Scheffler eyes rare Open repeat as Royal Birkdale bakes in summer heat

LONDON, July 13 : American Scottie Scheffler will set out to buck a British Open trend and become the first player to defend the title for 18 years at a baked Royal Birkdale this week.Ireland's Padraig Harrington was the last player to retain the Claret Jug when he won at Birkdale in 2008 and the trend since then has favoured first-time winners.South African Ernie Els was the most recent repeat champion, at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2012, since when the sport's oldest major has been a hot potato.Several players will be favoured to snap the sequence of first-time winners, though, with world number one Scheffler and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy the favourites despite both coming in with question marks about their form. Scheffler produced a links golf masterclass on the Antrim coast last