Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport hosts the Open Championship on 16th July 2026 for the 11th time, with Jordan Spieth being the most recent winner at this venue in 2017.
However, there has been a series of renovations made to the course since then and players will be greeted by a different examination for the final Major of the year.
Here is our hole-to-hole guide for what awaits the stellar field heading to Merseyside for the 154th Open Championship.
Course Guide
Hole 1 - 447 yards, par 4
This is a tough opening hole as the prevailing wind threatens to take the ball towards the out of bounds on the right side.
It is a tight drive, so players may elect to lay up in front of the bunker on the left and leave themselves a longer approach shot.
Hole 2 - 419 yards, par 4
This slight dogleg is likely to play into the wind and the key will be to avoid the bunkers that lie on the right side of the fairway.
That could see many players electing to take a safe approach and using three wood off the tee rather than their driver.
Hole 3 - 450 yards, par 4
Approaching the green from the left side of the fairway will allow a clearer second shot, so many players will look to take that option.
However, there are two bunkers lying in wait for those adopting those tactics, so avoiding them will be key and it will be difficult to find the sloping green from the long grass.
Hole 4 - 219 yards, par 3
The first par three is 25 yards longer than when Birkdale last hosted the Open in 2017.
Players use an elevated tee but the putting surface is 40 yards deep which could cause a host of club selection problems.
Hole 5 - 321 yards, par 4
This looks like one of the most intriguing holes of the week as the green is now visible from the tee, so plenty of the big hitters will be encouraged to try their luck at driving onto the putting surface.
Laying up for a wedge in may be an option explored by some, while those going for it will have to be wary of going long as the green slopes to the left and can cause some tricky scrambling issues if the ball runs off.
Hole 6 - 514 yards, par 4
This was the most difficult hole when the Claret Jug was last contested at Birkdale nine years ago.
There are two bunkers down the right, while another lies in wait for the big hitters and a long second shot looks set to be into the face of the prevailing wind, which could provide plenty of problems if it picks up.
Hole 7 - 151 yards, par 3
The distance suggests this is a mere flick for the top professionals, but finding the green is essential as the shortest hole on the course contains some of its toughest bunkers.
The putting surface has been raised as part of the renovations and the steep run-offs may mean scrambling skills could have to come to the fore.
Hole 8 - 459 yards, par 4
The wind may be in the favour of the big hitters just before the turn, but players will have to avoid the bunker on the right if they get behind their drive.
Firing their opening shot down the left looks like the better option and there should be plenty of birdies posted here during the week.
Hole 9 - 414 yards, par 4
Players close the outward half with a semi-blind tee shot where they will hope to avoid issues with a fairway that slopes to the right.
Some may elect to lay up before the steepest slope that kicks in at about 250 yards, but some will aim to cut the corner if the wind is in their favour, particularly as the dogleg is not as significant as it was nine years ago.
Hole 10 - 397 yards, par 4
There is a potentially awkward fairway bunker, but those with power off the tee will look to take them out of play.
However, it is easy to run out of fairway and end up in the long gras, which could see a good birdie opportunity wasted.
Hole 11 - 434 yards, par 4
Players are greeted with a well-bunkered fairway, so accuracy will be required to find the relatively small ideal landing area.
The green is long but has a distinctive ridge and the right side of that will depend entirely on the pin position.
Hole 12 - 186 yards, par 3
This par three is a great test of distance control because anything short can be swallowed up by two bunkers, while anyone who goes long could be presented with a difficult chip.
Which defence becomes the most telling will depend on how the pins are set up, but it should provide plenty of food for thought.
Hole 13 - 502 yards, par 4
The hazards to avoid on this hole are the fairway bunkers down the right and the ditch that runs down the left.
There is a large dune and thick rough on the right side of the green so, as the putting surface does not significantly undulate, players are expected to favour the left side.
Hole 14 - 602 yards, par 5
This looks set to provide a tough test with bunkers on both sides of the fairway, while a second cluster of traps potentially awaits the second shots of anyone who has failed to find the short grass off the tee.
Then a small green with plenty of undulations will cause its own problems, so this is far from a straightforward par five.
Hole 15 - 241 yards, par 3
This long par three is a new addition and tends to play with the wind behind to what is a deceptively large green.
Two bunkers will protect any pin position at the front, but the green slopes towards the back, so going long presents its own problems.
Hole 16 - 393 yards, par 4
Big hitters' eyes may light up at the sight of a par four of less than 400 yards, but they will still have to be precise.
Finding the right side of the fairway could be crucial if a birdie opportunity is to be realised, while the bunkers at the front right of the green will also have to be navigated.
Hole 17 - 566 yards, par 5
This final par five is bordered by dunes, so if drives can be threaded through them and the bunker on the right avoided, then players will be in good shape.
However, the green is narrow and contains two tiers so there will still be plenty of work to do once the putting surface has been reached.
Hole 18 - 508 yards, par 4
The tee has been reshaped so bunkers down the right will come into play and this hole is now straighter than when it was a left-to-right dogleg.
Sand lies in wait in multiple locations, which means nothing can be taken for granted when playing the final hole.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
