🏆 154th Open Live Hub
Everything you need this week — live scoring, links country insight, Royal Birkdale course analysis, and championship news updates.
🇬🇧 Latest Open Update
- 2026 Open Championship week is underway at Royal Birkdale — the Lancashire coast links is set for a historic 154th Open.
- This championship offers the iconic Claret Jug and a lifetime exemption into The Open for the winner.
- Follow all the action, live from the English coastline, with bunker shots and weather updates.
British Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club
The British Open Championship, known as The Open, is the oldest major in golf, played on a rotating roster of legendary links courses. The 154th Open is hosted by the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, a classic links known for its towering dunes, firm fairways, and exacting approach shots. The champion is awarded the famous Claret Jug.
Run by the R&A, The Open dates back to 1860 and brings together the world’s best players to conquer the unpredictable coastal elements. The winner gains a five-year exemption into The Open, a place in history, and full status on the PGA Tour and European Tour.
Royal Birkdale, hosting for the 11th time, presents a true links test: pot bunkers, wiry rough, and the ever-present wind off the Irish Sea. Precision and imagination are paramount.
⛳ Royal Birkdale Course Overview
Royal Birkdale is a classic links situated among towering sand dunes. It demands precise driving and clever iron play to navigate the crowned fairways and deep pot bunkers.
Quick Course Overview
Unlike inland courses, Royal Birkdale rewards shot-making and the ability to keep the ball low under windy conditions. Par is a premium, and avoiding the penal rough is essential.
Yardage / Par
- Par: 70
- Yardage: ~7,156 yards
Course Type / Conditions
- Championship links design by George Lowe, later tweaked by Fred Hawtree & J.H. Taylor
- Firm, fast-running fairways and fescue rough
- Small, undulating greens with run-off areas
- Signature stretch of holes 6,7,8 through the dunes where the championship is often decided
What Matters Most
- Controlling trajectory into the wind
- Bunker play – Birkdale has some of the deepest pots in the rotation
- Putting on slick, slow fescue greens
- Patience when the weather turns
Key Holes / Momentum Stretch
- The par-4 6th (tough dogleg) and the short par-4 7th are a critical pair.
- The long par-3 12th often plays into the prevailing wind, requiring a massive carry.
- The closing stretch (16,17,18) can produce drama with the Irish Sea as backdrop.
Winning Formula
- Keep the ball in play off the tee; position is everything.
- Play for the fat side of greens and use slopes to feed the ball close.
- Embrace the wind and be creative with bump-and-run shots.
- Stay patient and par is never a bad score on a tough links.
British Open Championship
2026 British Open Championship
Date: July 16-19, 2026
Location: Royal Birkdale GC, Southport, England
Field: Invitation and open qualifying: 156 players
Winner receives Claret Jug & 5-year Open exemption.
View Live News FeedBritish Open Champions & History (1860 - Present)
2026 British Open
The 154th Open
Royal Birkdale Golf Club
156-player field: Open champions, qualifiers, top ranked
$17.0 million purse (estimated)
600 FedExCup points to winner
2025 British Open
Recent Champion
Royal Portrush (venue example)
The 153rd Open Championship
Claret Jug on the line
600 FedExCup points to winner
2020s Open Champions
Recent Claret Jugs
Links rotation
Brian Harman won in 2023 (Hoylake)
Cameron Smith champion in 2022 (St Andrews)
Collin Morikawa won in 2021 (Royal St George's)
2010s Open Champions
Memorable Victories
Links venues
Shane Lowry (2019), Francesco Molinari (2018)
Jordan Spieth (2017), Henrik Stenson (2016)
Zach Johnson (2015), Rory McIlroy (2014)
2000s Open Champions
Historic Era
Varied links
Tiger Woods (2000, 2005, 2006)
Ernie Els (2002), Pádraig Harrington (2007, 2008)
Stewart Cink (2009), David Duval (2001)
Open Championship Format
156 Players
72-hole stroke play
Open champions, international qualifiers, top world ranking
Low 70 and ties make the cut
Winner gets Claret Jug
Royal Birkdale GC
Classic Links
Host of the 154th Open
Laid out among dunes by George Lowe
Course Details:
Par 70, 7,156 yards
Claret Jug
Golf's Oldest Prize
Symbol of Champion Golfer of the Year
Winner earns 5-year Open exemption
Full PGA Tour status for 5 years
Entry into all other majors
The Open Championship Legacy
The Open Championship has been a cherished tradition since 1860, bringing world-class links golf to the British coast each July. It has provided a stage for legends, offering the iconic Claret Jug and the title "Champion Golfer of the Year".
Played on a rotating list of the world's greatest links courses, the tournament is known for its rugged coastal terrain, unpredictable weather, and the unique challenge of links golf. It has celebrated champions from Tom Morris Jr. to Tiger Woods, all of whom used the win as a cornerstone of historic careers.
With a purse exceeding $17 million and 600 FedExCup points to the winner, The Open remains a defining moment for players to shape their legacy and fulfill their major championship dreams.