The 154th Open begins 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 championship 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 checking the outright market at the best golf betting site will recognise most of the leading names, but results recorded at Birkdale nine years ago only tell part of the story. Five holes have changed since 2017, and several of the new decisions arrive late in the round. Past course form still matters, though it now needs more context.
Royal Birkdale will not play as it did in 2017
The revised fifth hole introduces an early choice. The 321-yard par four can tempt a player into attacking the green when the wind helps, but extra bunkering and severe run-off areas punish a loose drive. The safer option leaves a wedge, although that approach gives up the chance of a straightforward birdie.
The seventh has also been rebuilt. It is the shortest par three on the course, but its raised green is the smallest and some of Birkdale’s deepest bunkers surround it. Distance control will matter more than power. A shot that misses on the wrong side could turn a birdie chance into a difficult attempt to save par.
These changes strengthen a test that already favours accurate placement. Birkdale’s fairways run through high dunes, which give spectators clear views but leave players with defined corridors. A drive can look sound in the air and still finish in a bunker that removes any realistic attack on the flag.
The final five holes could decide the championship
Royal Birkdale’s new 14th is a 602-yard par five with bunkers on both sides of the fairway. Players who find the short grass can move the ball beyond a second group of hazards, but the small, sloping green has deep run-off areas. It may produce eagles in calm conditions and costly mistakes when the wind changes.
The 15th is now the longest par three on the course at 241 yards. Its green is larger than it appears from the tee, yet a narrow entrance, two left-side bunkers and a run-off area on the right make the target difficult to judge. The front pin positions should be particularly awkward.
There is no easy release at the last. 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 a longer approach. That choice will become harder for anyone needing birdie on Sunday afternoon.
Scheffler returns as the player everyone must catch
Scheffler won the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush by four shots, reaching 17 under par and taking control by the halfway point. His title defence starts against a field containing 15 former Champion Golfers, including the four winners immediately before him: Xander Schauffele, Brian Harman, Cameron Smith and Collin Morikawa.
McIlroy has a different piece of history in reach. After retaining the Masters in April, he can become the first man since Tiger Woods in 2005 to win the Green Jacket and Claret Jug in the same calendar year. He already has eight top-ten finishes at The Open, although his only victory came at Royal Liverpool in 2014.
Fleetwood will face the strongest local attention. He grew up minutes away in Southport and knows the character of the area, but a home Open brings demands that do not appear on a scorecard. Every practice round, interview and move up the leaderboard will attract extra interest.
Spieth and Rose return to the scene of defining moments
Spieth’s 2017 win remains one of the clearest examples of recovery under pressure. After dropping shots early in the final round, he took an unplayable lie beside the 13th fairway and limited the damage to one bogey. He then played the next four holes in five under par and beat Matt Kuchar by three. His Open record also carries weight, with 12 cuts made in 12 appearances.
For Rose, Royal Birkdale reaches further back. He was 17 when he finished joint fourth as an amateur in 1998, sealing the Silver Medal by pitching in at the 18th. He returns 28 years later still seeking his first Open title.
Padraig Harrington is the other player in the field with a Birkdale victory. He won in 2008 at three over par, while Spieth finished the 2017 championship at 12 under. That 15-shot gap says plenty about this venue. Birkdale can reward controlled attacking golf in settled weather, then demand patience when the wind rises.
The altered course makes a repeat of either championship unlikely. The winner in 2026 will need to judge when the shorter holes are worth attacking, avoid the new trouble late in the round and keep enough control to handle four days on a links course. By Sunday, the strongest decision-maker may have a greater advantage than the longest hitter.