The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale - guide to the first competition day
The Open Championship returns to Royal Birkdale for the 154th edition of the oldest men's major. The first competition day begins on Thursday, 16 July 2026, with the first tee shot scheduled for 6:35. The gates open at 6:00, while play is estimated to finish at around 20:30. A one-day ticket can therefore cover almost fourteen hours of golf, from the early morning groups to the final players completing their rounds beside the 18th green.
Royal Birkdale is not a neutral backdrop. The course between the high sand dunes directs the view down the fairways but conceals hazards that are revealed only after the shot. Bunkers, narrow angles into the greens and pronounced run-off areas constantly alter the balance between risk and reward. The first day is also the broadest opportunity for spectators to see the entire field before the scores and the cut begin to narrow the tournament.
Tickets for this event are in demand. Thursday is particularly valuable for visitors who want to follow a large number of players because all competitors are still in the tournament and the schedule runs from early morning until evening.
How The Open works
The Open is played in a stroke play format over four rounds of 18 holes. Every shot counts, and the ranking is determined by the total number of strokes after 72 holes. After the first two rounds, or 36 holes, the cut follows. Players in 70th place or better advance, including those tied for those positions.
Thursday is the day for observing the entire field and making the first adjustments to the course. Friday brings the battle to remain in the tournament, while the weekend concentrates the competition on the players who have made the cut. If there is a tie at the top after four rounds, the winner is decided by an additional stroke play playoff and, if necessary, by continuing hole by hole until a decision is reached.
The first day is therefore a test of discipline. There is no need to attack every hole. Players who avoid major mistakes remain in touch with the leaders, while one poor bunker escape or a missed fairway on a long hole can immediately increase the pressure.
The field and the main storylines
The announced field for Royal Birkdale includes defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who won The Open at Royal Portrush in 2025 by four strokes. Also competing are Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry, Cameron Smith, Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland, Tommy Fleetwood and Hideki Matsuyama.
Scheffler arrives as the reigning Champion Golfer of the Year and a player whose precision from tee to green suits a demanding links test. McIlroy has already won The Open, and he finished tied for fourth at Royal Birkdale in 2017. Spieth returns to the course where he won the Claret Jug that same year after a dramatic final round and a three-stroke victory over Matt Kuchar.
The field also includes former winners Padraig Harrington, Henrik Stenson, Francesco Molinari, Louis Oosthuizen, Stewart Cink and Darren Clarke. Harrington's return has a particular connection with Royal Birkdale: he successfully defended the title there in 2008, and his 5-wood shot on the 17th hole remains one of the course's most famous moments.
Places were earned through exemptions, international qualifying series, regional and final qualifying, and the new Last-Chance Qualifier. Twenty players secured their places in final qualifying across four courses, so competitors who proved their form under direct qualifying pressure will play alongside the established names.
Why Royal Birkdale is so demanding
The club was founded in 1889, and the course was extensively redesigned in 1922. Royal Birkdale first hosted The Open in 1954, and the 2026 edition will be the eleventh held at this venue. Outside St Andrews, no course has hosted the championship more often.
The layout takes players through corridors between the dunes. A shot in the wrong direction often means rough, a bunker or a poor angle into the green. The fairways appear open, but the position of the sand hazards forces players to choose between a safer, shorter shot and a more aggressive attempt that creates a better birdie opportunity.
- The 1st hole is a 447-yard par 4, with an out-of-bounds boundary on the right and a bunker on the left.
- The 5th hole is a redesigned short par 4 measuring 321 yards. Players can lay up and leave a wedge shot or attempt to attack the green while accepting serious risk beyond the target.
- The 6th hole is a 514-yard par 4 and was the most difficult hole of the 2017 tournament at Royal Birkdale.
- The 7th hole is a 151-yard par 3, but it has a small, undulating green and some of the deepest bunkers on the course.
- The 14th hole is a 602-yard par 5, with bunkers on both sides of the fairway and a demanding green.
- The 15th hole is a new 241-yard par 3. The narrow entrance visually reduces the target, while the surface slopes towards the back.
- The 17th hole is a 566-yard par 5 between high dunes, with a narrow two-tier green.
- The 18th hole is a 508-yard par 4. The new tee position opens a straighter view towards the art deco clubhouse but brings a series of fairway bunkers into play.
At Royal Birkdale, the choice of club often says as much as the final position of the ball. A player who takes an iron on a short par 4 may not be playing passively but instead removing the most dangerous bunker from the equation. On a long par 3, a lower flight may be an attempt to control the landing rather than a sign of insufficient distance.
Where to follow the action during the day
The best plan combines moving with one group and spending longer at a strategic point. Following a group from the first tee provides an insight into the entire round but requires constant walking. Remaining beside a particular green or tee allows spectators to compare the shots of different players.
