The 154th Open Championship is scheduled to return to England’s northwest coast, with Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport set to host the event for the 11th time. All previous stagings at this venue have occurred since 1954. The tournament is slated to begin on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
This stretch of the Merseyside coastline, approximately 20 miles long, is recognized for its concentration of world-class golf courses. Royal Birkdale is situated near Hillside Golf Club, which itself borders Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club, a former host of the Ryder Cup in 1933 and 1937. Other notable clubs in the vicinity include Formby Golf Club, West Lancashire Golf Club, Wallasey Golf Club, and Royal Liverpool Golf Club, all of which have hosted significant amateur and professional competitions.
A History of Champions at Birkdale
Royal Birkdale has been the site of several memorable victories and challenges in its history. Peter Thomson secured the first of his three consecutive Open Championship titles at the course in 1954, and later his fifth career title in the event in 1965. In 1961, Arnold Palmer‘s win at Birkdale marked the first of his two consecutive titles and contributed to the event’s resurgence.
In 1971, Lee Trevino won by a single stroke against Lu Liang-Huan. Johnny Miller‘s six-stroke victory in 1976 was notable for the performance of a 19-year-old Seve Ballesteros, who tied Jack Nicklaus for second place. Tom Watson claimed his fifth Open Championship at Birkdale in 1983. In 1991, Ian Baker-Finch recorded scores of 64 and 66 over the weekend, including a 29 on the front nine on Sunday. Mark O’Meara won The Open at Birkdale in 1998 after a four-hole playoff against Brian Watts.
The 2017 event at Royal Birkdale saw Jordan Spieth secure his third major championship title after a contest with Matt Kuchar on the inward nine. Spieth made a notable recovery on the 13th hole and then played the subsequent four holes in 5-under par, ultimately winning by three shots.
Course Design and Recent Modifications
The current layout of the golf course at Royal Birkdale originated from an initial routing in 1897 by George Lowe. The course underwent a significant redesign in 1932 by John Henry "J.H." Taylor, a five-time Open champion, and his design partner, Frederick George Hawtree. This redesign aimed to establish a championship-level course, making Royal Birkdale one of the early purpose-built links courses in the country. The course’s design, featuring towering dunes for spectators, accessibility, and ample space for event infrastructure, has made it suitable for large-scale competitions.
Throughout much of the 20th century, the Hawtree family, prominent golf architects, contributed to the course’s evolution, including changes to the par-3 12th and later holes on the back nine in the post-World War II era.
In 2021, Royal Birkdale engaged the firm of Tom Mackenzie and Martin Ebert for guidance on improvements. Their work included a complete redesign of the par-4 fifth hole, shortening and rebuilding the par-3 seventh, and eliminating the old par-5 14th hole. A new par-5 14th hole was created, largely replacing the previous par-5 15th, and a new par-3 15th hole was introduced, differing in length, character, and direction from previous par 3s. The removal of the old 14th hole also created space to relocate the practice green closer to the clubhouse and establish a short-game practice area.
Mackenzie and Ebert also removed 14 bunkers, integrating the remaining rebuilt bunkers more prominently into the dunes and replacing previously hazardous areas with short-cut ground. This approach aimed to refine the course’s strategy, penalty, and recovery aspects. The work was guided by a mandate to enhance the golf course for its members, visitors, and future championships, while respecting its history and ecological designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The course is a classic links design, situated on the coast of the Irish Sea. It is expected to play as a Par 70 and measure approximately 7,200 yards. The layout includes six Par 4s in the 400-450-yard range, three Par 4s under 400 yards, and three over 500 yards. Two of the four Par 3s are over 200 yards, and one of the two Par 5s is over 600 yards. The course features heather-grass off the fairways and sand dunes reaching up to 50 feet in height, which provide separation between holes and elevation changes.
Numerous sand bunkers, including penal pot bunkers, are present throughout the course. The greens are described as smaller than average with subtle undulation. Due to the potential for strong winds during The Open Championship, the greens are typically maintained at a relatively slower speed.
Early Outlook and Player Considerations
Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion, having won the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush last summer. He is currently listed as the tournament favorite. Early analysis suggests certain players may be well-suited for the conditions at Royal Birkdale.
Shane Lowry, who won the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, is noted for his proficiency in links golf and strong wind play. He has achieved third-place finishes at Harbour Town and a sixth-place finish at Royal Troon in 2024. Lowry ranks 18th on Tour in Strokes Gained: Approach and 24th in Driving Accuracy.
Russell Henley, who finished 37th at Birkdale in 2017, achieved a fifth-place finish at Troon in 2024 and a tenth-place finish at Portrush last summer. He also won at Colonial in May. Henley is 48th on Tour for Strokes Gained: Approach and 29th in Strokes Gained: Putting, and is noted for his Driving Accuracy and Scrambling.
Harris English, a Georgia Bulldog, has recorded multiple top 10 finishes in major championships and was runner-up to Scheffler last year at Portrush. He has finished as high as sixth at Colonial and fourth earlier this season at Harbour Town. English ranks 20th on Tour in Total Driving and eighth for Strokes Gained: Putting.
Further tournament previews and player selections for The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale are expected to be released on Tuesday, July 14.
The iconic clubhouse at Royal Birkdale, designed by local architect George E. Tonge in 1935, features an Art Deco style. Tonge‘s design won a competition for the clubhouse, and his other local architectural work includes the old Garrick Theatre in downtown Southport.
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Source: pgatour.com
