The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale: guide to the second day of competition
The Open Championship returns to Royal Birkdale for the 154th edition of the tournament and as one of the four men's major championships in golf. The competitive rounds are played from Thursday to Sunday, and Friday brings the second round - the day when the battle for the Claret Jug is joined for the first time by the battle to make the cut. For visitors, it is one of the most eventful days: the entire starting field returns to the course, play continues from early morning until evening, and every group has a clear scoring objective.
The ticket for 17 July is valid for that day of competition. According to the published schedule, the entrances open at 6:00, while play is estimated to run from 6:35 to 20:30. Times are subject to change, so the group schedule and tee times should be checked immediately before arrival. Arriving before the opening shots provides an opportunity to move more calmly towards the desired hole and watch the players warm up.
Tickets for this event are in demand. It is worth securing them in good time, especially when the aim is to follow the entire second round, from the first morning groups until the end of the afternoon part of the programme.
Why Friday is different from the other days
The Open is played as stroke play over four rounds and a total of 72 holes. Every stroke counts towards the score, and after the first 36 holes the field is reduced. Players in 70th place or better, including those tied in that position, continue into the weekend. The others complete their appearance after the second round.
For this reason, Friday has two parallel stories. The leaders try to create a strong position for Saturday, while a large number of players battle around the cut line. One missed fairway, a ball in a deep bunker or three putts on a demanding green can change the entire tournament. Spectators who follow a group from the first to the final hole gain a clear insight into the rhythm of a round, adjustments after mistakes and the way professionals manage risk.
The early part of the day is often practical for following several holes because the movement of the crowd is more gradual. Interest in groups featuring well-known names and players close to the cut line increases in the afternoon. It is useful to decide in advance whether to follow one group around the course or choose several strategic points from which different parts of the field can be seen.
The field brings together champions, leading professionals and qualifiers
The player list published at the beginning of July includes defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who won The Open 2025 at Royal Portrush. The field also includes Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa, Shane Lowry, Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose.
The competition is not made up solely of established major winners. Places are earned through various exemption categories, international qualifying tournaments, regional and final qualifying events, and amateur results. Such a system creates a field in which multiple winners compete alongside players making their first appearance at The Open, professionals from different tours and leading amateurs.
Scottie Scheffler arrives as the defending holder of the Claret Jug. Jordan Spieth returns to the course where he won the title in 2017, the last time Royal Birkdale hosted the championship. Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Shane Lowry, Collin Morikawa, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen, Padraig Harrington, Francesco Molinari and Cameron Smith are also among the confirmed former winners of The Open in the 2026 field.
This does not mean that the well-known names will necessarily be near the top. A links course rewards precise control of trajectory and distance, and the score depends on a series of decisions from the tee to the green. That is precisely why the second round can remove a favourite from contention or create an opportunity for a player who remained outside the main spotlight on Thursday.
Royal Birkdale demands precision between the dunes and bunkers
Royal Birkdale Golf Club is located in Southport, on the coast of north-west England. The club was founded in 1889, and the course was redesigned in 1922. The Open was held here for the first time in 1954, while the 2026 edition will be the eleventh time the championship has been hosted on this links course.
The layout runs between high sand dunes that frame the fairways. Unlike courses where wide lines allow aggressive opening shots, Royal Birkdale often requires precise positioning from the very first stroke. Bunkers are not merely obstacles beside the greens; they are also positioned at distances that force players to choose between a safer, shorter shot and an attempt that could provide a better angle for continuing the hole.
Several holes explain the character of the course particularly well:
- 1st hole: a 447-yard par 4, with danger on both sides and a demanding opening shot.
- 5th hole: a redesigned short 321-yard par 4, conceived as a choice between safe positioning and an attack towards the green.
- 6th hole: a 514-yard par 4, with bunkers beside the fairway and a long second shot towards an elevated green.
- 7th hole: a 151-yard par 3, with a small undulating green, steep edges and deep bunkers.
- 14th hole: a 602-yard par 5, where bunkers follow both sides of the fairway and the green has pronounced slopes.
- 15th hole: a new 241-yard par 3 and the longest par 3 in this course configuration.
- 18th hole: a 508-yard par 4, with a series of fairway bunkers and a finish towards the distinctive art deco clubhouse.
The changes compared with 2017 are particularly visible on the 5th, 15th and 18th holes. The fifth has been completely reshaped as a risk-reward challenge. The fifteenth is now played as a long par 3, while the tee position on the final hole has been moved so that the bunkers are more clearly involved in the decision from the tee. Visitors who want to understand tournament strategy can learn a great deal at precisely these locations.
How to follow the play on the course most effectively
There are two basic ways to watch. The first is to walk with one group. This makes it possible to see the entire round - club selection, preparation before a shot, conversation with the caddie, reactions after mistakes and changes in tactics on different holes. The disadvantage is that a considerable distance is covered during the day, and congestion can occur at narrow crossing points.
