Royal Birkdale’s 154th Open Championship: A Tricky, Thinky Test for Golf’s Best

What Is Happening?

The Open Championship is one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world. The 154th Open is starting on Thursday at a place called Royal Birkdale Golf Club in England.

Royal Birkdale is often called the "fairest" test in the Open’s rotation (the group of golf courses that take turns hosting). But this year’s event might need more strategy (smart planning) and patience (staying calm) from the 156 golfers playing.

The Weather Is Making the Course Different

Two days before the start, the world’s best golfers were talking on Tuesday about how the course felt:

• It is firm (hard ground) and fast (the ball rolls a lot).
• This is very different from 2017, when Jordan Spieth won on a wet and soft course.
• The past few weeks were unusually warm on England’s northwest coast.
• Forecasts say almost no rain during all four rounds.
• High temperatures will drop to the low 70s°F by the weekend.

Important Point: This is the first time Scottie Scheffler (the world’s No. 1 golfer) remembers seeing a full-week forecast with no rain at all for the Open.

What the Golfers Are Saying

Scottie Scheffler

• He said every hole has "a good bit of strategy" and "a decent amount of thinking."
• He wants to be the first back-to-back Open winner since Padraig Harrington in 2008–09.
• He compared this to the 2022 Open at St. Andrews (firm course), but said Birkdale won’t be as easy as when Cameron Smith won there at 20 under par.
• After a 2024 renovation, many fairways are narrower (less wide).
• The ball "is just going to run for forever" because the ground is so hard.

Jon Rahm

• He said because of strong winds from the Irish Sea, golfers might hit a 6-iron 280 yards if the wind helps.
• He called that "unprecedented" (never seen like this before).

Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose

• They think warm, dry conditions might make things a little easier for some.
• Rose said the rough (tall grass) is "burning out," so players might hit over corners and accept 60–80 yards from the rough.
• Rose said we may see a "varied bunch of strategies."
• A few greens (like the new par-5 14th and par-3 15th) are elevated with steep drop-offs.
• Players must decide: hit the ball through the air or roll it on the ground?
• McIlroy called firm/fast conditions a "double-edged sword" (good and bad at the same time).
• He said the rough is less punishing now than a few weeks ago.
• Some may hit the driver aggressively off the tee to avoid fairway bunkers, then use a wedge from the rough.
• He thinks Birkdale will be as challenging as Shinnecock Hills was at last month’s U.S. Open.
• Giving pros options creates doubt—fun for viewers, not so much for players.

Why This Matters for the Tournament

Here is what makes this Open special:

1. Hard, fast ground means the ball rolls a long way.
2. Narrow fairways and mounding make accuracy important.
3. Wind can carry the ball much farther than usual.
4. Burning rough gives players more choices (safe vs. risky).
5. Smart "links" golf (rolling the ball toward targets) is key.

Important Point: Royal Birkdale is a classic links course challenge—players need brainy plans, not just power.

Summary

The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale starts Thursday with firm, fast, dry conditions and likely no rain. Golfers like Scheffler, Rahm, McIlroy, and Rose say this means more thinking, clever strategies, and patience. Narrow fairways, big rolls, and windy 280-yard iron shots could make for a wild and fun tournament—even if it stresses the players out!

FAQ

Q: What is the Open Championship?
A: It is a major golf tournament held on a rotating set of courses, including Royal Birkdale. This is the 154th time it is being played.

Q: Why is this year’s Royal Birkdale different?
A: It is firm and fast because of warm, dry weather with no rain expected, unlike the soft 2017 course where Jordan Spieth won.

Q: What does "links golf" mean in simple terms?
A: It is golf by the sea on hard ground where players often roll the ball low toward the hole instead of flying it high.

Q: Could someone hit a 6-iron 280 yards?
A: Jon Rahm says yes—if strong Irish Sea winds are behind them, a 6-iron might fly that far. That is very unusual!