Where is the British Open in 2026? Location, distance, course details for Royal Birkdale originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Open Championship represents the fourth and final major of the golf season, offering a different test than the previous majors in the United States.
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After spending the last two years in Ireland and Scotland, respectively, the Open Championship is back in England at a familiar venue. The R&A has amassed an impressive list of courses in rotation, with this year’s golf course representing one of the eight courses that have hosted the Open Championship at least 10 times.
Scottie Scheffler enters the tournament as the reigning Open champion, hoping to retain the Claret Jug by winning another major. To do so, he will need to solve the links course set up on the shores of western England to outlast the field in the tournament.
Here’s what to know about the 2026 Open Championship venue.
MORE: Every British Open winner by year
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Where is the British Open in 2026?
-
Location: Southport, England
The Open Championship returns to Royal Birkdale in 2026, which will mark the course’s 11th time hosting the tournament. Royal Birkdale is located in Southport and first played host in 1954, hosting the tournament at least once a decade ever since. It has also played host to Ryder Cups and Women’s Open Championships in the past.
For the Open Championship, Royal Birkdale will play as a par 70 with just two par fives, both on the back nine. The course features two short par 4s under 400 yards long, along with a longer par 3 at 241 yards.
Royal Birkdale has become one of the steadier courses in rotation and has an impressive list of golfers who have won the Open Championship there. The reigning Royal Birkdale Open Champion is Jordan Spieth, who won the tournament at this course in 2017.
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MORE:Scottie Scheffler’s complete majors timeline
Royal Birkdale Golf Club details
When Royal Birkdale first hosted the Open Championship in 1954, the course played as a par 73. In the years since then, however, par-to-score at Royal Birkdale has come down, as the 2026 tournament will mark the fifth-straight edition at Royal Birkdale that plays as a par 70.
Here’s how the course will play in the 2026 Open Championship:
|
Hole |
Par |
Distance (Yards) |
|
1 |
4 |
447 |
|
2 |
4 |
441 |
|
3 |
4 |
450 |
|
4 |
3 |
219 |
|
5 |
4 |
321 |
|
6 |
4 |
514 |
|
7 |
3 |
151 |
|
8 |
4 |
459 |
|
9 |
4 |
414 |
|
OUT |
34 |
3,394 |
|
10 |
4 |
397 |
|
11 |
4 |
434 |
|
12 |
3 |
186 |
|
13 |
4 |
502 |
|
14 |
5 |
602 |
|
15 |
3 |
241 |
|
16 |
4 |
393 |
|
17 |
5 |
566 |
|
18 |
4 |
508 |
|
IN |
36 |
3,829 |
|
TOTAL |
70 |
7,223 |
MORE: Explaining the Open Championship Claret Jug
Royal Birkdale British Open history
|
Year |
Winner |
Score |
|
2017 |
Jordan Spieth |
-12 |
|
2008 |
Padraig Harrington |
+3 |
|
1998 |
Mark O’Meara |
E |
|
1991 |
Ian Baker-Finch |
-8 |
|
1983 |
Tom Watson |
-9 |
|
1976 |
Johnny Miller |
-9 |
|
1971 |
Lee Trevino |
-14 |
|
1965 |
Peter Thomson |
-7 |
|
1961 |
Arnold Palmer |
-4 |
|
1954 |
Peter Thomson |
-9 |
The 2026 Open Championship marks the 11th time that Royal Birkdale has hosted the championship, with the first one coming in 1954. Open Championship winners at the club include Arnold. Palmer, Lee Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson and Padraig Harrington. The last time Royal Birkdale hosted the Open Championship was in 2017, when Jordan Spieth took home the Claret Jug.
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Additionally, Royal Birkdale has hosted the Women’s Open Championship five times, most recently in 2014.
Future British Open sites
|
Year |
Course |
Location |
|
2027 |
Old Course at St. Andrews |
Fife, Scotland |
|
2028 |
Royal Lytham & St. Annes |
Lancashire, England |
Next year, the Open Championship returns to the iconic Old Course at St. Andrews for the 155th edition of the tournament. Then, Royal Lytham & St. Annes will host the Open Championship for the first time since 2012.
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