-shot advantage heading into the final round before eventually winning by six.

This year’s Open Championship field is led by world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, who has already won six times this season – including his last tournament on the PGA Tour, the Travelers Championship. Xander Schauffele, the winner of the PGA Championship and world No. 2, is also in the mix as a favourite along with U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau. DeChambeau has had the best collective results of anyone in the three previous majors this season, finishing tied for sixth at the Masters and second at the PGA Championship to go along with his triumph at Pinehurst.

There are four Canadians set to tee it up at Royal Troon, including Corey Conners and Nick Taylor, along with Mackenzie Hughes and Adam Hadwin – who earned their spots via Open Championship qualifying at various PGA Tour events this summer. Hughes has the best finish of any Canadian in recent memory, finishing tied for sixth at the 2021 Open Championship at Royal St George’s.

It's an important stretch of golf for the foursome of Canadians, as none are currently in an automatic spot for the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal. A good major-championship result – coupled with a solid stretch run through the FedExCup Playoffs – could do wonders as they look to compete under Mike Weir this fall.

It will be a competitive final major championship of the year with the game’s biggest names all gunning for the claret jug and with plenty of questions still unanswered. Will Rory McIlroy snap his major-less drought? Will Ludvig Aberg breakthrough for a big one? Will Americans continue to dominate at Troon? Will someone finally win their first major?

All these storylines and more will make for a thrilling final men’s major of the season.