The Open 2026: golf updates from day one at Royal Birkdale – live
The 154th Open Championship is underway at Royal Birkdale, featuring a mix of seasoned professionals and local talent. The tournament began with Matthew Baldwin, a local from Southport and a member of the century-old links, hitting the opening tee shot. His drive down the fairway was met with cheers from a full grandstand, marking a significant moment for the golfer who started playing at the age of three.
James Nicholas was also part of the first group. Nicholas, from New York, encountered an early challenge at Birkdale, pulling his opening shot into thick grass, which resulted in an opening bogey. The conditions at Royal Birkdale are notably different from Jordan Spieth‘s win in 2017; a heatwave has left the course brown and baked, promoting a fast-running ball, which could impact play throughout the day.
Early Play and Course Conditions
The early hours of the championship saw relatively benign weather, with little wind, which benefited the initial groups. This allowed for some early birdies on the course. Thomas Detry secured an early birdie on the par-three 7th hole, guiding his tee shot to eight feet and sinking the putt. Detry also recorded the first birdie of the week with a wedge shot to eight feet, followed by a right-to-left putt.
Joe Dean also achieved a birdie on the 4th hole. Despite the favourable early conditions, only four players were under par in the initial stages, with only 24 golfers on the course at that time. The wind is expected to pick up later in the morning, potentially posing more challenges for later starters compared to those who played in the calmer conditions.
The course itself has undergone significant modifications since the last Open Championship at Birkdale. A completely new 15th hole, a par 3 stretching 241 yards, has been introduced. Additionally, four other holes have seen substantial changes, contributing to a new playing experience for the golfers.
Key Players and Local Hopes
Among the early leaders was Bob MacIntyre, who started with back-to-back birdies. After sending his opening tee shot into the rough, he managed to reach the front of the green with his second shot and then rolled in a 45-footer for a birdie. MacIntyre, last year’s US Open runner-up, continued his strong start by placing his second shot on the 2nd hole to within a foot and a half for another birdie. He has a history of strong performances at the Open, with three top-ten finishes, including a tie for seventh last year at Portrush.
Matthew Southgate, who finished sixth at Birkdale in 2017, also began his round well, draining a putt on the 1st hole. Southgate, at 37 years old, clearly has an affinity for the course. Joe Dean, a golfer from Sheffield, is participating. He has previously made the cut in both of his prior Open appearances.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who missed the cut at the Scottish Open recently, is aiming to become the first repeat winner of the British Open since Padraig Harrington in 2007-08. Scheffler is playing alongside Bryson DeChambeau, who has missed the cut in all majors this year. Other notable players in the field include Tommy Fleetwood, the FedEx Cup champion and a Southport native, and Justin Rose, who made an impression at Royal Birkdale as an amateur in 1998.
The field also includes 21 English players, and there is considerable anticipation for an English champion, a feat not achieved since Tony Jacklin in 1969. Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 champion, withdrew from the tournament earlier in the week, with his compatriot Aldrich Potgieter taking his place as the first alternate. Potgieter is scheduled to play later in the day.
The opening groups included Matthew Baldwin, Thomas Detry, and James Nicholas at 6:35 am, followed by Michael Kim, Daniel Hillier, and Andy Sullivan at 6:46 am, and Ryan Fox, Andrew Novak, and Matthew Jordan at 6:57 am.
Source: theguardian.com
