The Open 2026: Royal Birkdale changes take course management back – Golf News
The 154th Open starts at Royal Birkdale on Thursday 16 July, with the Claret Jug decided after four rounds on Sunday. It is the 11th time the Southport links has hosted the tournament and the first since Jordan Spieth’s victory in 2017. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Spieth are all part of the field.
Fans explore the vertical market the best place to bet on golf will recognize most of the top names, but the results recorded at Birkdale over the past nine years only tell half the story. Five holes have changed since 2017, and many new decisions come late in the round. The past tense form is still relevant, although it now requires more context.
Royal Birkdale will not play like it did in 2017
The revised fifth hole introduces an early pick. The 321-yard par four can tempt the player to attack the green when the wind comes up, but the overhanging bunkers and difficult fairways punish loose drives. The safer option is leaving the basin, although that method gives the opportunity for a straight birdie.
The seventh was also rebuilt. It’s the shortest par three on the course, but its elevated greens are very narrow and some of Birkdale’s deepest holes surround it. Distance control will be more important than power. A shot that misses the wrong side can make a birdie chance a difficult attempt to save par.
These changes strengthen the test that already favors accurate placement. Birkdale’s streets pass through high hills, giving the audience clear views but leaving the actors and corridors undefined. Driving can look noisy in the air and continue in the basement removing any real attack on the flag.
The final five holes can decide the championship
Royal Birkdale’s new 14th is a 602 yard course with bunkers on both sides of the fairway. Players who find short grass can move the ball beyond the second group of hazards, but the narrow, sloping greens have deep fairways. It can produce eagles in calm conditions and expensive mistakes when the wind changes.
The 15th is now the third longest par on the course at 241 yards. Its green is larger than it appears from the tee, however a narrow entrance, two bunkers on the left side and a fairway on the right make the target difficult to judge. The positions of the former vice presidents must be very difficult.
There is no easy release in the end. Moving the 18th tee further left has straightened the hole and brought more fairway bunkers into view. Some players may leave the driver in the bag and accept the long way. That choice will be difficult for anyone who needs a bird on a Sunday afternoon.
Scheffler returns as a player to be caught by everyone
Scheffler won the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush by four shots, reaching 17 under par and dominating the middle ground. The defense of his title begins with a field featuring 15 former golfers, including the four winners immediately ahead of him: Xander Schauffele, Brian Harman, Cameron Smith and Collin Morikawa.
McIlroy has a different history to tap into. After completing the Masters in April, he could become the first man since Tiger Woods in 2005 to win the Green Jacket and the Claret Jug in the same calendar year. He already has eight top 10 finishes at The Open, although his only win came at Royal Liverpool in 2014.
Fleetwood will face the strongest local attention. He grew up minutes away from Southport and knows the ethos of the place, but the home Open brings demands beyond the scorecard. Every practice round, interview and climb to the top of the leaderboard will attract more interest.
Spieth and Rose return to the realm of defining moments
Spieth’s 2017 victory remains one of the clearest examples of recovery under pressure. After missing a shot early in the final round, he made an unplayable lie along the 13th fairway and reduced the damage to one bogey. He then played the next four of the five holes under par and beat Matt Kuchar by three. His Open record also carries weight, making the cut 12 times in 12 games.
For Rose, Royal Birkdale goes way back. He was 17 when he finished fourth as an amateur in 1998, sealing the silver medal by finishing 18th. He returns 28 years later in search of his first Open title.
Padraig Harrington is another successful player in the field for Birkdale. He won in 2008 at 3 over par, while Spieth finished the 2017 tournament at 12 under. That 15 shot gap says a lot about this place. Birkdale can reward controlled attacking golf in steady weather, then demands patience when the wind picks up.
The changed course makes a repeat of any championship impossible. The winner in 2026 will need to judge when to attack short holes, avoid a new problem late in the round and maintain enough control to manage four days on the links course. On Sunday, the strongest decision-maker may have a greater advantage than a long shot.
