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4h ago

Scheffler Defends At Royal Birkdale As Reworked Links Readies For The Open

Royal Birkdale's redesign has produced a baked, narrow links that will magnify questions about contenders' recent form

Image
Scottie Scheffler celebrates with his son Bennett Scheffler and the Claret Jug on the 18th green after winning The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 20, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland. Scottie Scheffler romped to a four-shot victory to seal his first British Open title at Royal Portrush on Sunday, notching his fourth major success. Bennett Scheffler stole the show during the celebrations after the tournament. Relive those moments here.
Image: REUTERS/Phil Noble
Golf - The 154th Open Championship - Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, Britain - July 13, 2026 England's Tommy Fleetwood during the press conference REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

Overview

  • The 154th Open runs July 16–19 at Royal Birkdale with Scottie Scheffler returning as defending champion and an early betting favorite.
  • The R&A confirmed the field, tee times and featured groups on Monday and added a new Last‑Chance Qualifier of 12 players competing for one final spot.
  • Extensive course changes since 2017 lengthened the layout to 7,223 yards, reconfigured bunkers and replaced the old par‑3 14th, and a summer heatwave has baked fairways into fast, tight landing zones that reward accuracy.
  • Questions about player form enter the week after Scheffler missed the Scottish Open cut and other headline names such as Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth arrive with mixed recent results and different local narratives.
  • Twelve LIV Golf players are in the field and reports of funding uncertainty for LIV after this season add off‑course stakes that could affect scheduling and player plans while the rarity of successful Open title defenses heightens the storyline around a repeat.