The 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills delivered drama, as Wyndham Clark emerged with the trophy — his second major title and second U.S. Open — but not without a Sunday that teetered on the brink of collapse.
For three days, Clark looked untouchable, building a commanding six-shot lead that suggested a procession. By late Sunday afternoon, that confidence waned. Shot by shot, his margin evaporated, tension thickened and what once felt inevitable suddenly felt fragile. The galleries sensed it, too, their energy shifting as Clark fought to steady himself against both the course and the moment. In the end, he held on.
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And yet, the story of the season is not finished.
With one major remaining, the sport’s attention now turns across the pond to Royal Birkdale, where the 154th Open Championship awaits. The seaside links in Southport, England, will provide a dramatically different test — firm turf, coastal winds, and a style of golf that demands imagination as much as precision.
General View of the 12th hole during the third round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 22, 2017 in Southport, England.
When is the British Open this year?
The road to Royal Birkdale begins to take shape in mid-July, when the 2026 Open Championship returns to one of England’s most storied links. The 154th edition will be contested from Thursday, July 16 through Sunday, July 19, along the windswept coast of Southport in Merseyside.
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Players are scheduled to arrive as early as Sunday, July 12, settling into practice rounds that offer a first look at Birkdale’s rumpled fairways and penal dune-lined rough. The field will be finalized the following day, when hopefuls chase the last remaining spots through Final Qualifying — the tournament’s unforgiving, one-day last chance to earn a place in golf’s oldest championship.
Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, is one of the golf courses in the rota for the British Open.
What PGA Tour events are there before the Open Championship?
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Travelers Championship, June 25-28
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John Deere Classic, July 2-5
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Genesis Scottish Open, July 9-12
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ISCO Championship, July 9-12
Who won last year’s Open Championship?
Scottie Scheffler will arrive as the reigning Champion Golfer of the Year, his dominance at Royal Portrush’s Dunluce Course still fresh in memory. A year ago, Scheffler surged to 17 under, pulling away late to win by four shots over Harris English.
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This article originally appeared on Golfweek: When is the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale?
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