It is officially Open Championship week and time for the 154th edition of golf’s oldest major, which is being held at Royal Birkdale for the 11th time.
But first, American pros headed over early for some links prep and went about getting on some of the U.K.’s many gems. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler had some extra time on his hands after missing the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open and took in North Berwick Golf Club, one of several great courses in East Lothian, and with son Bennett in tow.
Over in England, Akshay Bhatia and Rickie Fowler explored one of the neighboring Southport courses, where Tommy Fleetwood cut his teeth in the game at West Lancs Golf Club. Very cool of them to bring junior member George Crompton along for the ride. Imagine he won’t soon forget that experience.
Jordan Spieth, the 2017 British Open champion here at Royal Birkdale the last time it hosted the Open, was out and about getting familiar with links golf and took in a round at Formby Golf Club. “Always a privilege to see one of the game’s great champions enjoying our links,” the club posted on its social media accounts.
But the pros weren’t the only ones squeezing in some golf while overseas. Jamie Kennedy of Golf Digest had the shot of his life, a hole-in-one at the par-4 18th at North Berwick and the bartender happened to be taking a time-lapse of the sunset at the time.
Even your intrepid reporter was able to make some birdies on his way over with a pit stop near London at Walton Heath (Old) and has a tee time at Hillside, where Arnold Palmer qualified for the 1961 Open, to look forward to before we get down to serious business on Thursday. With apologies to Jim Nantz and the Masters, playing links golf as prep for the Open is the real tradition unlike any other during major season.
The par-3 17th at Walton Heath (Old) in England. The course ranks No. 83 on Golfweek’s Best International Courses list for 2026.
Adam Schupak is a senior writer for Golfweek, covering the PGA Tour.
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This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Rickie, Jordan & Scottie among pros prepping for British Open at historic UK courses
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