PGA Tour: The Open Championship 2026

The Open Championship returns to Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, for the 2026 edition of golf's oldest major tournament. Held from July 16-19, this prestigious stroke-play event will offer a substantial purse to attract the world's elite players competing on the par-72 links course. Royal Birkdale has long been considered one of England's finest championship venues, hosting The Open on nine previous occasions, with the most recent appearance in 2017 when Jordan Spieth claimed victory.

Recent champions have included Xander Schauffele, who won the 2025 edition at Royal Portrush, Brian Harman at Royal Troon in 2024, and Cameron Smith at Royal Liverpool in 2023. The tournament's rich history spans over 150 years, and its return to Royal Birkdale promises another compelling chapter. The course's demanding layout features undulating fairways, strategically positioned bunkers, and firm greens that test both technical skill and course management—characteristics that have defined links golf at its finest.

Royal Birkdale's design challenges players with its exposed rough and unforgiving terrain, where weather conditions can dramatically influence scoring. The venue's tradition of hosting championship golf, combined with the Open's rotating schedule among Britain and Ireland's premier links courses, ensures that the 2026 championship will maintain the high standards expected of this historic tournament.