Scottie Scheffler appears to have been given good news ahead of The Open but there’s concern for Rory McIlroy

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Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy look set to be in contention at The Open Championship, which gets underway at Royal Portrush imminently.

Brandel Chamblee thinks Scheffler will win The Open, which would represent a second major success of the season for the world number one.

Scheffler emerged victorious at the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, shortly after McIlroy won The Masters at Augusta National.

J.J. Spaun then lifted the US Open trophy at Oakmont, with all three now looking for further silverware at The Open Championship.

But Royal Portrush is certain to present a different challenge entirely, with the links golf venue set to trouble every single player over the coming days.

Scottie Scheffler appears to have been given good news for The Open

And one very significant factor of such golf is weather, with wind and rain expected at Royal Portrush for The Open, where thunderstorms and sunny spells are also remarkably on the cards.

And fortunately for world number one Scheffler, the AM/PM wave definitely looks more favourable at this moment in time.

READ MORE: Royal Portrush names two holes after former major champions ahead of The Open Championship starting

The American, who has been paired with compatriot Collin Morikawa and 2019 champion Shane Lowry, starts at 10.09am local time on Thursday.

And the trio then get underway in Friday’s second round at 3:10pm, which could make a huge difference in reaching the weekend.

Rory McIlroy concern emerges ahead of The Open

While Scheffler looks to have been handed positive news early on in Northern Ireland, the same cannot be said of McIlroy.

McIlroy can definitely win The Open, but he is on the opposite wave to the world number one in the early stages, starting at 3.10pm on day one and 10.09am on day two.

READ MORE: The ‘best thing’ possible has happened to Rory McIlroy just before The Open, according to Peter Finch

Any edge can help when the stakes are so high and the margin for error is so small, while there is so much to be said for a good start to major championships.

McIlroy does, however, have the big advantage of home support over Scheffler and indeed the rest of the field, along with compatriots Darren Clarke and Tom McKibbin.

Those who took on the major the last time it was held at Royal Portrush in 2019 will be well aware of just how much the weather can play a part in proceedings.

But Irishman Lowry battled the blustery and rainy conditions back then in superb fashion to clinch the Claret Jug.