Royal Birkdale prepares to host 2026 British Open Championship

By Olivia Hughes — 13 July 2026 — 3 min read

Royal Birkdale’s Rich History and Design

Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, is set to host the 154th Open Championship, marking the 11th time the venue has welcomed golf’s oldest championship since 1954. Located on the 20-mile stretch of the Merseyside coastline along the Irish Sea, Royal Birkdale is part of a concentrated collection of world-class golf courses. This area is often compared to California’s Monterey Peninsula or Long Island’s East End for its golfing pedigree.

The current layout of the course originated from an initial routing in 1897 by George Lowe. It was later redesigned in 1932 by five-time Open champion John Henry “J.H.” Taylor and his partner, Frederick George Hawtree, to create a championship-level course. This redesign made Royal Birkdale one of the first purpose-built links courses in the country, ideal for large events due to its towering dunes for spectators, easy road access, and ample space for event infrastructure.

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 in the place of the previous par-5 15th, alongside a new par-3 15th hole that differs significantly in length, character, and direction from its predecessors. These changes also allowed for the practice green to be moved closer to the clubhouse and for the creation of a short-game practice area.

Notable Past Champions and Upcoming Tee Times

Royal Birkdale has been the site of several memorable victories. Peter Thomson secured the first of his three consecutive Open Championship titles at the course in 1954 and his final career title in the event in 1965. Arnold Palmer won in 1961, contributing to the event’s revival. In 1971, Lee Trevino claimed victory by a single stroke over Lu Liang-Huan. Johnny Miller’s six-stroke win in 1976 was notable for the breakthrough performance of a 19-year-old Seve Ballesteros, who tied for second place with Jack Nicklaus. Tom Watson won his fifth Open Championship at Birkdale in 1983. In 1998, Mark O’Meara won after a four-hole playoff, and 17-year-old amateur Justin Rose tied for fourth after a holed-out wedge on the 72nd hole. Jordan Spieth secured victory in 2017, overcoming a challenging 13th hole to play the next four holes in 5-under par.

For the upcoming championship, tee times for the first two rounds have been announced. Rory McIlroy, ranked second in the world, will begin his tournament at 15:15 BST on Thursday, playing alongside Matt Fitzpatrick and 2024 champion Xander Schauffele. Their second round is scheduled for 10:09 on Friday. World number one and defending champion Scottie Scheffler will tee off at 09:58 on Thursday with Bryson DeChambeau and Tyrrell Hatton, with their second round starting at 15:04 on Friday.

Local favorite Tommy Fleetwood is paired with Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth, who won the last Open held at Royal Birkdale. Justin Rose, who famously finished fourth as an amateur at the course in 1998, will start his first round at 09:36 and his second round at 14:42. Other notable pairings include Min Woo Lee, who will tee off at 09:25 on Thursday and 14:31 on Friday. Johnny Keefer and Keita Nakajima are scheduled to play their first round at 13:42 on Thursday and their second round at 08:36 on Friday.

Source: pgatour.com