The second approach is to remain at one or two holes. Public grandstands are planned around the 1st hole and the 18th green, while seats are also available beside the practice ground. The first hole makes it possible to watch a large number of groups starting their rounds, while the finishing hole provides a view of the end of the round, important par putts and players' reactions after submitting their scorecards.
A good compromise is to begin at the practice ground, then follow a selected group for several holes and later take a position beside the closing section of the course. The Spectator Village offers large screens, electronic leaderboards, food, drinks and an area for rest, so the development of the scores can also be followed when a visitor is not beside a particular hole.
Places in the grandstands beside the most closely followed groups and the finishing holes disappear quickly. Arriving early increases the available choice, but does not guarantee a particular position or uninterrupted visibility throughout the day.
Golf etiquette is not a formality
The crowd is very close to the play, so spectator behaviour can directly affect the players' concentration. The most important requirement is to stop moving and talking while a player prepares to make a shot. Marshals raise signs requesting silence, and movement resumes only when the group has completed its shots and the area has been opened.
The ropes marking the course must not be crossed. The instructions of marshals and staff should be followed even when a passage appears to be clear, because a ball may be played from the rough, a sand dune or an area that is not immediately visible from the spectator's position.
Photography of the play is permitted if it does not disturb the players and is not intended for commercial use. Flashes, video-recording equipment and lenses longer than 300 millimetres when fully extended are not permitted. Mobile phones should be switched to silent mode. Selfie sticks, tripods, folding chairs, drones and sound-amplification devices are also among the prohibited items.
Bags may be inspected upon entry. Oversized bags may be refused, and a cloakroom for inspected luggage is planned at the venue. Food and non-alcoholic drinks may be brought in, but alcohol and glass bottles are not permitted. The event site operates without cash, and visitors are advised to bring a bottle that can be refilled at the water stations.
Arriving by train is the simplest option
The nearest railway station is Hillside, approximately 300 metres away, or about a four-minute walk from the main entrance. During The Open, an increase in the frequency and capacity of railway services has been announced, and Merseyrail is expected to operate trains towards Hillside at ten-minute intervals during peak periods.
Passengers arriving through Liverpool Lime Street can walk to Liverpool Central and continue from there on Merseyrail. From the north and east, connections towards Southport are available through hubs such as Manchester Victoria and Wigan Wallgate, after which the journey continues towards Hillside.
There is no public parking at Royal Birkdale or in its immediate surroundings. Drivers are directed towards organised Park & Ride locations, from which buses operate to the course. On Friday, the first departure from the Park & Ride towards the course is scheduled for 5:45, and the final return service for 22:00. Additional time should be allowed because of temporary traffic restrictions and the expected increase in traffic.
Free bicycle parking is located close to the main entrance. A designated drop-off and pick-up point is provided for taxis and private passenger transport vehicles, but advance booking is recommended because of high demand.
Southport as a base for visiting the tournament
Southport is a coastal town in Merseyside, with its town centre north of Royal Birkdale. Its railway connection with Liverpool and proximity to Hillside station make it a practical base for visitors who do not want to drive to the tournament. Accommodation in Liverpool also allows the journey to continue directly on the Merseyrail network.
For international arrivals, the main air travel options include Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport. From Liverpool, the journey can continue by public transport towards Hillside.
The travel plan should be coordinated with the long competition day. Visitors who want to be beside the course before the first groups must allow for an early departure, security checks and the walk to their selected position. The return journey after the final groups can be considerably later than the finish of an individual attractive group.
A practical plan for the entire day
It is most useful to determine three priorities in advance: the players to follow, the holes to see and the time of return. The digital ticket should be ready before arrival, and the group schedule should be saved on the device. A free WiFi network has been announced in the grandstands and the Spectator Village, but it is useful to have basic information available even without a network connection.
Re-entry on the same day requires a valid digital ticket and a wristband collected when leaving. Without both, returning is not permitted. This is important for visitors who plan to leave the course temporarily and return for the afternoon part of the play.
Footwear suitable for long walks over uneven ground is more practical than city footwear. A links course includes grassy slopes, sandy crossings and changing surfaces. Layered clothing allows adjustment throughout the long day, but the weather forecast should be checked immediately before departure instead of relying on earlier estimates.
The second round concludes with the determination of the players who remain in the tournament for the weekend. Visitors therefore follow not only individual shots, but also the continuously shifting cut line. Electronic leaderboards and large screens help connect what is seen at one hole with the development of scores across the entire course.
It is worth securing tickets in good time and checking their availability, entrance schedules, traffic notices and final group tee times before travelling. Friday at Royal Birkdale offers the full range of tournament golf: early-morning starts, the complete starting field, a tactical battle with the links course and the final opportunities to cross the cut line.
Sources:
- The Open - championship dates, player field, hole guide, spectator schedule, entry rules and on-site facilities
- The R&A - tournament status, defending champion, qualifying system and the history of Royal Birkdale
- Royal Birkdale Golf Club - the history of the club and characteristics of the course