Royal Birkdale to host The Open Championship in 2026

The 154th Open Championship will be returning to the Lancashire golf coast in just three years time after the R&A announced that the 2026 renewal of the championship is to be played at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in 2026.

The iconic Southport links has hosted The Open on ten previous occasions, the last of which was in 2017 when Jordan Spieth came out on top following a final round duel with Matt Kuchar. The American joined a celebrated roll of Champion Golfers at Royal Birkdale, including Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Ian Baker-Finch, Mark O’Meara and Padraig Harrington.

Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said: “Royal Birkdale is a world class championship venue and its outstanding links will once again provide the world’s best men’s professional golfers with a tough but fair test of their talents and capabilities as they compete for the Claret Jug.

“It has produced many memorable moments that are woven into the story of this historic Championship, including a dramatic final round in 2017 when Jordan Spieth won for the first time. We look forward to another special occasion in three years and it will be fascinating to see which player will emerge to join a list of renowned Champion Golfers to have won at Royal Birkdale.”

Andrew Maxwell, Captain of Royal Birkdale and Chairman of the Championship Committee, said, “We are thrilled and honoured to have been chosen as the host venue for The Open in 2026. Royal Birkdale Golf Club has a rich history with The Open having hosted it ten times previously. We look forward to welcoming the world’s best golfers to our magnificent course and providing them with a true test of links golf. The Club is already working hard to ensure that The Open in 2026 will be an unforgettable event for players, spectators and fans around the globe.”

This year’s Open Championship gets under way at Royal Liverpool Golf Club next week, while the 2024 renewal is being held at Royal Troon in Scotland, before moving on to Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland in 2025.

The post Royal Birkdale to host The Open Championship in 2026 appeared first on Golf News.