Grandstands are positioned in several locations, including areas beside the 1st hole and the 18th green. Seating is also available at the practice ground, where spectators can watch the players prepare. Large screens and electronic leaderboards make it easier to follow the overall standings.
For the morning part of the day, it is useful to be close to the first tee. Around midday, the combination of the 5th, 6th and 7th holes is interesting: a short risk-reward par 4, a long par 4 and a short par 3 with deep bunkers. The closing section from the 14th to the 18th hole offers the greatest variety of decisions and shows how a score is built or lost towards the end of a round.
It is worth securing tickets in good time, especially for visitors who want to follow the first competition day from the opening of the gates until the final groups.
The rhythm of the first day
The gates open at 6:00, and the first play is scheduled from 6:35. The estimated duration extends until 20:30. The organiser states that times are subject to change, so the group schedule and operational changes should be checked immediately before arrival.
Arriving early means smaller crowds, easier access to the grandstands and the opportunity to follow the morning groups without large flows of spectators. A one-day visit should not be turned into an attempt to see every player. It is better to choose three objectives: follow one group for several holes, observe one technically interesting location for longer and spend the final part of the day beside the closing holes or a large screen.
Golf etiquette for spectators
At a golf tournament, spectators are very close to the competitors. Silence begins before the player takes a stance and continues until the ball has been struck. Movement stops during the execution of a shot, particularly beside the tee, fairway and green.
Spectators must remain outside the ropes and follow the marshals' instructions. Crossing between holes is possible only at designated crossing points. Phones should be silenced, and photography must comply with the event rules. Selfie sticks, tripods, folding chairs, ladders, boxes and similar items are not permitted. One-legged shooting sticks and walking aids are permitted in accordance with the accessibility rules.
When a group has completed its shot, spectators can move towards the next position, but without crossing areas intended for players and tournament staff. In narrow sections, it is better to wait than to move through the crowd while the next shot is being prepared.
Practical information at the course
Royal Birkdale is located at Waterloo Road, Southport, PR8 2LX. During the championship, there is no public parking beside the course or in the immediate surrounding area. Cars and motorcycles are directed to Park & Ride locations, from where buses operate to the gates. On Thursday, the first service is scheduled for 5:45 and the final return service for 22:00.
The nearest railway station is Hillside, located approximately 300 metres away, or around a four-minute walk from the main entrance. Merseyrail has announced increased train frequency and capacity on key routes. A dedicated taxi zone is provided near the main entrance, but transport should be arranged in advance because of the expected demand.
Cash is not used at the venue. Food and drink outlets are available, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, as well as stations for refilling water bottles. The Spectator Village has large screens, children's activities and an area for relaxation. Free WiFi is planned for the grandstands and the Spectator Village.
Re-entry on the same day is possible with a digital ticket and a wristband collected when leaving. Return is not permitted without both forms of confirmation.
Southport and travelling from outside the town
Southport is a coastal town in Merseyside with a long promenade, a historic centre and a strong golfing tradition. During championship week, it functions as a base for spectators, the media and the golf industry.
The nearest major airports are Liverpool John Lennon Airport, approximately 45 kilometres from Birkdale, and Manchester Airport, approximately 69 kilometres away. From Liverpool John Lennon Airport, bus services travel to Liverpool South Parkway, from where the journey continues by train towards Liverpool Central and Hillside.
Temporary traffic and parking restrictions have been introduced around Birkdale and Hillside. The journey should be planned according to the event arrangements rather than the usual everyday route. Trains and Park & Ride reduce the risk of congestion in residential streets.
History visible on the closing holes
Before 2026, Royal Birkdale had hosted ten editions of The Open. The winners include Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Ian Baker-Finch, Mark O'Meara, Padraig Harrington and Jordan Spieth.
Length alone does not solve this course. The redesigned 5th hole requires an assessment of risk, the 6th demands power and control, the 15th requires a precise assessment of distance, and the 18th demands discipline in front of a series of bunkers. It is precisely this combination that makes the first day interesting even before a genuine ranking of the contenders begins to take shape.
Ticket sales for this event are under way. A one-day visit is most rewarding with a good movement plan, early entry and a willingness to spend part of the time in one location instead of constantly searching for the most famous group.
Sources:
- The Open - championship dates, first-day schedule, player field, cut format, the history of Royal Birkdale and the hole-by-hole guide.
- The Open Spectator Advice - gate opening time, duration of play, grandstands, Spectator Village, re-entry, rules and facilities at the venue.
- The Open Getting There - Hillside station, Park & Ride, taxi zone, traffic restrictions and distances from airports.
- Merseyrail - enhanced railway services and directions for reaching Hillside station.
- Royal Birkdale Golf Club - the club's history and course characteristics.
- Visit Southport and VisitLiverpool - context about the host town and the address of the venue.