Scheffler’s Title Defence Under Scrutiny
Scottie Scheffler, the defending Open champion, arrives at Royal Birkdale for the 154th Open having missed the cut at the Scottish Open last week. The world No. 1, who won the 2025 Open by four strokes, has secured only one victory this season—the American Express tournament in January—his fewest wins in a season since 2021. He has recorded four runner-up finishes, including at the Masters. “I didn’t really feel like I played that bad,” Scheffler said of his missed cut, his first in four years. “This golf course can be just tough at times.” Scheffler has never played at Royal Birkdale, but the early exit gave him a chance to preview the links. “First impressions were really good. There’s some very, very challenging holes, especially the par‑threes,” he added.
McIlroy Eyes Home Major Glory
Rory McIlroy seeks his first Open title since 2014, aiming to become the first player to win consecutive majors since his 2026 Masters victory. The Northern Irishman 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.” He must stop Scheffler from becoming the first American to defend an Open since Tiger Woods in 2006.
Home Hopes: Rai, Fleetwood, and Rose
Aaron Rai returns from his PGA Championship triumph in May, the first Englishman in over a century to win that major. “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 No. 9, aims 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 painted on the Southport & Birkdale Sports Club. “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. “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 New Code of Conduct
Recent incidents at 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 the Open commitment, a code of conduct asking fans to respect players and each other. Signs around the course will remind spectators that recording play on phones is banned.
Concrete Surface and Course Changes
The heatwave has made the Southport links as hard as concrete, causing off-target shots to bounce uncontrollably towards sand dunes and bunkers. Royal Birkdale has undergone significant changes since 2017: the par-three 14th has been removed, the previous 15th is now the 14th, a smaller green added to the par-three 7th, and the 18th tee box moved. Jordan Spieth, who made memorable shots on those 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 Feelgood Stories
David Howard, ranked 1,441st in the world amateur golf rankings, qualified for his first major despite being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age seven. He takes around 30 tablets daily to maintain his health. Tim Wiedemeyer, the highest-ranked amateur, won the 2026 European Amateur Championship and plays college golf at Texas Tech. “It’s a dream come true to play a major,” the German said. Joe Dean, who was delivering groceries for Morrisons until 2024, clinched the 156th and final spot. He will 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,” he said. Other qualifiers include local hero Matthew Jordan and teen prodigy Tiger Christensen, named after Tiger Woods. Caleb Surratt, locked out of automatic entry after joining LIV Golf, is eager to prove his elite status.
