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Back to win: Jordan Spieth 

Spieth arrived at St. Andrews for the 2015 Open chasing a grand slam, having won both the Masters and US Open that year.

Then 22, the American was emerging as the biggest star in golf and was under huge pressure, but impressed again in his first appearance at the Old Course, finishing T4 and missing out on a playoff by just one shot.

Spieth went on to win the Open two years later at Royal Birkdale, and comes into this week at St. Andrews on the back of a runner-up finish at Royal St. George’s last year. He’s finished inside the top 30 in his last six starts at the Open, with four top-10s.

The 28-year-old has been in good form of late, with a win at the RBC Heritage and three other top-10s in his last seven starts, one of which was at last week’s Scottish Open.

It’s worth noting that Spieth has listed St. Andrews and Augusta as his two favourite courses, and he’s got a phenomenal record at the latter, with a win and four other top-three finishes. If that’s how he performs at the venues he loves the most, then he’s got to be in with a massive chance at lifting the Claret Jug again this week.

Each-way shout: Collin Morikawa 

Morikawa is the defending Open champion, having claimed an incredibly impressive two-shot win on debut at Royal St. George’s last year.

The American’s exceptional ball-striking and approach play make him a great fit for links golf, and he has the creative short game that is a necessity at St. Andrews.

Morikawa missed the cut at the Scottish Open last week, but it’s worth noting that he finished T71 at that event last year before going on to win the Open seven days later.

He’s clearly an elite performer in the biggest events, having won two majors before the age of 25, and although his form has been patchy this year, he finished inside the top five at both the Masters and the PGA Championship. 

Outside shot: Danny Willett 

If you’re looking for a long shot this week, Willett looks well worth a bet.

The 2016 Masters champion has two T6 finishes at the Open in the last six years, the first of which came at St. Andrews in 2015.

Willett’s record at the Old Course is the reason he looks a lively outsider this week. He won the 2021 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship – in which two of the three rounds are played at St Andrews – and has two other top-five finishes at that event since 2010.

He’s been hit-and-miss this year and is coming off back-to-back missed cuts, but this is a huge price for a major champion at a course he clearly enjoys.

First-round leader: Cameron Smith 

Smith has emerged as one of the best players who is yet to win a major in the past couple of years, and his win at The Players Championship in March suggests it’s only a matter of time until he makes the breakthrough.

He’s contended on several occasions, with four top-five major finishes to date, including a T3 at this year’s Masters. In fact, the Australian has finished inside the top 10 in his last three Masters starts, which bodes well for his chances this week given that Augusta is a course that correlates well with St. Andrews.

Underpinning Smith’s success this season has been his tendency to start well. He ranks sixth on the PGA Tour in first-round scoring average this season and has put together a number of strong opening rounds.

He led after round one at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January, was second at the Masters in April and tied for the lead with five other players after Thursday’s play at the Memorial Tournament last month.

Winning his first major in his first start at St. Andrews is a big ask, but Smith looks likely to make another strong start and get into contention once again.