Jordan Spieth, the 2017 Open Champion at Royal Birkdale, enters the conversation for the 2026 British Open with legitimate chances despite long odds and a career marked by injury setbacks and inconsistent form. The 32-year-old Texan, a three-time major winner, has shown signs of resurgence in early 2026, raising questions about whether he can reclaim elite status on links turf where he once thrived.

The 154th Open Championship is set for July 16-19 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, the same venue where Spieth captured the Claret Jug nine years ago with a wire-to-wire performance that included a dramatic final-round 69 to hold off Matt Kuchar by three strokes. That victory remains his only Open win, but his record in the championship is strong: he has never missed a cut in 11 starts, with multiple top-10 finishes and a proven affinity for creative shot-making in windy, unpredictable conditions.

Current futures odds for 2026 list Spieth around +4000 to +5500 across major sportsbooks like DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM, placing him in the 40-1 to 55-1 range. Scottie Scheffler leads at +300 to +400, followed by Rory McIlroy (+650 to +800), Jon Rahm (+1100) and Xander Schauffele (+1400 to +1600). Spieth’s price reflects his world ranking slide — he has hovered outside the top 50 in recent months — but also acknowledges his pedigree on links courses and potential for a breakout.

Spieth’s 2026 season has shown promise after years hampered by a nagging left wrist injury requiring surgery in late 2024. He returned fully healthy for the new year, stating in January interviews that he felt “as good as I’ve ever been” structurally, with no pain and improved mechanics after a clean offseason. Early results back the optimism: a T24 at the Sony Open in Hawaii (68-68-68-69, -7), T29 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (-13), T12 at The Genesis Invitational (-11) and T11 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational (-6). These finishes include multiple top-15s and solid ball-striking, with data from sources like Data Golf showing positive strokes gained in approach and around-the-green play.

The wrist, which plagued him since 2017 and led to compensatory swing habits, is no longer an issue. Spieth has emphasized building consistency through more competitive rounds, and his early 2026 performances indicate progress toward that goal. He missed the cut at the Phoenix Open but rebounded strongly elsewhere, suggesting the foundation is there for a stronger summer push.

Royal Birkdale suits Spieth’s game. The course, a par-70 links layout known for firm fairways, deep bunkers and fescue-lined rough, rewards precision iron play, creativity from trouble and strong putting under pressure — all strengths during his 2017 triumph. Wind and weather often amplify the need for adaptability, an area where Spieth excels with his imagination around the greens and ability to manufacture shots.

Experts note his historical success in The Open: beyond the win, he finished T4 in 2015, T6 in 2016 and has contended in several others. His never-miss-cut streak underscores reliability in major conditions, and links golf favors scramblers who can recover from errant drives — a skill Spieth has honed over his career.

Challenges remain. Spieth’s putting, once world-class, has been streaky, and his driving accuracy has dipped at times. The field will feature dominant players like Scheffler, who has won multiple majors recently, and McIlroy, seeking the career Grand Slam. LIV Golf stars like Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau add depth, while emerging talents such as Ludvig Åberg and Tommy Fleetwood contend at shorter odds.

Yet Spieth’s major resume — Masters 2015, U.S. Open 2015, Open 2017 and PGA Championship 2015 runner-up — gives him an edge in big events. He sits one major shy of the career Grand Slam, a motivator that could fuel a strong run. In recent comments, Spieth expressed belief that consistency is “right around the corner,” pointing to improved balance between aggression and patience.

Analysts see value in his odds. At +4000 or longer, Spieth offers upside for bettors given his Birkdale history and current upward trajectory. If he carries early-season momentum into summer events like the Memorial or Travelers, his price could shorten significantly by July.

The Open’s rotating venues and emphasis on links mastery keep doors open for veterans like Spieth. Past champions at Birkdale include legends like Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, but Spieth proved he can conquer it. With health on his side and form trending positively, there’s a genuine chance — perhaps not favored, but far from improbable — that he hoists the Claret Jug again in 2026.

As the golf world turns toward the majors, Spieth’s story remains one of resilience. The kid who once dominated now seeks revival, and Royal Birkdale could provide the stage for another memorable chapter.

Knowsley firm hires restructuring advisers and starts ‘cost rationalisation exercise’

Supercar brakes firm Surface Transforms has appointed restructuring advisers and filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators as it deals with the fallout of losing its biggest client. The Knowsley business, which two years ago received a £13.2m loan through Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, announced last week it had lost its contract with global car giant General Motors (GM).

GM last year provided 84% of the group’s revenues and had also given it millions of pounds of support. Surface Transforms said the contract loss had a “material impact on the company’s ability to trade”.

Today Surface Transforms announced its shares would be suspended from trading on AIM and that it had appointed Alvarez and Marsal (A&M) as corporate restructuring advisers, with directors working with A&M to “understand the options available to the company to provide the best outcome for all stakeholders”.

The company also said it had “initiated a cost rationalisation exercise as a consequence of the reduced production volumes” following the contract loss. It will start consulting with staff over potential redundancies and layoffs.

The board also confirmed it was filing with the High Court a notice of intention to appoint A&M as administrators. It said that once the notice was filed “the company will be protected against any creditor enforcement action for a period of ten working days and will continue to work with A&M on the options available to the company”.

Surface Transforms is the UK’s only manufacturer of carbon‐ceramic brake discs. In 2023, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority announced that Mayor Steve Rotheram’s Urban Development Fund – part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) – was offering a £13.2m loan to the business to help it grow its Knowsley base and to create jobs.

At the time, Surface Transforms CEO Kevin Johnson said: “We are delighted to have secured this capital expenditure loan, which will enable us to execute our strategic growth plans and further strengthen our position as a leader in carbon fibre reinforced ceramic automotive brake discs.”

BusinessLive last week asked the Combined Authority what Surface Transforms’ announcement might mean for its loan. A spokesperson said: “We are aware of the situation and are in dialogue with the company to fully understand the current position. It would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this time.”