The 154th Open begins at Royal Birkdale on Thursday 16 July, with the Claret Jug determined after 4 rounds on Sunday. It’s the eleventh time the Southport hyperlinks has hosted the championship and the primary since Jordan Spieth’s victory in 2017. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Spieth are all a part of the sector.
Followers checking the outright market at the most effective golf betting web site will recognise many of the main names, however outcomes recorded at Birkdale 9 years in the past solely inform a part of the story. 5 holes have modified since 2017, and several other of the brand new choices arrive late within the spherical. Previous course type nonetheless issues, although it now wants extra context.
Royal Birkdale won’t play because it did in 2017
The revised fifth gap introduces an early selection. The 321-yard par 4 can tempt a participant into attacking the inexperienced when the wind helps, however additional bunkering and extreme run-off areas punish a free drive. The safer choice leaves a wedge, though that strategy provides up the possibility of a simple birdie.
The seventh has additionally been rebuilt. It’s the shortest par three on the course, however its raised inexperienced is the smallest and a few of Birkdale’s deepest bunkers encompass it. Distance management will matter greater than energy. A shot that misses on the fallacious aspect may flip a birdie probability right into a tough try to avoid wasting par.
These modifications strengthen a check that already favours correct placement. Birkdale’s fairways run by excessive dunes, which give spectators clear views however go away gamers with outlined corridors. A drive can look sound within the air and nonetheless end in a bunker that removes any real looking assault on the flag.
The ultimate 5 holes may resolve the championship
Royal Birkdale’s new 14th is a 602-yard par 5 with bunkers on each side of the green. Gamers who discover the brief grass can transfer the ball past a second group of hazards, however the small, sloping inexperienced has deep run-off areas. It might produce eagles in calm circumstances and expensive errors when the wind modifications.
The fifteenth is now the longest par three on the course at 241 yards. Its inexperienced is bigger than it seems from the tee, but a slender entrance, two left-side bunkers and a run-off space on the best make the goal tough to evaluate. The entrance pin positions ought to be significantly awkward.
There isn’t any straightforward launch on the final. Shifting the 18th tee additional left has straightened the outlet and introduced extra fairway bunkers into view. Some gamers might go away the motive force within the bag and settle for an extended strategy. That selection will turn into tougher for anybody needing birdie on Sunday afternoon.
Scheffler returns because the participant everybody should catch
Scheffler gained the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush by 4 photographs, reaching 17 underneath par and taking management by the midway level. His title defence begins in opposition to a discipline containing 15 former Champion Golfers, together with the 4 winners instantly earlier than him: Xander Schauffele, Brian Harman, Cameron Smith and Collin Morikawa.
McIlroy has a distinct piece of historical past in attain. After retaining the Masters in April, he can turn into the primary man since Tiger Woods in 2005 to win the Inexperienced Jacket and Claret Jug in the identical calendar yr. He already has eight top-ten finishes at The Open, though his solely victory got here at Royal Liverpool in 2014.
Fleetwood will face the strongest native consideration. He grew up minutes away in Southport and is aware of the character of the realm, however a house Open brings calls for that don’t seem on a scorecard. Each follow spherical, interview and transfer up the leaderboard will appeal to additional curiosity.
Spieth and Rose return to the scene of defining moments
Spieth’s 2017 win stays one of many clearest examples of restoration underneath strain. After dropping photographs early within the last spherical, he took an unplayable lie beside the thirteenth fairway and restricted the injury to at least one bogey. He then performed the subsequent 4 holes in 5 underneath par and beat Matt Kuchar by three. His Open report additionally carries weight, with 12 cuts made in 12 appearances.
For Rose, Royal Birkdale reaches additional again. He was 17 when he completed joint fourth as an newbie in 1998, sealing the Silver Medal by pitching in on the 18th. He returns 28 years later nonetheless searching for his first Open title.
Padraig Harrington is the opposite participant within the discipline with a Birkdale victory. He gained in 2008 at three over par, whereas Spieth completed the 2017 championship at 12 underneath. That 15-shot hole says a lot about this venue. Birkdale can reward managed attacking golf in settled climate, then demand endurance when the wind rises.
The altered course makes a repeat of both championship unlikely. The winner in 2026 might want to decide when the shorter holes are value attacking, keep away from the brand new bother late within the spherical and maintain sufficient management to deal with 4 days on a hyperlinks course. By Sunday, the strongest decision-maker might have a better benefit than the longest hitter.
