Southport: The Majors are the most important stage in measuring a player’s career, and the 154th Open faces new challenges at Royal Birkdale on the edge of a stormy Merseyside here. As the golf world prepares to take on another champion, the world’s most unprecedented golf news is taking place.Two months ago Aaron Rai captured the world’s attention with a major victory at the PGA Championship. In recent weeks, Rai has teamed up with Sahith Theegala and Akshay Bhatia, and the trio made headlines by finishing in the top 20 at the US Open, transitioning into the Next-Gen of golfers, whose roots go back to India. That this formidable trio could take the Claret Jug trophy is no longer the worst idea.Bhatia, 24, is already a three-time winner on the PGA Tour while Theegala, 28, has won once but has been in contention several times, including a third-place finish at the 2024 Tour Championship. Rai has been very successful – from the Challenge Tour where he won three times to be promoted to the battleground to the DP World Tour, then the PGA Tour through the final of the 2021 Korn Ferry Tour. He won on the PGA Tour in 2024 and in 2026 became the first Englishman to win the PGA since 1919.Hero sponsored Theegala is amazing in terms of creativity and has a great short game. He showed his mettle at the US Open, overcoming early adversity to finish T-11 alongside Rai. While Theegala’s aggressive form off the tee can be dangerous at Birkdale, he can be a Top-10 contender if he stays away from the narrow hazards.Rounding out the Indianorigin trio is southpaw Bhatia, winner of the 2026 Palmer Invitational. His performance alongside Rory McIlroy at the US Open showed his character under the toughest of conditions.