The Open at Birkdale proves the R&A may have a major issue at St Andrews and there’s only one solution

There was some fantastic golf on display during The Open Championship throughout the week at Royal Birkdale.

Ryan Fox was the last man standing as the New Zealander made a birdie on his final hole at The Open to secure his first major championship.

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There were a handful of players who could have won The Open down the stretch, with Cam Young sitting in the clubhouse with a great chance as well.

Fox got the job done in the end at Royal Birkdale, though, finishing at 10-under par for The Open.

That score was probably exactly what the R&A would have wanted.

However, there was a big issue that will have the R&A sweating ahead of the championship at St Andrews next year.

The Open at Birkdale proves the R&A may have a major issue at St Andrews

St Andrews will play host to The Open for the 31st time in 2027.

The Home of Golf is arguably the most famous course on the planet.

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However, it is in very real danger of becoming obsolete due to the incredible distances that players are hitting the ball nowadays.

Lucas Herbert, Sam Burns and Ryan Fox all posted rounds of 62s at Birkdale last week – tying the lowest score in major championship history in the process.

Birkdale is a difficult golf course and the layout measures just under 7,400 yards.

Meanwhile, St Andrews is only 7,190 yards in length.

Both par-fives are easily reachable in two while there are numerous par-fours which are driveable.

If the conditions are similar at St Andrews to what they were like at Birkdale, the best players in the world could absolutely destroy golf’s most famous and prestigious course.

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The one solution the R&A have to prevent low scores at St Andrews

The golf course at St Andrews cannot be lengthened anymore due to the lack of space around the property.

The only solution the R&A have is to ensure that the pin locations are incredibly difficult.

There are plenty of cavernous bunkers dotted around the greens at St Andrews, and the greens are incredibly undulating.

The R&A simply must take advantage of that and put the pins in challenging locations.

That is literally the only defence that the golf course will have in 2027.

If the R&A do not set up the golf course with tricky pin positions, the best golfers in the world will absolutely take St Andrews apart and that would not be a good look for The Open Championship.