The 154th Open Championship is scheduled to return to England’s northwest coast in 2026, with Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport set to host the event. This will mark the 11th time the club has hosted golf’s oldest championship, with all previous instances occurring since 1954. The tournament is slated to begin on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
The Merseyside coastline, a 20-mile stretch along the Irish Sea, is recognized for its collection of world-class golf courses. Royal Birkdale is situated alongside Hillside Golf Club, which borders Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club. 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 Championship Golf
Royal Birkdale has been the site of several memorable championship victories. In 1954, Peter Thomson secured the first of his three consecutive Open Championship titles at the venue, later winning his fifth career title there in 1965. Arnold Palmer’s victory in 1961 is noted for helping to revitalize the event. In 1971, Lee Trevino won by a single stroke against Lu Liang-Huan. Johnny Miller’s six-stroke win in 1976 was accompanied by a notable performance from Seve Ballesteros, who tied for second place with Jack Nicklaus.
Tom Watson claimed his fifth Open Championship title at Birkdale in 1983, defeating Hale Irwin and Andy Bean by one shot. In 1991, Ian Baker-Finch recorded a strong weekend performance, 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. During the same event, amateur Justin Rose tied for fourth place.
In 2017, Jordan Spieth overcame a challenging moment on the 13th hole to play the subsequent four holes in 5-under par, ultimately defeating Matt Kuchar by three shots.
Course Design and Recent Modifications
The current layout of the Royal Birkdale course dates back to an initial routing in 1897 by George Lowe. The course underwent a significant redesign in 1932 by John Henry “J.H.” Taylor and Frederick George Hawtree, aiming to create a championship-level course. This redesign established Royal Birkdale as one of the first purpose-built links courses in the country, suitable for large events due to its dunes, accessibility, and space for infrastructure.
Throughout the 20th century, the Hawtree family, a prominent golf architecture dynasty, contributed to the course’s evolution. Their work included routing changes, particularly involving the par-3 12th and the later holes of the back nine. This altered an unusual finishing par sequence that was in play during the Open Championships of 1965, 1971, and 1976.
In 2021, Royal Birkdale engaged the firm of Tom Mackenzie and Martin Ebert for further 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 in the location of the previous par-5 15th, and a new par-3 15th hole was introduced, differing in length, character, and direction from earlier par 3s. The elimination of the old 14th hole also provided space for moving the practice green closer to the clubhouse and creating a short-game practice area.
Mackenzie and Ebert also removed 14 bunkers, integrating the remaining rebuilt bunkers more distinctly into the framing dunes and replacing previous hazard areas with short-cut ground. This approach aimed to refine strategy, penalty, and recovery on the course. The mandate for this work was to enhance the golf course for members, visitors, and championships, considering modern play while respecting its history and ecological designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The clubhouse at Royal Birkdale, designed by George E. Tonge in 1935, is known for its Art Deco style, resembling the upper deck of a steamship. Tonge also designed the old Garrick Theatre in downtown Southport.
Course Design and Early Outlook
For the 154th Open Championship, Royal Birkdale will play as a Par 70 course, measuring approximately 7,200 yards. The course features a mix of holes, including 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 exceed 200 yards, and one of the two Par 5s is over 600 yards. The course is characterized by heather-grass off the fairways, rolling terrain, and sand dunes reaching up to 50 feet. The fairways are noted for being flat and narrow, bordered by these dunes, which provide separation between holes and elevation changes.
The course includes numerous sand bunkers, many of which are penal pot bunkers. The greens are smaller than average and feature subtle undulation. Due to the potential for strong winds during the Open Championship, the greens are typically maintained at a relatively slower speed. Comparisons have been drawn between Royal Birkdale and other courses such as Sea Island at the RSM Classic, Harbour Town, and Colonial Country Club due to similarities in fairways, greens, and coastal location. Royal Troon is considered the most similar Open Championship venue.
Early assessments for the 2026 event consider players who have performed well on similar links courses. Shane Lowry, who won the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, is noted for his ability in windy conditions. He has finished third at Harbour Town twice and sixth at Royal Troon. Russell Henley, who finished 37th at Birkdale in 2017, was fifth at Troon and tenth at Portrush. He also won at Colonial in May. Harris English, who was runner-up to Scottie Scheffler at Portrush, has recorded multiple top 10 finishes in major championships and was fourth at Harbour Town earlier this season. The 154th Open Championship will commence on July 16, 2026.
Source: pgatour.com