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7 storylines that set stage for dramatic Open Championship

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The 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush is poised to be one for the ages.

While the historic tournament needs no additional hype, numerous subplots will make for a captivating week of golf, regardless of who hoists the Claret Jug on Sunday. And once the dust settles, the next major championship is the 2020 Masters, nine months away.

As Northern Ireland gets set to host The Open for the first time since 1951, here are seven must-follow storylines that will surely heighten the tension at the season's final major.

Rory returns home

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No player in the field faces more pressure than Rory McIlroy does. The Northern Irishman will have the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders when the Open Championship returns to the Royal Portrush for the first time in 68 years.

His success in the event compounds the pressure.

McIlroy has finished inside the top five in his last four Open Championships and leads all players in cumulative score relative to par during the last five years. His game suits links-style layouts, and the fact he grew up playing Royal Portrush - he shot a course-record 61 as a 16-year-old - will almost certainly work in his favor.

Many believe the greatest achievement for McIlroy would be the Masters title to complete the career grand slam, but perhaps nothing would feel sweeter than hoisting the Claret Jug on home soil.

Tiger's time off

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"It's not quite as sharp as I'd like to have it right now," Tiger Woods said of his ball-striking, according to Golf Channel's Ryan Lavner.

The 43-year-old took an extended break from golf after the U.S. Open. Similarly, he didn't play any tournaments between his Masters victory and the PGA Championship, and that resulted in a missed cut.

It remains to be seen how the time off will impact Tiger's game, but it's hard to imagine a two-week vacation in Thailand - while great for his family life - improves his chances of winning major No. 16.

Nearly a year ago, Tiger took the solo lead on Sunday at The Open and flipped the golf world upside down. Royal Portrush will present him with a solid opportunity to contend once again, but with his recent lack of play, the rust may be too much to overcome.

Koepka's run at history

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Brooks Koepka can become the first player in the modern era to finish in the top two in all four majors during the same calendar year. No, not even Jack Nicklaus nor Tiger can claim such a feat.

Prior to his T-39 showing at Carnoustie last season, Koepka finished inside the top 10 at The Open in his two previous starts. While his recent results on the PGA Tour have been lackluster, Koepka turns into a completely different golfer for four weeks every year.

If the wind doesn't blow at Royal Portrush, expect to see the American at the top once again. The only way Koepka doesn't contend on Sunday is if he ends up on the wrong side of a weather draw, and even then, the world's best player could very well overcome a dose of bad luck.

Royal Portrush

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After a lengthy hiatus away from Northern Ireland, the Claret Jug will be presented on the 18th green of Royal Portrush for the first time since 1951.

The iconic venue, designed by Harry Colt, features picturesque ocean views and massive dunes that help shape the winding fairways. And according to Golf Digest's course rater Ron Whitten, the greens at Portrush are some of the best in the world.

Regardless of how the course stands up to the game's best players, we must cherish any time the Open Championship is played at a world-class location it so rarely visits.

Older winners

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Navigating an Open Championship layout requires experience and creativity, while distance and power are rarely prerequisites to contend for the Claret Jug. That may explain why the average age of Open winners since 2011 is nearly five years older than that of any other major.

Who are some players who could keep the trend alive?

Matt Kuchar (41), Henrik Stenson (43), and Adam Scott (39) all have impressive Open Championship records and are in fantastic form. It wouldn't be a shock if someone from this trio ends up as the Champion Golfer of the Year.

Breakout candidates

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Chasing those veterans will be an abundance of young talent battling for that classic breakout win.

Headlining the list of players who appear poised to collect their first major is Jon Rahm, who is coming off his second Irish Open win. After finishing tied for third at this year's U.S. Open, he's now recorded top-five results in all majors except The Open.

Meanwhile, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele are suddenly staples near the top of major leaderboards. Cantlay has two top-10s in majors this season while Schauffele has placed inside the top six in four of the last six played.

Will weather play a role?

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The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews does a fantastic job of setting up the Open Championship each year and letting the course speak for itself. It isn't fixated on scores relative to par unlike its American counterpart, the United States Golf Association. If the wind doesn't blow, so be it. Royal Portrush will not be tricked up to prevent the best players in the world from shooting low.

However, everyone can agree the best part about golf's lone major across the pond is the possibility for extreme weather to create chaos. The majority of links courses' main line of defense is the wind, and when it blows, Royal Portrush provides a fantastic test. Fingers crossed Mother Nature is also a fan of entertaining links golf.

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