The 154th Open Championship begins Thursday at Royal Birkdale, with world number one Scottie Scheffler aiming to become the first American to defend the title since Tiger Woods in 2006. Scheffler, who won the 2025 Open by four strokes, arrives in mixed form after missing the cut at last week's Scottish Open—his first missed cut in four years. He has recorded only one victory this season, the American Express in January, alongside four runner-up finishes including at the Masters.
Scheffler's Title Defence Under Scrutiny
Scheffler, who has never played Royal Birkdale before, used the extra time from his early exit in Scotland to practice on the links. 'First impressions were really good. There's some very, very challenging holes, especially the par-threes,' he said. Despite his recent struggles, the defending champion remains a formidable contender.
McIlroy Chases Second Open Crown
Rory McIlroy, seeking his second Open title after winning in 2014, arrives as a four-time major winner after successfully defending his Masters title in April. He tied for fourth at Royal Birkdale in 2017, but the course has undergone extensive renovation and been affected by a summer heatwave. 'When you give professional golfers options, that's when things start to get fun, especially for the viewer,' McIlroy said. 'Not so much for us, but that's the sign of a good championship test.'
English Hopes: Rai, Fleetwood, and Rose
Aaron Rai, fresh from his PGA Championship victory in May—the first Englishman to win that major in over a century—carries high expectations. 'I think it provides a lot of validation,' Rai said. 'But every major provides such a different test and a different style of golf.'
Southport-born Tommy Fleetwood, world number nine, is trying to become the first English winner of the Open since Nick Faldo in 1992. He has finished no worse than 14th in his past five starts and will have strong home support, with a mural of him on the Southport & Birkdale Sports Club wall. 'It's an absolute dream to play here in my hometown,' he said.
Justin Rose, runner-up at the 2024 Open, is among only four players to have played Royal Birkdale three times in the Open, dating to 1998 where he finished fourth as an amateur. 'A links course is interesting because you never really get to know them that well,' Rose said. 'It can play so differently decade to decade.'
Heckling and Code of Conduct
Recent events such as the 2025 Ryder Cup and 2026 US Open have highlighted golf's heckling problem. Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, believes the rise in sports betting has influenced crowd behaviour. 'For me, it's becoming a problem and the issue is, particularly in golf, it would be very easy to influence a bet, whether it's shouting on someone's backswing or shouting on a putting stroke,' he said.
The R&A has introduced a new code of conduct, the Open commitment, asking fans to respect players and each other. Signs around the course remind spectators that recording play on phones is banned.
Course Changes and Hard Conditions
The heatwave has made the ground hard as concrete, increasing the risk of off-target shots bouncing uncontrollably towards sand dunes and bunkers. Royal Birkdale has also undergone significant changes since 2017: the par-three 14th has been removed, the previous 15th is now the 14th, a smaller green has been added to the par-three 7th, and the 18th tee box has been moved.
Jordan Spieth, who made memorable shots on the altered holes, said: 'Maybe the best shot and the best putt I've ever hit don't exist any more, which is a little unusual.'
Amateur Stories: Howard and Wiedemeyer
Among the 10 amateurs, David Howard has become a feelgood story. The Irishman, ranked 1,441st in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, qualified despite being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age seven. He takes around 30 tablets daily to maintain his health and is participating in his first major.
Tim Wiedemeyer, the highest-ranked amateur and winner of the 2026 European Amateur Championship, plays college golf at Texas Tech, which produced Ludvig Åberg. He called it a 'dream come true to play a major.'
Joe Dean: From Grocery Delivery to Open
Joe Dean, who secured the 156th and final spot, was delivering groceries for Morrisons until 2024 to fund his golf dream. He is set to marry his fiancee and caddie, Emily Lyle, on 21 July. 'A week off would have made the wedding a bit easier but the Open is a good excuse to liven things up a bit,' said Dean.
Other qualifiers include local hero Matthew Jordan, teen prodigy Tiger Christensen (named after Tiger Woods), and Caleb Surratt, who joined LIV Golf and is eager to prove himself among the elite.
